Sailing: Whitbread team's legal action

A legal war broke out in the Whitbread Race yesterday as Sweden's Team EF announced it was taking legal action against a crew member for breach of contract. Nick White, the navigator, left the syndicate three weeks ago.

Yesterday the skipper, Paul Cayard, alleged White had been seen working with a rival syndicate, America's Challenge, led by Ross Field. It was as navigator to Field in the 1993-94 race on Yamaha that White helped win the Whitbread 60 class.

Cayard denied he had fired White over their poor result in the Fastnet Race last month. "He really resigned, I did not fire him," Cayard said. Team EF's concern is as much over over confidentiality and the knowledge and computer programmes White has had access to as the possibility of his joining a rival team.

White acknowledges he resigned but says he considers himself a free agent.

- Stuart Alexander