Peter Bromby and Lee White's Olympic challenge floundered slightly on a day when frustration was the most prevalent emotion on the waters of Sydney Harbour.

But the good news yesterday, when unpredictable winds that have so far characterised this regatta allowed just one of four scheduled races to be sailed, was that Bermuda's Star Class supremos are still in the thick of the medal chase.

A disappointing 12th place finish in race seven -- their worst so far and immediately thrown out as one of two discards -- meant Bermuda dropped from second to fourth overall.

However, with four more races still to be sailed, three today (weather permitting) and the last tomorrow -- there's still ample opportunity to make up ground.

Brazilians Torben Grael and Marcelo Ferreira clung onto their overall lead with a seventh yesterday but fast-improving Brits Ian Walker and Mark Covell leapfrogged into the silver medal standing with a second while Australians Colin Beashel and David Giles, who entered the day tied with Bermuda, dropped down to third after placing eighth.

Still, the standings after race seven show a regatta that is far from over.

Brazil have 20 points, Britain 24, Australia 28, Bermuda 30 and Spain 31.

Yesterday's winners, Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl of the USA, are four points back in sixth on 35.

Much could hinge on today's weather and with a storm packing 40 knot winds forecast for overnight, nobody was quite sure what to expect come daybreak.

But most of the fleet were praying for an improvement on the last two days when first, on Wednesday, sailing was wiped out completely because of light and fluky winds and then abandoned yesterday because of no wind at all -- that after metereologists had forecast a freshening breeze in late afternoon.

A fast-running tide added to yesterday's confusion and White admitted he and skipper Bromby were relieved when the race committee eventually declared the conditions unsuitable.

"It was difficult out there today, we really struggled,'' said White. "It was the same for everyone of course, but we got a poor start and never managed to get back into it.

"We were quite happy that only one race was sailed. We haven't come across the tide running as fast as that since we've been here, and I think that added to our problems.

"But we've just got write that one off and start again tomorrow. It's not what we wanted, but we know we're still there or thereabouts.'' Bromby and White's poor start saw them round the first mark in 12th, two spots ahead of the Brazilians, but while Grael and Ferreira quickly made ground, Bermuda's position never improved.

Bermuda Sailing Association president Timmy Patton, here as the Bermuda manager, said last night he wasn't overly concerned with yesterday's result, given the circumstances.

"Today isn't as big a setback as you might think,'' said Patton. "It's one bad result, they can throw two races. The fleet is very mixed up, even the good guys are having bad races.

"But I have to say I am hugely impressed with Peter and Lee's performance this week. It once again shows that in the sport of sailing Bermuda is still able to stand toe-to-toe with the best countries in the world.

"Peter and Lee are doing a fantastic job. They are sailing against just some of the very best in the world and they come out of a much less developed sailing programme than these other guys. But their enormous talent has taken them right up there with the leaders and challenging for a medal.

"And even if they are unsuccessful, the world still knows that they are playing absolute first division.'' Conditions yesterday also cut short the Europe Dinghy regatta in which Bermuda's Sara Lane Wright will now sail two races today to close out her Olympic debut. Another 25th place finish in race nine, before race 10 was abandoned, leaves Wright still in 25th place overall. At one point Wright was running 13th yesterday.

SAILING SLG