Sickness cost a desperately disappointed Sara Lane Wright her chance of a medal at the 18th CAC Games, it emerged yesterday.

Wright, who finished fourth in sailing's Laser Radials class, three points behind bronze medal winner Eliane Fierro of Mexico, was hit by a virus mid-way through the competition which put her out of action for one crucial day of racing.

Although she recovered sufficiently to take part in the final four races, recording positions of first, second, and two thirds, the damage had been done.

Wright, who many saw as Bermuda's best chance of a medal in these Games, had strung together placings of third, two seconds, two fifths and another third before she was struck down by the illness following Monday's rest day in the 12-race series.

At one point she was put on a drip to help rehydrate her.

The two races she missed -- the seventh and eighth -- meant she was hit with two 11-point penalties and was forced to discard both as her two worst races.

Two third placings, a second and a fourth, or a first and a fifth in those races would have allowed her to discard her two other fifth placings, lifting her above Fierro and putting her level on points with silver medallist Marisela Duarte Sanchez of Cuba.

"She was devastated,'' said Chef de Mission Joan Taplin on returning from the last day's action in Falcon state -- an hour-long plane ride from Maracaibo.

"But she showed great spirit to comeback the day after her illness and finish first and second.'' Husband Brett, after a good start in the Lasers class, finished sixth in a fleet of 18 as shifting winds caused him some measure of difficulty.

Wright, however, was not the only Bermudian affected by Venezuelan belly.

Track and field coach Gerry Swan was also taken ill at the Olympic Village in Maracaibo, having to be wired up to a drip for treatment.

But he had made a swift enough recovery to make the long journey back to Bermuda today -- one that necessitates two changes of plane.

He was expected to travel with Rohaan Simons, who missed out on qualification for next month's Commonwealth Games in Thursday night's high jump, and team manager Pat Lake.

Simons' high jump team-mate Ronan Kane, making his first appearance for Bermuda, was meanwhile confirmed on the plane to Malaysia. The former Saltus student, now studying in Ireland, cleared 2.05m which the Bermuda Olympic Association confirmed merited inclusion in the team for Kuala Lumpur.

Kane had already cleared the qualifying standard for Commonwealth during a meet while competing at youth level for Ireland.

Fears that because that was achieved indoors it would keep Kane out of the Games were yesterday allayed by the BOA. General secretary John Hoskins said: "His jump of 2.05 metres shows he is in good form and close to the qualifying standard he has already achieved.'' SAILING SLG