Three-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie has kicked off the London 2012 Olympic torch relay from Land's End.

Ainslie, 35, from Lymington, is the first of 8,000 torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame 8,000 miles over 70 days to where it will light the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games.

See exactly where the torch will be going in Dorset when it visits July 12-14

Ainslie, who also has the honour of being the first athlete to formally be selected for Team GB, is aiming to win his fourth successive gold medal on home waters at the London 2012 competition at Weymouth and Portland.

His Olympic dream seems to be on course after he this week became the world Finn champion for the sixth time in Falmouth.

Speaking shortly before setting off from Land's End, Ainslie spoke of his excitement.

He said: "It's amazing. For me, growing up in this part of the world, in Cornwall, for the Olympic Torch to set off from here around the nation, is a fantastic moment for the UK, for London 2012. Very exciting."

Ainslie said being the first torchbearer was more nerve-wracking than competing in the actual Games.

"Probably more nervous to be the first one here," he said. "It's a great moment but it is also a great moment for our country to have the Olympics here and we are all very excited."

Ainslie passed the flame on to the second torchbearer 18-year-old Anastassia Swallow from St Ives. She has represented Britain four times as member of the junior British surf team and dreams of becoming the first woman to represent surfing and snowboarding for her country.

The torch relay travels nationwide and aims to bring the Olympic Flame to within 95% of the UK population. Devon and Cornwall Police said around 3,500 people were at Land's End to see the start of the relay.

Bournemouth will welcome the Olympic torch with a free beach party for 10,000 people on July 13.