Double Olympic champion Shirley Robertson would like to see sailing introduced into the national curriculum.

Robertson, skipper of the victorious Yngling crew, is passionate about introducing youngsters to the sport and developing the most promising into potential Olympians.

Culture secretary Tessa Jowell revealed on Wednesday how the government plan to introduce specialist competitive sports training into every school if Labour win a third term in office.

And Robertson on Sunday called on schools to include sailing in their programme, just as rowing is filtering into the timetable as part of the new 'Project Oarsome'.

"I would love to see sailing on the national curriculum, as it is in France," Robertson said on Sunday.

"It not only provides kids with a lot of different attributes like competition and teamwork but gives them confidence around water.

"It is an interesting activity, stimulating and challenging. I would like to see sailing opened up a bit.

"It is a leisure interest you can do until you drop dead. You can always learn, you can always navigate different waters.

"When I go to sailing clubs in France you see hundreds of Lasers, which cost nothing, and the kids are just out there having fun on the water."

Robertson is comfortable with the idea she will be held up as an inspiration to the younger generations after becoming the first British woman to become a double Olympic champion.

She was in Athens on Sunday, readying herself for another night of partying at the closing ceremony, sitting alongside Kelly Holmes, who joined her in an exclusive club yesterday.

"I hope my achievements go on to inspire because we need the next generation," said Robertson.

"I remember when Mike McIntyre, the Scotsman, won gold in Seoul. I thought: 'He is only from Helensburgh!'

"Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy and I are sponsored by Volvo who also sponsor lots of clubs. We go round and meet a lot of kids. You need that reality it makes the goals much more tangible and attainable."

The British sailing team finished the Olympics as the most successful nation in the regatta, with two golds, a silver and two bronze medals.

Despite that, Robertson admitted there was plenty of disappointment in the sailing camp because of the high standards the team now set themselves.

Ainslie also became a double Olympic champion with victory in the Finn class while Robertson skippered the Yngling crew to gold.

Nick Dempsey was happy to have won Britain's first ever medal in windsurfing but the likes of Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield were disappointed only to have won silver in the 470 class.

Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks were angry, frustrated and disappointed to have finished with a bronze in the 49er while Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell, Star world champions, bombed out of contention altogether.

"There is a culture of winning in British sailing and if you don't win it's not good enough," said Robertson.

"It's a really big thing - there is quite a lot of disappointment in the team even though we finished as the top nation.

"They came here to win and are not satisfied with anything less. We keep raising standards in British sailing. What will make the difference? How can we do better?

"It has taken a while but we have learned how to be professional."