Epsom Paralympian Alexandra Rickham insists her silver medal efforts at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta will be the exception rather than the rule in the build-up to London 2012.

The 28-year-old, sailing with Niki Birrell, had high hopes of topping the podium in Weymouth, but had to settle for second behind Americans Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett in the skud-18.

Rickham will have little time to dwell on her outing on the Paralympic waters, with the Disabled Sailing World Championships in Greece fast approaching.

And the Surrey sailor – who finished fifth with Birrell at the Paralympics in Qingdao last summer – admitted gold is the only colour she wants to see over the next three years.

“We are a bit disappointed with silver in Weymouth and, in reality, we want to be winning gold as that is what we want to win in three years,” said Rickham – part of the Skandia Team GBR performance squad.

“We are heading to Athens for our World Championships in a couple of weeks and that has always been our focus.

“We had a tough year and were disappointed not to medal in Beijing and that disappointment makes us more determined to get gold next time around.”