GREAT Britain’s sailors have won double gold at the 2016 AON Youth Sailing World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

Windsurfer Emma Wilson, who is a member of the Official Test Centre (OTC) at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy, wrapped up the RS:X girls' crown with a day to spare before Crispin Beaumont and Tom Darling sealed a dramatic victory in 29er boys. event on the final day of racing.

The Youth Sailing World Championships, for the world’s leading sailors aged 19 and under, is a proven talent indicator and past notable British Youth Worlds champions include Olympic gold medallists Ben Ainslie, Sarah Ayton and Giles Scott.

Christchurch’s Wilson, who won silver at this event in 2015, admits she cannot believe her name is now etched in the record books alongside such British greats.

She said: “For Youth sailors this is the pinnacle and it is pretty cool to have won it with a race to spare. It is crazy to think about some of the people who have won this before. I can’t begin to start thinking about myself as someone like them!

“I went into this event so determined. At the RS:X Worlds in Cyprus last month I was third all week and lost it in the medal race so I had so much determination not to let that happen again here. I just never gave up and never believed a race was over until it was and that determination is what has won me this. It doesn’t feel real.”

Weymouth-based Daniel Whiteley also finished eighth in the Laser Radial boys' event.

Meanwhile, it was a real nail-biter for Beaumont and Darling, who went into today’s last race showdown four points behind Gwendal Nael and Lilian Mercier (FRA).

The 18-year old pair already had 2016 29er class Worlds bronze and 2015 Europeans silver to their credit, but knew they had to keep a number of boats between themselves and the French to overcome the deficit to complete the medal set.

Beaumont and Darling crossed the finish line in third and were then left waiting to see where Nael and Mercier would finish to see if they had done enough for glory. With their French rivals eventually crossing in 10th, the British celebrations started.

More than 380 sailors from 65 nations have been doing battle across nine classes in Auckland.

The five days of racing started on Friday.

The performance of the whole British team in New Zealand ensured they finished the event second behind Italy in the overall Nations Trophy.