The Australian duo had won the past three editions of the Championships, with Belcher’s winning streak at the event having stretched back to 2010 after he also secured a hat-trick of titles alongside former team-mate Malcolm Page.

Their challenge, however, was all but ended after a disastrous opening day of the regatta with Fantela and Marenic taking full advantage to move clear at the top of the overall standings throughout the course of the week.

Ahead of the medal race, the 2009 winners had established a 13-point lead over their nearest rivals, New Zealand's Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox, and they won with a final tally of 52 points.

The Croatians made sure of their triumph by storming to victory in the medal race to end their week in Argentina in style.

“It feels amazing, it has been a tough week and we are really happy,” said Fantela.

“After seven years, we got gold back.

“Mostly every day of this week I was refreshing memories from our gold at the 2009 Worlds in Denmark and I am very happy.

“It helps that we have been in many medal races and we know we have to stay calm whatever.”

Snow-Hansen and Willcox claimed the silver medal after ending on 58 points for the regatta.

The bronze medal was shared between Belcher and Ryan and France’s Sofian Bouvet and Jérémie Mion after the teams both finished on 66 points.

In the women’s event, overnight leaders Camille Lecointre and Helene Defrance of France sealed the gold medal.

The duo finished in 14th position in the medal race but it proved enough to end three points clear of Olympic gold medallists Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, the Kiwis claiming the silver on 57.

Austria’s Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar, winners in the 2014 and 2015 editions of the Championships, completed the podium after ending on a tally of 62 points.