Australian sailing duo Darren Bundock and John Forbes finished first in the Tornado-class European Championships in Italy at the weekend.

However, as non-Europeans, the Subaru-sponsored pair were not awarded the title, which instead went to overall second-placed Andreas Hagare and Michael Seigl of Austria.

Bundock and Forbes were awarded the Matts Nyberg Trophy for the third time, previously winning in 1999 and 2001.

Race Nine was won by Hugh Styles and Adam May after beating Bundock and Forbes for the best position on the starting line. In turn, Bundock and Forbes ended up with their worst start in the series and rounded the first mark in 30th position with their main rivals Hagara and Seigl in seventh position.

Bundock had to finish within five positions of Hagara to take the title. Throughout the race Bundock and Forbes passed 20 boats to cross the finish over lapped with Hagara.

With both teams content with Hagara and Seidl as European Champions and Bundock and Forbes overall winners, the two teams celebrated and watched the rest of the fleet start race 10.

Race 10 was won by Santiago Lange and Carlos Espinoza from Argentina, from the French team of Backes and Laurent.

Earlier on the weekend, race seven was held in light conditions with a few unknown teams in the top of the pack, including the winners Semenov and Bogazkin from Russia, which lifted them to 25th overall.

The left side of the course was favoured on the first leg. Bundock and Forbes were the first and probably only team to make it from the right side and were placed 11th at mark 1. They slowly worked their way through the fleet to finish fourth, just one metre behind the second Russian team.

Race eight was the one the fleet was dreading. The first start attempt was delayed due to a General Recall, as the fleet struggled in 4 to 6 knot winds. However, the race finally got underway and the bulk of the teams went left - only to see the right side pay. Hagara of Austria scraped through and then worked his way up to sixth.

Bundock and Forbes, however, were 46th at Mark 1, with a big job ahead. They gybbed at Mark 1 and overtook 21 boats on the second leg, to be back in the game. They then continued to work through the fleet up to 16th place by the finish.

Overall Results

1st Bundock/Forbes
2nd A. Hagara/Seidl
3rd R.Hagara/Steinacher