Nine months adrift of the 2004 Olympics, the decision over Paula Lewin's crew still remains up in the air.

The Island's top female skipper stressed this week it was not accurate that she and long-time sailing colleague Carola Cooper had parted ways but admitted Cooper was no longer a certainty to make the Athens trip.

This has been confirmed by Cooper who says all her plans are now on hold as she awaits Lewin's word on whether or not she will still figure in Bermuda's quest for an Olympic medal in the Yngling Class.

Lewin's choice of a third person to join her and twin sister, Peta, is expected to come after a training stint at the US Sailing Center in Miami, Florida, early next month during which an alternative crew member will be tested while Cooper cools her heels back home.

Though Lewin has declined to name who she has in mind, numerous sources in the sailing fraternity have indicated Christine Patton is that individual. However, questions have arisen about the latter's eligibility to represent Bermuda since she is Australian.

Vice-president of Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) Mike Cherry stressed yesterday that a person "must be Bermudian in their own right to represent the Island in the Olympics, Pan-Am Games or CAC (Central American & Caribbean) Games".

In Patton's case it would come down to how long she has been married to her husband, Tim, who is president of the Bermuda Sailing Association.

"As I understand it ? and I'm not an expert on immigration rules ? once someone has been married to a Bermudian for ten years they then become eligible to become Bermudian but it is not automatic.

"If that person then applies and they become Bermudian then they are Bermudian in their own right. So that would solve the problem," explained Cherry.

If she is replaced on the team, Cooper noted it would have far-reaching ramifications as she has already arranged for leave from her job as sailing director at Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club starting in January to devote her full attention to the Olympics. In addition, she has trained a foreign coach to relieve her. Now, that could all change and she is not happy about things being in limbo.

She will wait to see what happens when Lewin returns from the training camp but if too long a period elapses before any decision is made she may be forced to withdraw to safeguard her overall well-being.

"I really want to go to the Olympics and the club has bent over backwards for me. I can't do this to my employers and I just don't have money lying around," said Cooper matter-of-factly.

Meanwhile, Cherry said the situation had not been brought to the BOA's attention and therefore was "not a concern as yet".

"Until the actual teams' names are submitted then it doesn't concern us. That's when they would have to prove their eligibility."

Asked if there was a deadline date by which a prospective Olympic competitor must have status in the country they are seeking to represent, he replied: "The accreditation process starts in March, 2004, whereby all persons who are indicative of participating in the Olympics must have their information forwarded to the organising committee.

"If someone has been nominated as a crew person then the accreditation process will start at that time but it is not essential, at that time, that the person be Bermudian provided that they are prior to the competition date."

For further clarification, he said that ? as the BOA understand it ? "competition" in this case means the start of the Yngling sailing event itself and not the beginning of the Olympics.

"That's the situation as we understand it at the moment but that could be clarified more by the BOA or the sailing association at another date."