KNOWING that the Under-16 Optimist World Championships in Turkey would be her last, Rachel Lee wanted to go out with a bang.

But, after five days of racing with three races to go, the 15-year-old found herself in fourth position.

She needed a strong finish on the final day, and that is exactly what she got on Thursday.

Third, fourth and ninth-place finishes allowed her to wrest silver in the girls' category with 176 points.

She also ended with her best overall finish - 11th of 250 entries - at the championships.

Japan's Tomoyo Wakabayshi was tops among the 46 girls with 128 points, while China's Lu Yuting grabbed the bronze with 192 points.

Rachel said: 'Before the last day, I was so far from the first place. Second-place was as good a finish as I could have asked for. So to finish second was wonderful.'

With the conditions in Cesme, Izmir, varying throughout the 15-race event, the sailors also experienced peaks and troughs in their results.

Rachel's highest finish was second, while one of her two discarded results was a 71st-place finish.

The Singapore Sports School student said: 'It's one of the most inconsistent regattas I've ever had. Thankfully, it was the same for everyone else.'

The silver in the girls' category was her second in the championships.

Last Sunday, Singapore finished second in the team event.

For more information on the Optimist World Championship, visit http://www.optiworld2008.com