In sunny conditions which contrasted with the blustery winds of the previous day, the 32-year-old from Offensach completed the 1000m course on Bosbaan Lake in 5min 31.35sec, finishing just over two seconds clear of silver medallist Juan Barcia Alonso of Spain in 5:33.75, who had led to the halfway point, and bronze medallist Dzmitry  Ryshkevich, who clocked 5:36.82.

Earlier this season, Schmidt made the A final in the second World Rowing Cup of the series at Aiguebelette in France, finishing fifth.

Claudia Santos of Brazil won the women's AS single sculls B final by an eight-second margin from Katelynne Steinke of the United States, 6:09.20 to 6:17.59.

Italy's Eleonora De Paolis was third in 6:35.74.

Claudia Santos, Brazil's winner of the AS single sculls B final today at the World Rowing Championships, is pictured lakeside in Amsterdam ©Getty Images

Poland's Michal Gadowski and Jolanta Pawlak won the B final in the Trunk and Arms (TA) mixed double sculls, recording a time of 4:35.35 to finish clear of the Russian pairing of Svetlana Nuzhdina and Vasily Feoktistov, who clocked 4:43.68, and Germany;s Sylvia Pille-Steppart and Marcus Klemp 4:52.00.

Tomorrow will see Great Britain's 2008 Beijing Paralympic AS men's single sculls champion Tom Aggar take on Australia's defending champion Erik Horrie in what will be one of five Para-rowing A finals.

Britain's hopes are also riding high in the AS women's single sculls with Rachel Morris, who transitioned from hand-cycling to Para-rowing last year.

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