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Percy and Simpson on their way to gold in Beijing

The other locations are venues for the Louis Vuitton Trophy series, a collection of regattas raced by America's Cup teams in America's Cup-class boats - the day job for the likes of Percy, Simpson and their good friend Ben Ainslie, who are all members of Britain's .

But while it's Origin who pay the bills, the Olympics remain the real passion, at least while the fate of the next America's Cup is unknown thanks to the between holders Alinghi and challengers Oracle.

Luckily for the Origin boys, they have an understanding boss - backer Sir Keith Mills was chief executive of London's bid to secure the 2012 Games.

"This has been our focus for some time," Percy told me over the phone from a sweltering 45-degree Rio as I watched snowflakes fall outside my kitchen window in London.

"It's an important event, there are a lot of good people here and there's not another worlds for almost two years so that adds something to it. And our major rivals Robert Scheidt (Ainslie's old Laser nemesis) and Bruno Prada are sailing in their home country which adds a lot to it."

The Star Worlds begin this Saturday, with . The final race is expected to be on Thursday, although the following two days are set aside in reserve in case the Rio weather is unfriendly.

Because of America's Cup commitments - and a deliberate policy of dropping the intensity in the first couple of years of the Olympic cycle - Percy and Simpson have only spent about four weeks in a Star, plus 10 days in Rio just before Christmas, over the last 12 months.

"A lot of guys have been here for three months so we know we're playing catch-up," said Percy, who also won gold in the single-handed Finn in Sydney in 2000.

"But we're very confident in taking a bit of a step back. We don't want to be full on for the whole four years, it doesn't work for us. I don't think it works for many people who have done a few Olympic cycles. But having said that we've tried to do the run up to this regatta properly and we've worked hard at that.

"It is important to try to keep winning to build up an aura but it's harder to dominate in our class compared to the Finn or Laser, and almost more important for us is the ability to come back and be on the up for the Olympics so there's that energy there at the end."

But, I wonder, how easy is it to jump between calling the tactics on an 80ft America's Cup yacht in a head-to-head match-racing format and helming a in a fleet of 100 boats, as Percy will have to in Rio?

"It's quite easy to get to 98%, it's the little bits you lack," said the 33-year-old Percy, who has been "best mates" with Simpson for 25 years.

"You have to adjust your strategy a little bit to compensate. Mentally, you need to adjust as well because its one thing making little mistakes but what you can't do is let that turn into a meltdown.

"You've got to understand that you're not as practised as you were at your very best. No-one sails a perfect race every time so it's important mentally that you can handle making little mistakes and can adjust your expectations a bit, not about the result but about the performance.

"Not being 100% in every area would cost you a lot in a 15-boat Olympic fleet but this regatta is about avoiding a really big score. You've just got to really keep your cool."

There is a chance that when the America's Cup is finally resolved that it could clash with 2012, but Percy and Ainslie are both adamant it won't come to that.

"It wouldn't be in the America's Cup's interest to go anywhere near the Olympics," said Percy.

"But now is not a good time for the America's Cup, for us or our sport.

"The cost of the game Alinghi and Oracle are playing is that the prize of the America's Cup, winning the trophy and the development of the sport is being diminished all the time.

"The guys are letting down the sport. It's a shame that no-one can take a step back and see the damage that is being done.

"They need their heads banging together."

Ainslie has also taken a break from helming duties with Team Origin and put in some Finn training before Christmas for the first time since Beijing as he eyes a fourth Olympic gold in Weymouth.

But while Ainslie, Percy and Simpson are all but nailed on for 2012 (officially they'll have to come through the trials like everyone else), other places in the squad will be fiercely fought over, none more so than in the highly competitive 49er class.

Britain had five crews in the top 10 at the Worlds in the Bahamas earlier this month, with development squad duo Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign outdoing their more experienced rivals to . The battle for Britain's 49er spot in 2012 is going to be fascinating.

All of Britain's aspiring crews will be back in Weymouth this summer for the , which is being held at the same time as the Games will be (8-14 August) to try to replicate conditions. And over the next two years the Dorset town, rather than some of the more exotic spots, will become increasingly the centre of their universe.

"It's very important to spend time in the venue," said Percy. "You can't do too much, apart from this thing of not sailing every day for four years.

"And Weymouth's getting better so we don't mind spending time there now."