SAILING: Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby has backed the Australian sailing team to reproduce the same stunning results in Rio as they did at the London Games.

Australia claimed three golds - including Slingsby's in the Laser class - and a silver in 2012 to make them the country's most successful team in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

"I think we could replicate that, but probably not beat that," Slingsby told AAP at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

"I think we have four very strong medal chances."

Slingsby said Mathew Belcher, who won gold with Malcolm Page in the men's 470 dinghy, would be difficult to beat to the top of the podium again.

The five-time world champion now competes with Will Ryan, and the pair have been virtually undefeated throughout 2013 and 2014.

Another is Tom Burton, who is world No.1 in the Laser since Slingsby turned his focus to America's Cup.

"He is my training partner, and he's sort of picked up the baton and run with it," Slingsby said.

"He's dominating, he's a real chance."

Slingsby also named London gold medallist Nathan Outteridge and his crewmate Iain Jensen as strong medal hopes in the 49er and cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin as likely contenders in the Nacra 17, a new mixed-gender multi-hull boat class which will premier on the Rio Olympic program.

Slingsby, who joined the successful Oracle Team USA straight after the London Olympics, has been closely following the Australian team's progress in the build-up to Rio.

The 30-year-old admits that after competing in two Olympics himself, he's finding it a little difficult not being a part of it this time.

"If you asked me a year ago how much I miss it I probably would have said I'm on a new chapter and I'm enjoying this," he said.

"But all the hype for the Olympics, there's nothing like it. I definitely miss all the adrenaline of knowing you're going to an Olympics.

"America's Cup, we've got the same thing - an event every four years - but it was just a bit different when I was competing by myself.

"I dedicated 12 years to the Olympics and when I stuffed up in China in 2008 I had to wait four years for another chance."

Slingsby went to Beijing as the world No.1 in the men's Laser class but buckled on his Olympic debut to finish 22nd overall in a devastating blow that nearly prompted the Central Coast native to give up the sport, before he finally found redemption in London.

Though his commitments as team leader for Oracle have prevented him from contesting Rio, Slingsby said he's definitely not done.

"I've probably got two more Olympics after this one if I want to keep going," he said.

"I see myself doing another Olympic campaign. This one just didn't work out quite right ... but 2020, why not?

AAP