RHU sailor Anna Burnet has set her sights firmly on winning gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo – and has launched an online fund-raising campaign to help turn her dream into a reality.

Burnet and her team-mate John Grimson hope to raise £15,000 towards the cost of a new boat to enable them to compete in the mixed multi-hull Nacra class in Tokyo in two years’ time.

Fresh from a fourth-place finish at the World Cup in Miami earlier this year, Burnet and Grimson are currently ranked third in the world and are hoping the public will help them reach what – assuming she’s selected – will be the 25-year-old’s first Olympics.

The former Lomond School pupil said: “John and I receive a small personal living allowance from UK Sport, alongside grants from the British sailing team to allow us to fulfil the majority of our training and competition schedule.

“One area of the campaign that we receive no financial subsidy for is equipment. With the amount that we sail the boats, their durability and the fact that we will have to ship one overseas this summer, we have already had to order a new boat.

“Sailing is a technical sport and competing with the top specification of equipment is of paramount importance.”

The pair’s new boat – for the fastest class in the Olympic sailing competition – will cost £18,165, and they’re hoping to attract financial support from individuals, groups and corporate backers to help them realise their Tokyo dream.

Burnet, who has been racing competitively since the age of 11, added: “Having previously competed with different people and in different boats, John and I teamed up in September 2016 to create a partnership that we strongly believe can succeed on the world stage.

“With just two and a half years until the Olympic Games, every day will count and we are completely devoted to making this happen.

“We have already had a number of top level results and have never finished outside the top six on the international stage.

“We currently sit at third in the world rankings and we feel confident with the process we have put in place to get us to the 2020 Olympics.”

The online funds campaign closes on Sunday, May 13, and can be found at thrillpledge.com/projects/join-team-gb-nacras-road-to-tokyo-2020