Bermuda's 470 duo of Blythe Walker and Ray DeSilva head for Cadiz, Spain, this weekend for next week's World Championships.

The regatta is the first of a series scattered throughout Europe, which will provide the build-up for the pair's Olympic challenge.

Hot on the heels of the Worlds is another regatta in Cadiz, followed by the top-class Spa Olympic Regatta in Medimblik, Holland, the European Championships in Belgium and the world-famous Kiel Week Regatta in Germany.

The hard-working pair will then take a two-week break from sailing to prepare their boat for Barcelona.

This past week, they have been relaxing in Bermuda, in between raising funds for their campaign with their part-time `Bermuda Olympic Painters' operation.

Having just returned from training on the west coast of the United States, the pair have had their eyes opened to the mountain they have to climb in their bid for Olympic glory.

"Most of the people we were sailing against have corporate sponsors,'' said Walker. "They all had personal trainers with them.'' By contrast, Walker and DeSilva are having to go it alone. Their only outside financial help comes from the Bermuda Olympic Association and their only professional assistance from national sailing coaching Chuck Millican. And he cannot be with them at every regatta.

"Most of our competitors have been sailing together for seven or eight years,'' said Walker. "Ray and I have been together just over two.'' The pair teamed up to sail 470s back in January 1990, following a successful partnership in Laser IIs.

Then began the hectic schedule that constitutes their Olympic campaign. In 1990 the pair competed on the Can-Am circuit, doing so again last year when they consistently finished in the top third of the fleet.

They were unlucky to miss out on a medal at the Pan Am Games in Cuba, finally finishing fourth in a regatta both would rather forget.

They know what to expect in Barcelona having attended the Pre-Olympics there last year.

So what, realistically, are their chances? "If we went right now we would be lucky to finish mid-fleet,'' said Walker.

"It all depends on how our training goes. If we could get a coach I would hope we could make the top 10.'' The Bermuda pair are hoping to team up with the European champions from Norway as they prepare for Barcelona. "If we can do that it will help us a great deal,'' said Walker.

The pair have struggled recently after changing to the type of sails favoured by the Europeans. "It is something we had to do to remain competitive,'' said DeSilva, adding that in the long run they expect to reap the rewards.

"Bermudians traditionally tend to sail more by the seat of their pants,'' said DeSilva. "But there comes a time, if you want to be really successful, that you have to do what the top sailors in the world are doing.'' Number one in the world at the moment is Wolfgang Hunger of Germany who has been sailing for 12 years.

"Sometimes it makes you want to pack up your bags and go home,'' said DeSilva. Instead, howeever, the pair have packed up their bags and headed for Europe in search of their Olympic dream.

POSITIVE THINKERS -- Blythe Walker, left, and Ray DeSilva.