Britain’s most decorated sailor, Ben Ainslie, is set to make his first appearance in the Argo Group Gold Cup in three years later this year.The four-time Olympic gold medallist lifted the King Edward VII Gold Cup in 2009 and 2010 but did not return to defend his title in 2011 because of a scheduling conflict with his 2012 Olympic qualifying campaign.At the 2012 London Games the Englishmen became the first sailor to win medals at five different Olympics after claiming a third straight gold in the Finn class in Weymouth and Portland.Earlier this year the multiple Finn and Laser world champion was knighted by the Queen for his services to British sailing.Ainslie first competed in Bermuda in 1995 when he won the ISAF Youth Worlds before going on to make his mark in the Apalri World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) sanctioned Gold Cup.“We feel lucky because we love this venue,” the sailing legend said. “We like the boats (International One Design) and they are challenging. The atmosphere is great and we have a lot of friends here.”The 36-year-old sailor is competing in October’s Gold Cup in memory of late advisor and team-mate Andrew (Bart) Simpson.Simpson, who was also a multiple past Olympic medallist, died last May after the catamaran (Artemis) he was sailing capsized during a training run for the America’s Cup in San Francisco Bay.“We are returning this year to focus attention on the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation (ASSF) that has been established since Bart’s tragic death in San Francisco this year,” Ainslie said.“The Ben Ainslie Racing Team, called BART, is racing in the Argo Group Gold Cup to raise awareness for this worthwhile cause in memory of our late friend and fellow sailor.”Ainslie will compete in the Gold Cup with the same crew he had in 2008 that includes current skipper of the Artemis America’s Cup Team and double Olympic gold medallist Iain Percy who will serve as tactician and mainsheet trimmer.Ainslie is among five past winners in this year’s Gold Cup fleet that also includes reigning champion Taylor Canfield (US Virgin Islands), Ian Williams (England), Johnie Berntsson (Sweden) and Mathieu Richard (France).Defending WMRT champion Williams currently holds a nine-point lead over nearest rivals Canfield and Adam Minoprio in the 2013 oints standings. Kiwi Minoprio, who has competed in several Gold Cups, is also a past WMRT champion.“Argo Group is proud to see this world class slate of skippers and crews coming to Bermuda again this year,” said Mark Watson III, president and CEO of Argo Group. “This will be our sixth year as title sponsor of this classic match race sailed for the spectacular King Edward VII Gold Cup Trophy.”The Gold Cup will be held October 8-13 in Hamilton Harbour.