FORGET sibling rivalry, sisters Erin and Islay Watson are intent on giving their family more than one reason to cheer when they fly the flag for Great Britain at this month’s RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships.

Erin and Islay, at 17 and 16 years respectively, will both make the trip out to Limassol, Cyprus for the global gathering which starts on Saturday.

For youngest sister Islay – who will be ranked in the Under-17 girls category – it will be her first battle on the water against the best in the business, although Erin already has some experience of such a step up having appeared at this year’s RS:X Youth European Championships in July.

On that occasion, she finished as the second highest Brit in 14th place in Helsinki with the rising star determined to improve on that even further later this month.

“I’m excited because now I’ve got into it – I did the one in Helsinki not so long ago – I feel like I’m more ready for it and I want to get some really good results,” said Erin, who also finished as the eighth best girl at last year’s World Championships in Italy.

“For the first one I was absolutely terrified going into it because it’s just so big and the people I was in a team with, they had all done loads of them before and they were all quite calm and I was panicking a bit.

“It was very different doing a youth one compared to the junior ones.

“Before an event like the Worlds, you learn way more than the rest of the year because it’s the big run up. It’s almost like panic revising for your exams, you get so much done going into it. There is going to be more people that there was in Helsinki and in Helsinki I think I came 14th so to come top 10 would be good for me.

“We were discussing my progress with my coach recently – me now compared to me last year. There’s a massive difference, just looking at footage when we’ve analysed film and things. You don’t notice it as you’re doing it but there is a difference in my sailing now and I’ve improved a lot.”

Despite their tender years, there is no doubt that the Watson family are on course to make an impact on the world scene during their sailing careers.

Originally from Aviemore in the Scottish highlands, their gran Dot recently sold her house at the age of 74 to relocate to Weymouth – a move that will provide the girls with a home away from home as they train at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

Both are also part of the SSE Next Generation scheme which provides financial support and training to the sports stars of the future, with younger sister Islay demonstrating her potential last year with a 20th place finish in the Under-17 category at the Techno 293 European Championships in Latvia.

And with Cyprus representing her Youth Worlds debut, Islay admits she will be looking to tap into her sister’s knowledge.

“I’m excited because it’s going to be a good experience. I’m a bit nervous at the same time as I’ve never done that before but I’ve got Erin there to help,” she said.

“I think it would be a lot harder if Erin wasn’t there. They are all just older than me and better than me.

“There’s a bit less pressure in some ways because it’s my first one so it’s not really going to matter how I do.

“I think it’s been a good year. At the start, I felt I wasn’t very good but in a short period of time, I’ve come far.

“I’m looking forward to being on the start line. Although I feel like there’s improvements I can make there. The start is very important, you have to be aggressive.”

n SSE’s Next Generation programme partners with SportsAid to provide financial support and training to the sports stars of the future. Keep up to date with the latest @SSENextGen