Sailors from Italy and Latvia win world championships in Dún Laoghaire

Sailors from Italy and Latvia emerged victorious in the ILCA Laser 4.7 Youth World Championships, which concluded in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, on Saturday.

More than 230 competitors representing 31 countries descended on Dublin Bay for the sailing event, which lasted seven days. It was the largest international sporting event taking place in Ireland this year.

The boats being raced, known as laser single-handed dinghies, were made famous in Ireland by Annalise Murphy when she won a silver medal for Ireland in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The 4.7 laser class is for sailors between the ages of 14 and 17. Many of the international competitors in Ireland this week were ultimately vying to represent their countries in the next Olympics.

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The event was hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club and the National Yacht Club. With mixed weather across the week of sailing, there was stiff competition for the international sailors.

The ultimate winner of the competition in the female fleet was Emma Mattivi of Italy, followed by Croatian Petra Marednic and Italian Gaia Bolzonella in second and third place respectively.

In the male fleet, Martins Atilia of Latvia took home gold, while Greek sailor Alexandros Eleftheriadis took silver and Massimiliano Antoniazzi won the bronze medal.

The best of the Irish girls were Tralee’s Eimer McMorrow in 38th and Dún Laoghaire’s Anna O’Connor in 40th. The Irish boys were led by Rocco Wright of Howth in 49th and Dún Laoghaire’s Archie Daly in 61st place.