One Design (IOD) champion, capturing his second title in ten years.

And youngster Blythe Walker added to the Island's celebrations by giving Bermuda a magnificent one-two finish.

Following the last of eight races on the waters off Tonsberg in Norway, Simmons, who won the IOD Worlds back in 1985 in San Francisco and has been a runner-up since, was left with 22.5 points -- 6.25 ahead of second-placed Walker.

The victory sparked a family celebration as Simmons' crew this week has included sons Blair and Scott and wife Sacha as well as veteran Jay Hooper.

Walker's crew was made up of Faith Outerbridge, Alice Doyle, Stephen (Clark) King and father Jordy Walker.

Simmons went into the final race yesterday only needing a top eight finish, following a first and third on Thursday, to clinch the title.

In light conditions, with a breeze of just two to five knots, the race committee shortened the course to avoid the expiration of the three and a half hour time limit, and although victory went to former champion Bill Widnall, Simmons' sixth place finish proved sufficient.

Walker barely managed to hold onto second place after struggling through the last race to finish a disappointing 12th. But it was just enough to hold off America's James McCreary who took third in the last event and third overall.

After his discard, Walker totalled 28.5 points and McCreary 29.75 with America's Jock Kohlhas a distant fourth (38.00).

Entering the final day, Simmons led the 16-boat fleet, representing five countries, by seven and a half points and barring disaster was virtually assured of the championship.

He put himself into perfect position during Thursday's two races, sailed in blustery 10-18 knot breezes, posting a third place finish in the morning's sixth event and then sailing home first in the evening's seventh race.

That gave him a substantial lead over early leader Walker who endured a miserable day, but was fortunate to emerge still in second place overall.

Walker took fifth place in the morning and then in the evening suffered a broken mainsail halyard while just ahead of Simmons. He was thus forced to retire, leaving him seven and a half points behind his fellow Bermudian.

The morning's race was won by McCreary who then took fourth in the day's second race.

Like Walker, American James Bishop, fourth overall at the time, suffered a broken mainsail halyard.

Final results Race 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 TP 1 P.Simmons (Bda) 9 1 2 1 14 3 1 6 22.25 2 B.Walker (Bda) 1 9 5 3 1 5 5Y 12 28.25 3 J.McCreary (US) 15 2 13 4 3 1 4 3 29.75 4 J.Kohlhas (US) 7 3 17 2 9 11 2 4 38.00 5 J.Bishop Jn. (US) 6 11 1 15 6 4 3 8 38.75 6 J.Burhnam (US) 5 15 9 6 10 2 6 2 40.00 7 H.Metteier (US) 3 5 17 12 5 7 3 7 42.00 8 B.Midwall (US) 12 4 8 9 15 10 5 1 48.75 9 U.Ristorf (Nor) 2 6 6 14 2 12 12 13 53.00 10 G.Manuel (Sco) 14 13 11 5 12 6 8 5 60.00 11 J.P.Roed (Hol) 8 7 9 10 8 13 9 9 60.14 12 V.Geraci (US) 4 10 3 13 7 4 10 16 61.00 13 B.Burnham (US) 10 14 4 16 4 9 11 10 62.00 14 P.Manning (US) 16 8 10 7 11 8 7 15 66.00 15 A.Johnsen (Hol) 11 12 7 8 9 15 13 11 71.00 16 T.W.Root (US) 13 16 14 11 13 16 14 14 95.00 PENNY SIMMONS -- captured his second IOD world title in ten years.