The strongest winds of the series were a fitting finale for the last day of racing in the Laser Radial World Championships in Fortaleza, Brazil. In winds averaging 18 knots that were gusting to 23 knots all Paige Railey USA and Eduardo de Magalhaes Couto BRA needed was one good race to take the Women's and Men's World titles. Railey had already demonstrated a possible weak link when she capsized when leading a race yesterday whereas Couto was likely to get a third yellow flag that would put him out of the championship altogether.

At the first mark in the men's race Couto was doing enough lying fourth with his closest rival, Brad Funk USA, right behind him. By the end of the down wind leg he had overtaken race leader Alp Alpagut TUR with Funk only gaining one more place to fourth. That was enough for the young Brasilian who went on to win the race and put the World title safely in his pocket.

As Couto headed for the shore Funk was living dangerously with an aggressive start to the last race. His closest rival, Blair Mclay led him round the first mark and the two then played cat and mouse throughout the race with Funk winning the down wind legs and Mclay coming back on the upwind. Race honours went to the Mclay after Funk was disqualified for breaking the start line which left Funk in second place with a point advantage over the New Zealander.

With all the leading women, except Sophie de Turckheim FRA, watching each other in the first women's race of the day it was left to Belgium Evi Van Acker to lead Nufar Edelman ISR and De Turkheim round the first mark. Back in the teens Railey was having a private battle with her nearest rival Anna Tunnicliffe USA. Van Acker led throughout to finish ahead of Trine Abrahamsen DEN with Edelman in third and De Turkheim in fourth. Behind them Tunnicliffe and Railey crossed 14th and 15th respectively which was enough to give Railey her championship title but dropped Tunnicliffe to third overall, 7 points behind De Turkheim.

The wind eased a few knots for the last race but that did not affect De Turkheim's determination to hang on to her second place. Having missed the European Championship because of a broken foot and then been sick for the first two days of this championship she was again in contention at the first mark rounding second to Lizzie Vickers GBR. By the end of the next lap she had passed Vickers and then there was no stopping her to the finish. Tunnicliffe recovered to seventh which gave her a safe Third overall.

In winning the first Laser Radial World title since the class became the women's single handed equipment Railey showed a maturity beyond her 18 years of age. Although she has previously won grade one events and other major titles this was the big one. In a wide variety of testing conditions from 6 to 25 knots each day there were casualties amongst an experienced fleet. Railey never won a race and only scored three top three places. Quite often she fought her way back from lower positions to achieve consistent single results. This was a high scoring championship with a number of sailors able to hold their own at the front. Even so the rest of the fleet know they will have to raise their game significantly if they are to beat Railey next August when the Laser Radial World Championships are held at the California Yacht Club in Los Angeles.

Full results: www.laserinternational.org