SASKIA Sills' rivals are in for a shock – with her failure to win her latest world title due to illness only going to make her more determined never to miss out again — according to RYA youth racing manager Duncan Truswell.

The Tavistock College pupil's bid to claim back-to-back girls' windsurfing titles at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships, something not achieved since Italian Laura Linares won between 2006 and 2008, was effectively ended before she touched down in Cyprus.

The 17-year-old was struck down sick but rather than withdraw she battled on and placed a valiant sixth overall after 13 races and countless hours on the water in Limassol as Lu Yunxiu took a first ever gold for China.

However, Sills is still eligible to compete at next year's regatta in Portugal and Truswell, who oversaw the 12-strong British team, insists her experiences in Cyprus have made her desperate to return with a vengeance.

'Saskia is young enough to compete next year and has tremendous potential,' said Truswell. 'It is pretty common that, of the 12 on the team, some remain and others move up,' said Truswell.

'She did well at the Europeans beforehand and all the guys she sailed against at those were in Cyprus but unfortunately she came down with illness.

'Ordinarily she would have gone and practiced on the Saturday and Sunday before racing began but she had to withdraw from that.

'Windsurfing is the most physical discipline, they are working pretty hard, and if you are not 100 per cent you are never going to compete.

'She was angry and disappointed. It was a very powerful experience. Win or lose, if you learn more than the opposition in sailing you're going to do well.

'It was a unique opportunity to demonstrate some resilience and character. She was disappointed and angry but she's determined to come back from it.'

While Sills didn't finish on the podium in Cyprus, Britain still enjoyed windsurfing success with Kieran Martin claiming a dominant victory in the boy's RS:X class.

But for Truswell he would have rather Sills been in the situation she was against the very best of her age group in Limassol than cruising to another gold medal like Martin did.

'We are determined to focus long term and in a way it can be a positive experience. I would rather that than she won every race and got the gold medal," he added.

'She had the support from the team at home and the doctor at home who looks after us. Her performance was not indicative of her as a sailor.

'For me the great thing about her performance was that it was pretty gutsy. She showed a lot of character, it wasn't about the outcome but how she responded.'

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