U21 Laser World Championship - Lorenzo Chiavarini victorious

by Lindsey Bell on 27 Aug 2014 Rising British sailing talent Lorenzo Chiavarini hopes his under 21 Laser World Championship victory will ‘push him on to greater things’, as he added the junior world title to his under 21 European crown in Douarnenez, France, this weekend (23 August).

The 20-year-old from Argyll claimed his second major title of the year having recovered from a season-threatening wrist break back in March, and overcame 104 other young Laser talents to take the coveted world crown at the Brittany venue.

Chiavarini, who studies at Plymouth University, paid tribute to the British Sailing Team sports science staff who helped him get back on track and racing again following his injury.

'I thought I was in a bad position this year straight after breaking my wrist, but the team spirit that Alex [Hopson], Wayne [Kitchener] and Dave [Macutkiewicz] have given me pulled my hopes up and we all worked hard as a team to get me back up and back on to the water again.

'Without them and my coach Peter [Walker] I wouldn’t have been in this situation now and I’m very grateful to them.'

Chiavarini claimed the world title by just three points over Norway’s Hermann Tomasgaard across the 11-race series, but in spite of the closely-fought battle, the young Scot managed to keep his cool.

'We were always so close on points, but I was very relaxed the whole way through. Compared to the Europeans I was so relaxed and confident and enjoying it a lot more.

'I was confident that if something went wrong that I could do something about it.

'I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,' he said of his World Champion moniker, 'but everyone’s saying well done and especially having won the Europeans as well. It’s unbelievable!'

Chiavarini received an added boost during the regatta, learning that he had been awarded a last-minute place at the senior ISAF Sailing World Championships at Santander next month.

As a senior event, he knows that the level of competition will be even higher but is looking forward to the challenge.

'I’m just going to Santander to enjoy myself – just like I did at the Worlds and Europeans. I’ve got into this mindset where if I’m enjoying it then I sail even better.

'Obviously I’ll try and sail my best, limit the mistakes and do as well as I can. Hopefully my confidence from these two events can push me on to greater things.'

The under 21 Laser Radial World Championship was staged concurrently in Douarnenez, with the British Sailing Team’s Georgina Povall and Rheanna Pavey placing 11th and 15th respectively.

For full Laser u21 World Championship results, click British Sailing Team website