Intro:

There was double Dutch gold at the Sailing World Championships in Santander, Spain on Thursday (18 September) as Marit Bouwmeester and Nicholas Heiner tasted victory.

Script:

The medal races of the women's Laser Radial and the men's Laser in the Sailing World Championships took place in Santander.

The women were the first out on the water in blustery conditions.

Evi Van Acker of Belgium had the best start and was the first to tack off the to starboard side of the course.

Awkward waves made the downwind leg challenging.

The second upwind was all about change.

Tina Mihelic gained the most.

She took full advantage of a right-hand shift, jumping from eighth place to first.

Mihelic held on to take the race win, but Bouwmeester took the overall title with her third-place finish.

In the men's laser race Nick Thompson won the start.

Overnight leader Tom Burton struggled from the start and was unable to get across to the favoured right side of the course, which saw him round the first mark in last place.

Nick Heiner shone.

He held onto his second place on the downwind leg before seizing a one-minute lead on the next upwind.

Ultimately that saw him cruise to victory as those behind him constantly jostled for position.

The title went to Heiner.