Racing: Cayard's Cup challenge relies on shrewd deals: Skipper fights to overcome funding problem after the death of Italian syndicate leader: Stuart Alexander reports from Cowes

PAUL CAYARD, the America's Cup skipper, hit by both the suicide of his syndicate leader Raul Gardini and the chaos of corporate Italy, may still be able to put together a challenge for 1995 if a couple of shrewd moves can bring in more backing.

'We did a deal just a few days ago to buy the third and fourth Il Moro boats, support boats, equipment and computer programmes from (the former sponsor) Montedison,' he said here after winning the British One Ton Regatta on Brava Q8, the yacht he will skipper for Italy in the Admiral's Cup, starting Thursday.

'We will run a development programme in partnership with Jacques Duwailly's Yacht Club d'Antibes syndicate,' he said, adding that he had backers to do that, but had known that Gardini would not finance the challenge.

The benefit for Cayard is funding from Duwailly to keep a programme going while he scours Italy for backing. The benefit for Duwailly, according to Cayard, was a rapid climb up what would otherwise be a steep learning curve.

The work would concentrate at first on research into keels and rudders. It was hoped that both boats would sail in the world championship, if it is staged, as planned, in San Diego next year.

Duwailly, with his campaign manager Eric Ogden, has already signed Marc Bouet, the right-hand man to Marc Pajot in the last French challenge.

Stuart Childerley yesterday began the transition of the Turkish two-tonner Provezza into the British Admiral's Cup team boat Provezza Source. Also here, Glyn Charles confirmed Adrian Stead would join him as tactician on the British Admiral's Cup team one-tonner GBE International.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 27