OLYMPICS / Barcelona 1992: Way's hopes go over board

PENNY WAY, one of Britain's best pre- Games prospects for a sailing medal, was yesterday hit by gear failure which could ruin her hopes. Lying fifth in the second race of the day for the boardsailors, the centreboard of the Lechner 390 supplied by the organisers, which provides directional stability, snapped off.

She immediately had to peel away and return to the Olympic harbour. Team manager Cliff Norbury said that, under the rules of the regatta, there was no points compensation for gear breakage. 'But it is a clear case of faulty equipment and we will be doing our very best to obtain redress,' he said.

Way, a three-times world champion, was lying sixth overall at the start of the race, seven place points behind the bronze medal slot. She can discard her worst result of the 10 races, but such is the pressure at the top a fifth place would have been an important boost. In the first race of the day Way had hung on to finish eighth.

Her male counterpart Barrie Edgington produced a regatta best of fifth, but went home early in the second race when spotted over the line at the start.

Lawrie Smith maintained his third overall slot in the Soling class with a fifth place. He is two races away from the cut to match- racing for the top six and is looking increasingly comfortable.

Paul Brotherton and Andy Hemmings finished sixth to maintain their hold on the silver medal position in the men's 470, while a sixth place by Stuart Childerley leaves him fifth overall in the men's Finn class.

(Photograph omitted)