Sailing: Kendall needs miracle after false-start appeal dismissed

By CHRIS BARCLAY

New Zealand board sailing legend Barbara Kendall faces a monumental battle to add a fourth Olympic medal to her collection after a desperate appeal against her effective disqualification from yesterday's fifth Mistral race fell on deaf ears in Athens today.

Kendall and her coach Grant Beck appealed her 27th placing before a jury of the International Sailing Federation for two hours today but after deliberations the panel dismissed the veteran's case.

The 1992 Olympic champion argued she did not cross the line early but video evidence proved otherwise after the jury viewed footage at the regatta headquarters.

"They spent some time looking at the footage and then advised Barbara they didn't think it was worth her while taking it any further," disappointed sailing team manager Don Cowie told NZPA.

"The only interesting thing about the footage was there was 10 boards over (the line) and they only got three."

Kendall took the setback on the chin and returned to the team camp to prepare for today's sixth race.

"Barbara accepted it," Cowie said.

"It's always a 50-50 deal when you go into the protest room."

Hong Kong's Lee Lai Shan and Switzerland's Anja Kaeser were also handed a 27-point penalty for infringing but they were able to instantly discard the result as the fleet could drop their worst performance after five races.

Unfortunately Kendall had no escape clause because she had also false started in race three on Tuesday.

She is now languishing in 12th place on 66 points, well adrift of Shan who occupies the provisional bronze medal position with 17.

Kendall opened the regatta with a first placing and desperately needs her magic touch to return for the six remaining races if she is to farewell the Olympics in style.

"It puts the pressure on but Barbara is capable of doing it, " Cowie said.

Men's Mistral sailor Tom Ashley will also be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 18th place yesterday to climb up the leader board from 10th when he has two races today.

Outside medal chances Sarah Macky (Europe) and Laser representative Hamish Pepper also have a double assignment today.

- NZPA