Some go for the experience. For others, winning a championship medal is all that matters.

So it was with contrasting ambition that Bermudian sailors Sara Lane Wright and Peter Bromby made the arduous track to the Sydney Olympics, passing through 14 time zones en route.

For Wright, a Games neophyte, earning a medal was a dream quickly dismissed as fantasy... at least for the moment.

Only having recently taken to sailing among the Europe Dinghy Class, the 2000 competition was to be used as more a barometer to gauge her status and gain exposure, with an eye towards using the lessons learned in anticipation of the next Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Her 25th place finish emphasised her current deficiencies, but a lot can change in four years.

"I expected it to be tough, I've only been sailing this boat for a year now, while the other girls have been in the boat for the past four to eight years,'' said a reflective Wright following a special Olympic luncheon reception at Camden this week.

"I haven't yet beaten one of the girls in front of me, so it was basically important for me to go to these Olympics to get the experience in to know what I'd be up against and it wouldn't be overwhelming in 2004.

"I just hope I make it there... you never know what's going to happen, four years is a long way away. But I've already started training hard and have already planned the next four years.

"Looking back at the Olympics, it was a great opportunity get a lot of sailing hours in, plus experience to go into this next year.'' On the flip side, Bromby, with two Olympics already under his belt, the trip down under represented an ideal opportunity to collect some hardware...and it was neither bronze nor silver that the local legend had in mind. Hence a fourth place finish, while laudable in the eyes of most, did not quite satisfy the palate.

Reflections fell upon the few less than spectacular finishes, where Bromby gambled and lost against the fluky conditions -- not to mention a top-class fleet -- of Sydney Harbour, and what might have been.

"So close yet so far, that's the first that comes to mind,'' said Bromby, likewise feted during the lavish reception hosted by Premier Jennifer Smith.

"A lot of people think that we were close to medalling, I think we were close to gold medalling, it was within our grasp.

"One day conditions were a little tough on us, the current was running really hard. Maybe without that day, maybe a little different conditions on that day and who knows...maybe a second and a third and all of a sudden we're in gold medal position. The collision didn't help, but in all fairness that's sailboat racing.'' In talking to Bromby, one got the impression that the burly sailing genius would fly right back across the world if another Games were declared tomorrow, such is his hunger. However he will have to wait four years for another chance -- and even that will depend on whether the Games committee retains the Star as an Olympic class.

"The sad thing is the next Games are four years away,'' continued Bromby.

"It's not like the World Championships, you've got to wait four years.

"Certainly I've got my fingers crossed, it's been an energiser in terms of where do we go from here and I'm speaking on my own behalf...maybe not Lee, but maybe Lee.

"We'd like to see the boat stay in the Games next time around, because, like I said, it's energised us. We've said all along -- even when we were 19th (Barcelona) and 13th (Atlanta) -- that we could compete.

"On the whole both Lee and I are very pleased. I'm certainly thankful for his support over the last eight years, he's been a great help to us, as have been our families.'' Athens on her mind: Sara Lane Wright, whose Sydney experience has served to whet her appetite for the next Summer Olympics in the Greek capital in 2004.