Sailing: False start deals blow to Kendall's hopes

11.50pm

Barbara Kendall suffered a big setback in her bid for a fourth Olympic sailing medal as a false start saw her plummet down the women's Mistral field in Athens today.

Kendall, who was third overall after two races, jumped the start early which meant an automatic last placing in the 27-strong fleet.

It saw Kendall drop to 13th place, 23 points behind leader Alessandra Sensini of Italy, with the fourth race to follow later today.

But New Zealand team manager Don Cowie insisted it wasn't the end of Kendall's hopes of becoming the first New Zealander to win medals at four Olympics.

"It's only race three of 11, she's tough and she can come back from that," Cowie told NZPA.

The news was better for Europe sailor Sarah Macky who jumped into medal contention with a ninth placing in race three.

It moved her up from eighth to fifth on 27 points, 18 behind hot gold medal favourite and leader Siren Sundby of Norway.

Tricky winds were playing havoc with the course, with other races postponed until later in the day.

- NZPA