THREE-TIME Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie has unveiled exciting plans, which could see the world famous America's Cup come to Falmouth in 2018.

At a press conference at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Tuesday morning the 34-year-old, former Truro School pupil unveiled plans to launch his own America's Cup team – which will reportedly cost in the region of £30m – following this summer's Olympic Games in London.

And that could see Ainslie's team enter under the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club in Falmouth, where he first learned to sail.

The team will not be formed in time to challenge for the 34th America's Cup next year, though Ainslie will still hope to play a part after joining Oracle Racing, the current holders of the prestigious trophy.

But after this year's Games in London, where Ainslie will be bidding for a fourth gold medal, he will turn his attention to the 2012/2013 America's Cup World Series with a new Ben Ainslie Racing team.

The Series is a regular circuit of regattas in multihull boats that allow teams to prepare for the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America's Cup Challenger Series and the America's Cup Finals. The World Series boats are 45ft, as opposed to the 72ft boats of the America's Cup proper.

Ainslie said: "The goal today is to put together a team to test the waters of the America's Cup with a view to coming in with a full challenge for the 35th America's Cup.

"The AC World Series has proven to be a great event, which offers a lot to potential partners as well as to sailors like myself. The AC45s are exciting to watch and they're extremely challenging to race.

"Without a doubt the racing is producing the best sailing footage for television that I've ever seen, so I think the AC World Series is providing something that sailors, the public and sponsors can all get behind."

And there is already a strong indication that Ainslie could bring the world famous competition to Falmouth – providing he wins the America's Cup, thus be given the choice of venue in 2018.

Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, who were present at Tuesday's press conference in London, have welcomed the news.

Club press officer Roger Hollingsworth said: "This is not just fantastic for the club but for the county.

"Ben has a great affinity with Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and we're very grateful that he has chosen us."

Hollingsworth has stressed that plans are still at an early stage, and that there will be many "hurdles and hoops" to negotiate if the America's Cup is to come to Cornwall.

Ainslie returns to Falmouth in May when the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club hosts the prestigious pre-Olympic Finn Class sailing event.

The J P Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival runs from May 4-18, and will play host to more than 200 international sailors.