In spite of losing two days of the six day event – one day with too much wind courtesy of Hurricane Bill, the next with too little – the 31-year-old from Rotherham kept his cool throughout to add the world title to his Olympic and European crowns.

Nick Thompson, 23, made it a double celebration for British camp, clinching his first ever senior World Championship medal – a bronze – to ensure two British sailors were up on the podium.

Silver went to New Zealander Michael Bullot, who finished 6.5 points behind Goodison in the final standings, with Lymington’s Thompson just four points adrift in third.

Goodison said: “It’s fantastic, and such a relief."

The victory means Goodison remains unbeaten in international action since taking gold in Beijing a year ago.

As well as claiming the European title earlier this month for a fifth time, the Rotherham sailor took gold at three events of the ISAF Sailing World Cup that has competed at.

Goodison said: “Having won all my other events this year, and with the Worlds having been the big focus for me this year there was quite a bit of pressure to do the business and I’m just so happy that it’s all done and dusted."

But Thompson's performance ensures that Goodison will not be taking things easy in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics, when the sailing events are due to be held at Weymouth and Portland.

Goodison said: “I’ve got to watch my back.

"But all credit to Nick – he’s had a fantastic week and I’m really pleased for him.”

Goodison’s previous best Laser Worlds result came in 2002 where he finished third.

For Thompson himself, his bronze signals an important marker in establishing himself as one of the key contenders in the highly competitive Laser fleet.

He said: “This really was the year for me to make my mark.

"It’s been a difficult week, with a bit of everything thrown at us.

"I sailed a near perfect qualifying series, but then we didn’t race for the first two days of the finals with the hurricane and then afterwards, so that was mentally pretty challenging and I didn’t race that well on the first day back.

"But I knuckled down today and got two good results to stay on the podium so I’m really pleased."

Both sailors will next compete at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta – the seventh and final leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup – at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, which is due to take place September 14-19 where just a top 15 finish for Thompson should see him take the overall series victory.