HIS hopes of representing Great Britain at the London Olympic Games have been blown off course but Chris Grube says he still has ‘big plans’ for the future.

The Chester sailor is refusing to be downcast despite being informed last week that he and partner Nick Rogers have missed out on selection for this summer’s Olympic regatta.

Only one boat per nation is permitted and Britain will be represented in the 470 dinghy class by Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell, who effectively secured their spots last month when they finished second at the World Championships in Perth, Australia.

Grube, 26, of Mickle Trafford, is already mapping out his next move.

He said: “Looking forward, I’m really excited about what I’m going to do next. It is a bit of a blank page at the moment but I have big plans to build my career in yacht racing.

“There are other aspects of the sport such as the America’s Cup which are really taking off at the moment and I feel like I’d have a lot to bring to one of those teams.”

Grube, however, did not rule out a return to sailing with Rogers, who re-mortgaged his house to fund his London 2012 qualifying campaign. The Hampshire-based 34-year-old won silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

“Nick and I feel like we have unfinished business with the Olympics,” said Grube, a former Upton High pupil. “But a break will do us good and if the opportunity comes for us to go again for 2016 – with a sponsor this time – then who knows?”

Grube, who began his sailing career with Bala Sailing Club, said he was ‘gutted’ when he was told he had failed to make the Great Britain team for London 2012.

He and Rogers represented Team GB at an Olympic test event last year but they could only manage to finish 10th at December’s World Championships, some way behind Patience and Bithell.

“It was just a case of too little, too late,” said Grube. “We both feel that we didn’t quite reach our full potential as a team and, given another six months, it could have been a different story.

“But all credit to Luke and Stu, they are great friends of mine and I wish them all the best next year and hopefully they can knock the Aussies from their perch!”

The 2012 Olympic sailing regatta will be held at Portland and Weymouth.