White won the Tornado class in Montreal with his brother-in-law John Osborn.

He suffered a heart-attack shortly after sailing his 18-foot Brightlingsea One-Design with his grandsons.

The funeral procession followed the same route that he and Osborn had followed 34 years ago upon their return from Canada.

They had already won in the World and European Championships earlier that year.

Brought up in Brightlingsea, White was a natural sailor whose father had been a boat-builder.

From school, he underwent a boat-building apprenticeship at James and Stone’s yard in Brightlingsea.

He and Osborn won their gold medal in a Tornado catamaran, designed and made by White at his Brightlingsea-based business Sailcraft.

His business flourished until the recession of the early nineties, when it was wound up and he began a new business venture building boats for companies that marketed them, White Formula.

When the procession arrived at All Saints' Church there was a floral tribute in the shape of the Olympic rings and White's gold medal was proudly displayed.

His family also all wore yellow socks - which was his trademark - in his honour.

Osborn said: "We shouldn't have regrets.

"He had a fantastic life.

"He achieved more than most people could dream of."