Scott, the 2011 and 2014 world champion, who has been unbeaten for two years in the Finn class, missed out on selection for the sole place in the British team at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 due to the presence of Sir Ben Ainslie, the Finn gold medal winner in Athens, Beijing and London after taking the Laser title at Sydney 2000.

With Sir Ben having now retired from Olympic competition, Scott has made the spot his own and has confidently targeted extending a record that has seen him emerge victorious in his last 12 international regattas in a run stretching back to a World Cup event in Hyeres in April 2013.

He still had to overcome some tough rivals to gain selection, however, including Ed Wright, the 2010 world champion currently ranked second in the world.

"I've been trying to qualify for the last 10 years almost, and came very close last time around but didn't quite cut it," Scott told insidethegames today.

"So to have finally got the selection ticked off at the first available point is a big step.

"It was tricky, it's not the easiest thing to be sat there and see everyone you know and race against, and rate yourself highly against, up there competing for the medals - I'm not going to say I enjoyed it. 

"But it was a great learning experience and i wanted to make sure I didn't make the same mistakes this time around."

Scott, presented with his official selection letter by Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England today at an event which coincided with celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II becoming Britain's longest reigning monarch, described the course on Rio's Guanabara Bay as a "difficult place to race", with "fickle and variable winds".

Yet every regatta Scott has done there so far has been a "good and fair one", and he is confident appropriate measures are being taken within the team to deal with the much maligned levels of water pollution on the course.

"The aim is always gold," he added.

"If I could do that next year, it would be nice."

Scott will be joined in Rio by London 2012 silver medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark in the 470 women’s class.

Luke Patience, who also won silver three years ago, teams up with two-time world champion but Olympic debutant Elliot Willis in the 470 men’s event.

Bryony Shaw, Britain’s first female Olympic medal-winning windsurfer when she won a bronze medal at Beijing 2008, is set to contest her third Games next year in the RS:X women’s event, while Alison Young returns in the laser radial.

In the absence of Beijing 2008 champion Paul Goodison, reigning laser world champion Nick Thompson is also selected for his first Olympics.

Britain are targeting topping the sailing medals table once again in the Brazilian city, despite the rising standards in the sport which saw 19 countries earn medals in 10 events at last month's test event.

“The selection of the first Team GB athletes is a landmark moment on our journey to next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro," said England.

“The eight athletes named today include Olympic medallists and world champions, all of whom have earned their place in the six boat classes.

"As one of our most successful medal winning sports it is fitting that sailing kicks-off our Rio 2016 team announcements.

“This is the start of the creation of what is likely to be a 350 strong Team GB in 2016.

"Our focus is on great preparation, great support and great performance and, if we get that right, we will have delivered an environment that will allow the athletes to perform to the best of their ability.”

Sailors in the remaining four events are expected to be named following the first quarter of next year, while selections across other sports will also be rolled-out over coming weeks.

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