The pair teamed up in the 470 class after the Beijing Games in 2008, where Rogers earned his second silver medal, 13 years after they won the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships together.

However, they have now called time on their 2012 qualifying campaign and will not join their British team-mates at the 470 World Championships, starting in The Hague tomorrow.

Rogers said: "We've both worked incredibly hard this year but juggling responsibilities that we didn't have in our 20s has made it harder to dedicate the time required.

"Our goal was gold but it's just too much of a tall order in the time we have."

Rogers will now help other gifted dinghy sailors and will work on competitive sailing projects, while Green will return to his yacht construction business.



Green said: "It's been a great experience: a pleasure to sail with Nick and to work with the Skandia Team GBR staff whose expertise and commitment is a huge reason why the team is so successful.

"It's the end of an era for Nick and disappointing for me too but we both feel that to be successful in other areas of our lives something had to give."

Stephen Park, the Royal Yatching Association (RYA) Olympic manager, said:  "It's disappointing to be losing Nick and Pom from the programme - especially as Nick's experience and lively personality have been a big part of Skandia Team GBR for such a long time
now.

"But Olympic classes sailing is a punishing game, and I understand and respect the decision that they have come to after what's been a frustrating season for them.

Although we'd much rather have Nick involved in the squad, there is some pleasure in having someone who's grown and developed through the RYA's talent pathway - from junior level right through to the Olympic podium - now looking to make his way in the professional world of big boat sailing."


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