TAVISTOCK College student Saskia Sills has topped off an amazing 12 months by being named Young Sailor of the Year at the London International Boat Show.

Windsurfer Saskia, 16, was presented with the prestigious Yachting Journalists' Association's Pantenaenius title for 2012 by Bob Fisher, chairman of the YJA, on Saturday. Former winners include Dame Ellen MacArthur and Sir Ben Ainslie.

Saskia said she felt 'really privileged' to have won the award: 'It's the first award I've ever won. I've been nominated for quite a few but I've never won anything before.'

'Obviously, the two young people I was up against are both committed and dedicated and lovely people — I thought we all could have won it really.'

Saskia attended the ceremony with her father — her mother was on Hayling Island for a training weekend with Saskia's twin, Imogen, who is also a top junior windsurfer.

Saskia said: 'Just before I was about to get the award, Mum turned up, so it was brilliant they could both be there.'

Saskia is following in her elder brother Sam's footsteps — he is now part of the Skandia Team GBR and she has just joined the team herself.

'I am at the bottom level of the Olympic team but it's a massive step in the right direction,' said Saskia, whose dream is to become a British Olympian.

'It's probably quite unrealistic for Rio — in windsurfing you tend to peak at about 26 or 27, so 2020 is the one I

am really aiming for,' she said.

Saskia is now competing at both junior and senior level and has eight big events lined up for this summer — all of them abroad.

Competing at this level is a big commitment financially for the Sills family and Saskia is hoping to attract sponsorship to help her achieve her sporting dream.

It also requires complete dedication. Saskia and Imogen are on the water training every weekend throughout the year, whatever the weather or temperatures. They also do gym sessions twice a week, strength and conditioning training and CV work almost every day.

Saskia, who is currently studying physics, geography and PE A-levels, said: 'The school has been brilliant, they've been really helpful, we've sorted a timetable so we can use the gym during the day and they've helped us a lot, it's nice to have that support.'

The young athlete is 'extremely close' to her twin, who is training with a group working parallel to the Skandia GBR team and is 'just a whisker away' from joining her.

She said she missed having the support of her sister at Saturday's ceremony.

'It's the first thing I've ever gone to without her, I missed her so much, but then I got to join her at the training camp and we just talked all night!

'Hopefully, this year will be her year, and I can be as supportive to her as she has been to me this year.'

Saskia made a huge impact last year in her first season in the Youth RS:X class. After winning the 2012 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships in April, she finished third overall in the RS:X Youth European Windsurfing Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, winning the Under 17 category.

She quickly followed that with victory at her first ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Ireland and another gold at the EUROSAF Youth Europeans. She also claimed the under 17 world title in addition to overall silver at the RS:X Youth Worlds in October.

Saskia was recently nominated for ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards alongside Olympic and Paralympic medallists — and before Christmas, she was also in the running for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

Saskia was among the 13 RYA Regional Young Sailor of the Year winners who are voted for by the RYA-affiliated sailing clubs. These young sailors have made a significant impact on youth sailing, ranging from gold medal achievements and overcoming adversity, to the huge amount of hard work and effort they give back to their clubs.

RYA chief executive Sarah Treseder said: 'Winning an RYA Regional Young Sailor of the Year Award is a huge achievement and this year we are delighted to see such a broad selection of winners.

'We have youngsters who have given up their time and shown real dedication to their clubs whilst others have achieved outstanding results out on the race course.

'All regional winners are a fantastic representation of youth in our sport.'