More than 300 young sailors from the International Optimist Class Association took to the waters off the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), which is due to stage the sailing during next year's Olympics, and completed a set course in a controlled area.

The record attempt, last July, required a huge amount of skill from the 318 sailors - all aged between seven and 15 - who had to navigate the course at the helm of their own dinghy.

Guinness World Records, formed back in 1954, covers both human achievements and extremes of the natural world.

It is the best selling copyrighted book series of all time and hugely popular internationally.

This award is a global recognition of a very significant profile within the record-breaking field.

The record success can be attributed to the talent of the sailors who were welcomed from across Europe, Asia, United Arab Emirates and even Oceania.

Many of them will have aspirations of Olympic sailing one day like their predecessors from the Optimist class.

John Tweed, chief executive at the WPNSA, said: "We are extremely proud of what we accomplished back in July.

"Now officially being a world record holder, I want to extend a big thanks to everyone that made it possible.

"All participants had a great time and we will be able to look back and remember the day we broke a Guinness world record."