Sailing: Morton on the Orient Express

DOUBTS over Britain being able to field an Admiral's Cup team for the 1993 event it hosts in July were swept away yesterday as Graham Walker bought Mike Peacock's 50-footer Juno and a long-time associate Peter Morton chartered the one-tonner Orient Express, writes Stuart Alexander.

Royal Ocean Racing Club Rear- Commodore Stuart Quarrie also indicated that there are moves under way to fill the third team slot with a 45-foot two-tonner.

Walker, who was syndicate boss of Britain's Crusader challenge for the 1986-87 America's Cup, is a former Admiral's Cup team captain. Morton was central to the organisation of the Jersey team in last year's Commodores' Cup.

It is expected that a crew squad for all three boats will be assembled with Eddie Warden Owen, Stuart Childerley and Glyn Charles among the candidates for helmsmen, while designer Ed Dubois will be co-ordinating some of the management of the one-tonner.