World Sailing: Shaw fails in bid to land windsurfing medal

Bryony Shaw finished fifth in the windsurfing event

Bryony Shaw says she blew her chance of a women's windsurfing medal after finishing fifth at the World Sailing Championships in Santander.

The 31-year-old Briton started the event's final race in fourth, with Charline Picon of France already guaranteed gold.

Shaw told BBC Sport: "I gave myself a chance and unfortunately I blew it."

Britain's Giles Scott holds a 20-point lead in the Finn class with two more races go before Sunday's medal decider.

Shaw, a bronze medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said: "I'm pretty sad, gutted. I raced really well in that race and I don't know why I haven't been racing like that all week.

"I'm just frustrated trying to find the speed and I found it today, but it's all a bit late and then mistakes were creeping in. Silly, amateur mistakes."

Nick Dempsey also finished fifth in the men's windsurfing event. His hopes of a successful world title defence ended on Wednesday after three mid-fleet finishes cost him a chance of a place on the podium.

"It's disappointing because I enjoy winning and I do want to win, but the reality is that I came here wanting to finish in the top five and top five is good," he said.

Scott, the 2011 Finn world champion, has five race wins from his eight so far, while fellow Briton Ed Wright is fourth overall.

Elsewhere, Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark are in bronze medal position going into Saturday's decider in the 470 Women. Christina Bassadone and Eilidh McIntyre also made the cut after winning their last race of the day to qualify in eighth place overall.

European champions Luke Patience and Elliot Willis will start the men's final race in fourth.