Subaru-sponsored sailors Darren Bundock and John Forbes are leading the Tornado-class European Championships in Italy after two days of competition.

The pair spent a week in Cagliari Sardinia, preparing for the event with the air temperature in the 30s.

A 10-12 knot sea breeze on day one helped competitors as the 76-boat fleet from 23 nations got underway.

The Greek team of Dannis Paschalidis and Christos Garefis lead for most of the first race until they were overhauled by Bundock and Forbes and also the French team of Backes and Laurent.

Race two saw Bundock and Forbes lead from start to finish with a great battle for second between the Argentinians, Puerto Ricans, French and Austrians.

Despite their overnight lead, day two proved very tricky for Bundock and Forbes with the prevailing sea breeze struggling to dominate.

Race three started in eight knots of breeze and decreased throughout the race. Most of the fleet was caught out on the first upwind leg when the breeze decreased and tended right. A few of the top contenders were trapped on the left hand side of the course including Bundock and Forbes.

However, the Australians fought hard to move through the fleet to finish 10th.

Race four saw the sea breeze finally strengthen and the usual wind pattern prevail.

Bundock and Forbes had the best start. The two increased their lead over the Swedish team of Strandberg and Mattsson.
Overall results after four races:
1. AUS Bundock/Forbes 1,1,10,1 (13)
2. ARG Lange/Espinoza 4,2,25,2 (33)
3. GRE Paschalidis/Garefis 3,27,1,7 (38)
4. AUT R.Hagara/Steinacher 8,3,18,13 (42)
5. AUT A.Hagara/Seidl 11,9,2,21 (43)
6. RUS Kirilyuk/Ushkov 13,16,4,18 (51)
7. ESP Echavarri/Paz 27,6,7,12 (52)
8. NED Booth/Derksen 6,5,9,36 (56)
9. GBR McMillan/Bulkeley 14,14,21,8 (57)
10. FRA Revill/Guillemette 9,12,27,10 (58)

Bundock and Forbes record includes:
2002 World Champions
2002 #1 World Ranking
2002 AYF Sailors of the Year
2001 World Champions
2001 European Champions
2000 Olympic Silver Medallists
1999 European Champions
1998 World Champions

(Forbes with previous partner 1992 Bronze Medallist, 1992 and 1989 World Champion).