The London 2012 Olympian, whose previous best finish at a World Championship was fourth in 2012, claimed an emphatic final-race victory over United States’ Paige Railey to seal glory.

After a hard-fought regatta where the overall lead changed daily, it all came down to just a single point in the end.

Young, 28, held her nerve to take her third win of the week in the 13th and last race, relegating one-time leader Railey into the silver medal position by the narrowest of margins.

"It was pretty tense in that last race," Young, fifth at London 2012, admitted. 

"I managed to lead all the way round and I was lucky to have done enough overall.

"I've sailed pretty consistently through the week and it's been super-tight racing all the way through.

"Going into today, four or five people could have won the Championships, which is the nature of laser racing.

"It's really pleasing to have stayed consistent and kept executing what we've been working on, and for it all to come through in the end."

Railey finished no lower than ninth throughout the week as the 2005 gold medallist clinched her fifth career podium finish at world level.

"I'm very proud of my results," Railey, a Rolex World Sailor of the Year and US Sailing Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, said. 

"I showed consistency, and didn't do anything drastic.

"This was a huge step in my career.

"I am looking forward to the [Olympic] Games."

With an eighth, a fourth and a fifth in the final three races, Denmark's Anne-Marie Rindom took home the bronze medal after leapfrogging The Netherlands' Marit Bouwmeester, who could only manage a disappointing 17th, 19th and third on the last day of action.