The 2004 Laser 4.7 youth worlds and European championships took place in Riva Del Garda, Italy between 17-24 July.

Justin Onvlee of South Africa took the world title while Anita di Asio of Italy, was the highest placed female.

The year’s event proved to be one of the largest world championships for under 18 year olds with 276 sailors from 23 countries competing in the stunning arena of Riva Del Garda.

Great Britain was represented by a 50-strong squad of youngsters. Highest placed at the end of the championships was Richard de Boltz, closely followed by Max Holloway. The highest placed British female was Clare Chapple.

Each days’ racing was split into four groups for a qualifier series followed by a split into gold, silver, bronze and emerald for the final series. Day one saw the thermal winds of Lake Garda at a steady 12-14 knots. Justin Onvlee was the only sailor to score two first places in the highly competitive fleet.

On day two the overnight leader, Justin Onvlee from South Africa had another good day in the 10-14 knots winds scoring a first and second in his races to maintain his lead.

On Day 3 the wind peaked at 17 knots which gave a home advantage to Anita Di Asio. She scored a second in her first race and won her second race by over a minute.

Justin Onvlee RSA maintained his overall lead by one point from Dany Stansic SLO Day 4 saw the last two races of the qualifier series with pressure at the top just starting to tell on the leaders. Justin Onvlee from South Africa only managed sixth place in his first race, with his main challenger Dani Stanisic from Croatia coming fourth, thereby giving him the overall lead for the first time in the series.

To enable the international competitors to get home and to catch the last of the offshore northerly Riva night wind, the last day’s racing was early – on the water at 7am, warning signal at 8am.