Sailors Jesse and Zander Kirkland endured mixed fortunes during an eventful afternoon of racing at the Olympics today.The brothers posted a DNF in the first race after twice capsizing but came storming back in the second with a commendable 12th place finish.After six races the local team is 19th in the 20-boat 49er fleet.The Kirklands managed good starts in both races and played the shifts reasonably well to put themselves in contention.“We didn't have great starts but we had good starts that were basically good enough for us to be in the top pack in both races,” said crewman Zander. “We had the boat going as fast as the top pack.”In the first race the Kirklands were as high as ninth on the second beat to windward when skipper Jesse fell overboard and the boat capsized.“We were on the final starboard tack to the weather mark and Jesse lost his grip on the trapeze before he clipped in, so we went from ninth to last,” said Zander. “That was really frustrating because up to that point we sailed well and rolled the Spanish team (Martinez de Lizard and Fernandez Gaztanaga) on the first downwind.”The Kirklands got back in the race but were dealt another heavy blow when they capsized near the finish line after crew Zander fell overboard.“Somehow I became unclipped and got launched out of the boat,” Zander said. “I was swimming after the boat as it was flipping and even though we crossed the line we didn't finish because we capsized and needed help from the rescue boat so we didn't smash into the committee boat.“The racing is so tight and it's not easy and over until you cross the line.”Skipper Jesse struck his ribs on the edge of the starboard wing on his 49er during the mishap, that put the team out of the race.“Jesse's rib cage is pretty bruised and every time he tacked in the last race you could hear him grimace,” Zander said. “It wasn't easy, but he was very professional about it.”Better fortunes awaited the local team in the second race which saw them post their highest finish at the Olympic regatta to date.The Kirklands were in eighth on the first down wind run but gave up precious ground on the very next leg.“We short gybed the approach to the leeward mark and basically got slammed dunked,” Zander said. “There's usually one critical moment in these races were you can either establish yourself in the top pack or just scrap it out in the middle group and that lay line call hurt us.”Three DNFs have put a huge dent in the Kirkland's hopes of reaching the medal race.But they have vowed to “fight on”.“Not only are we representing ourselves but also Bermuda and all the people that have helped us to get this far and we know we are better this,” Zander said. “We just need to struggle through it and it's not the first time we have had to deal with adversity.”Australia's Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen currently lead the 49er fleet at the ongoing Games.