TAVISTOCK twin windsurfers Saskia and Imogen Sills are begging the powers that be not to end their Olympic dreams after getting a sneak peak of London 2012 atmosphere at last week's Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta.

The 15-year-olds were getting a taste of things to come this summer as they took to the Olympic waters at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for Sail for Gold – Saskia finishing the event in 32nd and Imogen 34th.

The trip to the south coast was never about medals for Saskia, who was fresh from winning the national title in April.

It was a chance to test herself against the world's best windsurfers who were warming up for their assault on the Games in the final regatta before it all gets underway.

However, Saskia's own Olympic ambitions have been dealt a blow with last month's decision by the International Sailing Federation to replace windsurfing with kiteboarding from Rio 2016 and beyond.

An appeal on the decision will be heard in November but until then the Tavistock College pupil admits she will have to cross her fingers and hope for the best.

'The Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta is definitely a big learning experience for me,' Saskia said. 'This is the biggest event I have ever done so I just wanted to gain as much experience as I can.

'I am still learning how to go fast and how to sail it really so this experience will be invaluable for that as I am going up against the world's best.

'It is quite frustrating with the decision to remove the RS:X class from the Olympic programme with me just starting out but there is still a possibility that they could overturn the decision in November so hopefully that is what happens.

'So everyone is all really upset about it but people are holding back until the final decision is made and we know for definite if it is out or in.

'So I will be carrying on and the good thing for me is that the youth kit for the board is the RS:X for another two years and I am a youth for the next two years so it isn't too bad for me.

'Hopefully it will stay and I will just keep working hard to see how far I can go while I am at youth level."

Saskia isn't alone in hoping for a change of heart with sister Imogen feeling the same.

But Imogen insists they have plenty to keep them occupied in the mean time with some big international competitions arriving fast on the horizon.

'At the beginning of July we're going to Estonia for the European Youth Championships, so I'm hoping to do quite well there,' said Imogen, whose brother Sam is also a windsurfer. 'From there I hope to get in the team for World Youth Championships in Taipei in October.

'I think only three of our girls will go there so I need to get in the top three so that is the aim. I'm hopeful but we are quite equal so it's difficult to tell what's going to happen.'

Investment specialist Skandia is the principal sponsor of the British sailing team. For more information go to http://www.skandiateamgbr">www.skandiateamgbr.