THERE was a nail-biting finish to racing at the International 14 World Championships on borough waters.

Principal race officer David Campbell-James managed to squeeze in races six and seven before the 1400 time limit, despite a fickle and shifting south-easterly breeze in Weymouth Bay.

The world title in the 14-foot double-handed racing dinghy event was still up for grabs on Sunday’s final day with Britain’s Roger Gilbert and Ben McCrane two points ahead of their fellow countrymen Archie Massey and Dan Wilsdon.

Meanwhile, Britain’s third-place boat Katie Nurton and Nigel Ash was just six points off first.

Race six got underway on the second start under the black flag in eight knots of wind.

Gilbert rounded the first mark sixth and Massey 12th, while Nurton wiped out any deficit by leading the race early on.

By the end of the race, Glen Truswell and Chris Blackburn had pulled out a large lead to take first, followed by Nurton and Ash and Portland’s Sam Pascoe and Alex Knight.

The title contenders continued their battle with Gilbert and McCrane keeping a loose cover over Massey and Wilsdon – both finished with their worst results of the regatta – a seventh and a 10th.

The final race loomed and after one general recall, the black flag was pulled out.

The wind had built to 13 knots by the time the two contenders shot out the line, neck and neck.

After a close race, Gilbert and McCrane took the lead on the final beat.

The Canadian pairing of Billy Gooderham and Ian Hogan in their Killing Three were running a solid third.

The drama was not over as Gilbert and McCrane crossed the finish line to no sound signal, they were unfortunately black-flagged at the start and in doing so lost the race – handing the race win and World Championship title to Massey and Wilsdon.

Overall, the duo were crowned world champions for an unprecedented third time, Gilbert and McCrane finished second overall with Nurton and Ash third.

British, Australian and German boats made up the remaining top 10 positions – with Portland’s Sam Pascoe in seventh place.

The two-week championships was hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, supported by Artemis, Oceanair and Magma.

A prize-giving dinner was held at Weymouth Pavilion with evening entertainment provided by the Crews Union.

Attention has now turned to Canada and the 2013 Toronto event hosted by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

Find out more at www.i14worlds.com