The 25-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy and has a loss of control down her right side, was tipped to represent Great Britain at her home Gamesafter a superb 18 months in the International 2.4-metre keelboat, one of the three Paralympic classes.

Pascoe won her first World Championship medal in July 2010, while further successes included silver at the 2.4 Nationals in Rutland, silver at the Delta Lloyd World Cup regatta in Netherlands and eighth place at the Sail for Gold 2011 in Weymouth and Portland.

However, she suffered a fall last month while racing in Florida and although she says she now feels fine, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the national governing body for sailing, has ruled that she cannot sail independently for the next six months, meaning she will miss out on the chance to qualify for London 2012.

"Basically when I was out in Florida sailing in early December, I fell over and that caused a seizure," she said.

"I can't remember anything about it.

"I think it was more scary for everybody else.

"I had concussion and it took two days to feel normal and three days before I was back on the water.

"I carried on and came fourth at the pre-worlds at Charlotte Harbour Yacht Club, which was really good considering I was still feeling pretty rubbish."

Following Pascoe's return to England, a neurologist concluded that she should not to drive for up to six months and the RYA then decided that as "a duty of care" she should not sail independently during this time.

Pascoe hopes that a second neurologist appointment will clarify the timescale but admitted that her chances of London 2012 selection are over.

"It's annoying because I was pretty sure I was going to get that one," she said.

"If I had broken my leg I could understand it, but I feel absolutely fine right now and I can still do things.

"2011 was a pretty amazing year for me.

"I've put a lot of time into the 2.4.

"I've been sailing the boat for 10 years and I love it."

Pascoe will continue to train with her British team-mates to further her own sailing skills and also to help the individuals that will compete at London 2012.

"The plan for the next few months is to try and help the guys in the Skud, the Sonar and 2.4 get a medal, which I'm sure they can.

"Then I'll sit and watch the events. It should be an amazing couple of weeks in Weymouth and Portland.

"I've got to that stage where I really want to sail other things and this year is going to give me opportunities to do this."

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