ATLANTA -- What was arguably the worst day in an increasingly frustrating Games regatta left Bermuda's four Olympic sailors searching for answers yesterday.

Their medal hopes long gone, Peter Bromby, Lee White, Paula Lewin and Malcolm Smith endured one disappointment after another as all but Lewin recorded finishes in the wrong half of the fleet on a day when the wind blew between seven and 10 knots, and for only the second time this week a thunderstorm failed to ruin the show.

Eight races down, Lewin in the Europe dinghies and Smith in the Lasers, will at least have the weekend off to reflect on a series in which, so far, little has gone right, before heading out for their final three races next week.

Bromby and White, meanwhile, must again take the tiresome journey from the Games Village in Savannah out to Wassaw Sound for two more races today and another tomorrow before completing on Monday a programme which, after yesterday's seventh race, leaves them with precious little to celebrate.

Realistic medal hopes after an intensive four-year programme which saw the two Bermudian Star sailors sacrifice their jobs as they travelled the world, their confidence has been sapped this week by a failure to match those whom in the past they have repeatedly beaten.

It was the same story yesterday as a 19th place finish in race six followed by a 14th in race seven left them 13th overall in the 25-boat fleet. Defending champions Mark Reynolds and Hal Haenel of the US also suffered a terrible day with finishes of 21st and 15th which dropped them to sixth overall, but that will have been of little consolation to Bromby and White.

With one throw-out and another to come, the Bermuda pair have 72 points (net), 56 more than leaders Colin Beashel and David Giles of Australia who they beat in the opening race but who have since rebounded with three `bullets' and a third and second yesterday.

Lewin actually had the most to smile about among the Island contingent yesterday as she finished the day with a creditable eighth place in race eight but that was after a 14th in race seven and she now stands 13th overall on 81 points (net) in a fleet of 28. Her 15th place in race six on Thursday was altered to 14th following protests.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Smith's troubles continued. He lies 42nd overall among the 56-boat Laser fleet after finishes of 48th and 40th yesterday.