KEY POINTS:
Tom Ashley cringes when the subject of Athens is brought up in conversation.
It's not a memory he likes to dwell on considering he finished in the middle of the windsurfing fleet at his first Olympic Games.
"I was pretty green," the 24-year-old says.
"I didn't have an idea about anything. I'm a much better windsurfer than I was - fitter, stronger and healthier. Ideally, that will translate into a much better performance [this year], and it's going to need to be.
"I can't afford to go to China and come 10th like I did in Athens. That was poor."
Four years on, Ashley is now seen as one of the favourites, although he bristles at the suggestion and the expectation such tags bring.
His biggest triumph has been winning against his main competitors at last year's pre-Olympic regatta in the light airs of Qingdao, where the gold will be decided in August.
Although he has already won his ticket to this year's Olympics, Ashley is keen to do well at this week's RS:X world championships being sailed off Takapuna Beach, beginning today.
"It's not crucial for my Olympic build-up and it's not going to have much bearing on China, but I want to do well here for personal reasons.
"It's fantastic to have a regatta in your home waters and make all the Europeans travel for two days to get here, instead of the opposite."
As many as 200 competitors from 21 countries have ventured to Auckland for the world championships, which will conclude with the medal races on Saturday.
Racing proper starts today after yesterday's practice day was sailed in a good sea breeze.
Barbara Kendall is among the favourites in the women's section.
