After a testing series of nine races, Atlanta '96 gold medallists Eugeniy and Igor from the Ukraine emerged overall winners of the Bord Gais-sponsored 470 European Championship at Dun Laoghaire yesterday.

A poor showing by the Israeli overnight leaders, Kiger and Gal, saw their commanding 12-points margin evaporate into disaster in light and shifting winds on the bay.

Having endured two-day postponement to racing due to gale-force winds, the 99-boat fleet return to sea early yesterday morning, a decision from principal race Officer Tony O'Gorman that was visionary; by mid afternoon, the light breeze had almost totally disappeared.

Three races saw Kiger and Gal produce a 23-10-25 result, easily their worst day and in stark contrast to the commanding performance that started on Sunday afternoon with a race win, followed by three successive wins on Monday. Even in the light airs yesterday, a conservative approach to the final day should have brought home the championship.

But it was not to be; the Ukranians produced a fourth and a third in the morning, still leaving the Israeli leaders with a chance. But whereas Kiger and Gal shone in the heavy airs, consistency paid off for the new European champions.

They had no race wins in the entire series, just steady thirds and fourths, chipping away at the points and again in the heavy stuff, 11ths and 12ths - experience counts.

In the women's fleet, Sofia Bekatourou and Amelia Tsoulfa from Greece counted five wins in total to defeat Sydney 2000 gold medallists Jenny Armstrong and Belinda Stowell by 10 points.

Irish results were somewhat muted. Gerbil Owens, crewed by Nicky Smyth (replacing Ross Killian) were 20th out of 30 boats in the Silver fleet.