Great Britain secured their first gold medal of the Athens Olympics on Thursday afternoon thanks to a superb display of sailing from Shirley Robertson's Yngling crew.

Robertson, a gold medallist in Sydney four years ago, Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton wrapped up the gold with a race to spare after a sensational performance on the waters of the Saronic Gulf.

The trio showed nerves of steel and technique to match to post third and eighth place finishes in races nine and 10 respectively - results which means that second-placed Denmark can not overtake them in Saturday's final race.

The Danes finished above the British boat in fifth place but are nine points behind Robertson and her crew.

The news of golden success will be a huge boost to Team GB after failing to claim a gold in the first five days of the Olympics.

A jubilant Robertson, having clinched her second gold medal in successive Games, said: "What about a triple?"

Robertson believes consistency has been the key to winning gold.

"It's been hard all week and we have taken each race as it goes along and not made errors," she said.

"Winning a day early certainly takes the pressure off a little bit."

Ayton said: "The legs are like jelly and all over the place. It's been hard work but worth it.

Sarah Webb added: "It means absolutely everything, awesome. It's not sunk in yet."

Robertson and her team-mates were ecstatic as they were welcomed back to the jetty by another gold hope Ben Ainslie, who had climbed ashore just a few moments before them.

He was the first to congratulate the team, hugging each in turn before throwing Olympic Ayton back into the water.

Robertson is now a double Olympic champion having also won gold in the Europe class at the Sydney Games four years ago.

And she was delighted at having secured Team GB's first gold medal of the Olympics.

"Go the girls," she joked afterwards.

"I'm overwhelmed that we've put it all together and made it happen.

"We are just so overjoyed. To win with a day to spare is amazing, we can't quite believe it."

The 24-year-old Ayton, a gold medal winner at what are her first Olympics, added: "The conditions haven't been the strongest for us and we've really had to raise out game. It's unbelievable."

Ainslie, who is on course to match Robertson's achievement of golds in two consecutive Games sailing different crafts, was full of praise for the Yngling crew, who will now not race on Saturday having secured the gold.

"It's fantastic, I'm so pleased for them," he said.

"Shirley getting two golds in two Olympics and in different boats as well is unbelievable.

"And for the two Sarahs coming into their first Olympics I think they'll be extremely happy. The whole team's happy for them.

"Hopefully it can spark on the rest of us to get some more medals and more good results."