 Ainslie was hampered by glandular fever in France |
Britain's Ben Ainslie won a silver medal at the Finn European Championship in France despite suffering from glandular fever. The world champion finished behind Poland's Mateusz Kusznierewicz with France's Guillaume Florent in third.
Ainslie's fellow Briton Andrew Simpson was back in 17th.
The Olympic Laser champion began the final day nine points behind the Pole but was disqualified for crossing the line early.
The 27-year-old Ainslie won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the Laser class before switching to the larger single-handed Finn.
The Hampshire-born sailor quickly romped to the Finn European title in 2002 and won the world and European crowns in 2003. He successfully defended the world championship in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Ainslie's fellow British gold medallist from Sydney, Shirley Robertson, finished a disappointing 16th in the Yngling world championship in Spain.
Robertson and crew Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb won the final race but were well behind the overall winners from Denmark.
Both Ainslie and Robertson's team will compete at the SPA Regatta in Holland from 26-30 May as they gear up for this summer's Athens Olympics.
MMIX
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