AN ARTISTIC pensioner will be presenting Sailing star Ben Ainslie with a good-luck painting in support of his quest for an historic fourth Olympic gold.

Britain’s most successful sailor Ainslie will be making a special appearance at the Henri Lloyd Sailing Store at 30, St Mary Street, Weymouth, this Sunday between noon and 2pm.

Oil painter John Lee, from Wyke Regis, has been specially invited to attend the public event to present Ainslie with the painting.

Mr Lee used oil paint on canvas to capture an action shot of the Finn heavyweight dinghy sailor in Weymouth Bay, which he spotted in the Dorset Echo’s Going for Gold pages.

It took him three weeks to complete the creation, which is 20 by 16 inches and entitled Well Ahead.

Retired guesthouse owner Mr Lee, who spent years as a commissioned artist for the Lifeboat charity, said: “I’m looking forward to presenting the painting to Ben.

“I look upon this painting as a talisman to his good luck – I hope it brings him some good fortune and that the gold medal he’s hoping for will come along without too much trouble.

“He’s done so well and I suspect he wants to get cracking.

“Ben had some back trouble at the beginning of this year, there are a lot of people in Weymouth and all over England rooting for him. He’s a rather special person.”

Popular painter Mr Lee, who always gives a proportion of his proceeds to the Weymouth and Portland Friends of Chernobyl Children charity, was inspired to try an Olympic theme by Swan landlady Kim Newstead.

The painting was previously on display at the Swan pub in St Thomas Street.

He added: “Kim suggested I do a painting of the Olympic boats and I thought it was a lovely idea to show we’re interested in what’s happening in Weymouth and Portland.

“I don’t think people realise how important the Games is, to have the sailing competition here is so wonderful for the country.”

Ainslie, 35, who is competing this week at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta on borough waters, has been sponsored by the specialist marine clothing brand Henri Lloyd since winning his first Olympic medal – silver – aged 19, at the Atlanta Games.

He has since won gold medals at the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Games and is already Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor of all time, but London 2012 will see him competing at his fifth consecutive Olympic Games, for his fifth medal.

He will be attending his sponsor’s store to sign Henri Lloyd goodies and the store will be running competitions in celebration of the occasion.

All are welcome to attend.

Ainslie said: “It’s fantastic to hear that Wey-mouth residents are backing the sailors, I’m looking forward to meeting John and thanking him for his work on the painting.”