According to the churning rumours mills in Valencia, Areva Challenge is in close contact with Paul Cayard.

The America's Cup veteran could be has been offered roles as skipper and/or project coordinator in the new French entry for the 33e America's Cup.

"I am considering, more than one (offer)...as skipper or project leader, to lead a team," Cayard told Reuters on Tuesday. "I'll decide as soon as I can."

"The budget should at least be double", said Stéphane Kandler, CEO of Areva Challenge last month, saying the new challenge will be a "two boats" and "two crews" programme.

"With that addition, it is not the same organization any longer and must be reinforced with some external elements", he said. "We must search for talented personnel to gain the experience we need".

As a platform for new ambition, the Franco-American skipper appears to be one logical choice for the French syndicate.

Technical adviser with Desafío Español during the 32nd America's Cup, he was skipper of AmericaOne in 2000 in Auckland, helmsman of Stars and Stripes in San Diego in 1995 and skipper/manager of Il Moro di Venezia in San Diego in 1992.

Paul Cayard

- Born : 19/5/1959, San Francisco (USA)
- 1983: Mainsail trimmer on Defender US 33, unsuccessful candidate defender of the America's Cup
- 1987: Tactician and helmsman for USA on US 49 and US 61, unsuccessful candidate defender of the Louis Vuitton Cup
- 1992: Skipper of Il Moro di Venezia ITA-25, winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup and unsuccessful America's Cup challenger
- 1995: Helmsman on Stars and Stripes USA-34 winning the Citizens Cup (defender selections) then on Young America USA-36, unsuccessful defender of the America's Cup
- 2000: Manager and skipper of AmericaOne USA 61, Louis Vuitton Cup finalist, 2nd
- 2001: Larry Ellison's temporary consultant (one year) for the 2003 Oracle Challenge
- 2007: Temporary Technical advisor for Desafio Español 2007