Britain's Nick Thompson takes world Laser silver

Thompson unsure of 2012 laser place

Britain's Nick Thompson claimed silver in the Laser World Championships at Hayling Island.

With Australia's Tom Slingsby holding a commanding 32-point lead going into the final two races, Thompson's focus was on protecting his overall second place.

The 24-year-old finished seventh in the penultimate race and 26th in the last to hold off his nearest challengers.

Meanwhile, in the Finn World Championships in San Francisco Brit Edward Wright took gold.

Wright's compatriot Giles Scott took bronze, behind Spain's Rafael Trujillo. Double Olympic Finn champion Ben Ainslie did not take part.

Heading into the final day at Hayling Island, Thompson's nearest rival was Cypriot Pavlos Kontides, but his 33rd in the final race meant he finished fifth, with New Zealand's Andrew Murdoch and Argentine Julio Alsogaray leapfrogging him to take third and fourth place respectively.

606: DEBATE

Give your reaction to Thompson's silver medal in the Laser World Championships

"In the second race I had to pretty much stay next to Pavlos to guarantee my silver medal," explained Thompson.

"I had a great start, managed to roll Pavlos and put him back in the fleet, then tacked and I was looking good, tried to duck a boat and actually capsized so that made it tough again.

"I had to fight back and get near Pavlos again and fortunately I managed to do that."

Defending World and Olympic champion Paul Goodison, whose own world title hopes had faded on Saturday after a second race disqualification, hit back to win the first race on Sunday before finishing 10th in the second to end ninth overall.

He will now fight it out with Thompson for the single Laser spot for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London.

"I think both Paul and I have proven that we're capable of medalling, so this evens things up a little bit more between us I guess, but Paul's a very, very, very good competitor," added Thompson.

"I feel a bit bad for him this week - he really sailed well and just fell on the wrong side of some bad luck."

With victory Slingsby has made it three world crown's in four years. At the women's RS:X windsurfing worlds in Denmark, Briton Bryony Shaw ended in a personal best fourth, level on points with bronze medallist Charlene Picon of France.