Dempsey in action off Portland Bill

Nick Dempsey has been crowned 2009 RS:X World windsurfing champion at the 2012 Olympic venue in Weymouth, Dorset.

It was a first world title for the Norfolk-born 29-year-old, who won bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Going into Thursday's medal race he led the men's fleet and only needed to finish two places ahead of Israel's Nimrod Mashiah for victory.

Mashiah made a rule infringement early on and from that point onwards the Briton was in control.

"It's just awesome," he said afterwards.

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"I was a broken man after Beijing - to go into the medal race there joint first and then to come fourth was just heartbreaking.

"This year is what it was all about for me - my whole focus has been on this week. I've always wanted to be world champion so this is probably the pinnacle of my career, and I'm certainly sailing better than I ever have."

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