LUKE Patience will take to the water in Rio at the Olympic Games after being selected for the team by the British Olympic Association (BOA) today.

The Portland-based sailor will team up with Chris Grube – who replaces Elliot Willis following his cancer diagnosis in 2015 ­– in the men’s 470 class.

This will be Patience’s second Olympics after he won a silver medal in 2012 alongside Stuart Bithell.

He was one of the final four sailors that were named as part of the team. The other three were Grube, Dylan Flethcer and Alain Sign.

After the announcement Patience was filled with mixed emotions.

He said: “It’s still a special day but mixed feelings I suppose because I am combining two campaigns to try and still achieve the same goal.

“Mixed emotions, but overall I’m happy and I can’t wait to hopefully do Queen and country proud.

“I hope I can draw on the London experience, and with Chris being a first time Olympian, between us it will keep things grounded.  

“Four years ago I was probably the most excited man with Stuart in front of the camera, but business will be business, the excitement will be the excitement, they will be two separate things.

“We will do the damage we can do on the water and hopefully with a smile on our face.”

Team GB lead the way in sailing at the Olympic Games and sit atop the overall standings with 55 medals accrued since 1986 – including 26 golds.