IN a sport where one rarely sees prize money, Bermuda's Paula Lewin, could be reaping the "profits" this weekend. Lewin, who has been putting all her energy into qualifying and now preparing for the 2004 Olympics in Athens next year, put aside her Ygling sailing this week in order to concentrate on the International One Designs during the Investors Guaranty King Edward VII Gold Cup. And if she does manage to come out on top in this world-class matching racing series, Lewin and her all-female crew could come away with a paycheque of some $30,000. "It is very rare to get a paycheque in this sport," said Lewin yesterday who was taking a brief break from the demanding racing following her 3-0 victory over "Mr. America's Cup" Dennis Conner on Wednesday.

But the Bermudian knows that today's quarterfinal showdown with defending champion Jesper Radich from Denmark is going to be extremely tough.

"He is the number one seed in the world - it will not be easy," said Lewin.

So far this week Lewin and her crew composed of sister Peta, Lisa Neasham, Christine Patton, and Carola Cooper, have snapped up $5,000 for winning the Bermuda International Women's Match Racing Championship after they came back from 2-1 down to beat Sweden's Jenny Axhede 3-2 and successfully defend their title.

And then came the historic victory over Conner. Admitting that they were all on a "high" after winning the match-up against Conner, Lewin said that by having an extra pair of hands in ther crew certainly helped.

Laws require that the crew must have a certain combined weight and because women weigh less than men, Lewin could afford to have that extra pair of hands.

"The extra pair of hands certainly helps out - especially when it is windy," she said.

And the weather on Wednesday in the racing against Conner certainly had a lot of breeze.

"It was fun - the wind was shifty and puffy and breezy - it was really fun," she said.

Lewin has crewed for Conner in this event in the past and asked if she had learned much for him, she said: "Well unfortunately we always went out after the first round. We never really practised that much before competing."

And Lewin wasn't at all concerned about having to adjust to the bigger IODs in comparison from the smaller Yglings that she will sail in Athens next year.

"It wasn't hard to adjust at all. Face it, this wasn't the first time I have sailed in these boats and we had four or five practises before the event. And it is not just me that knows the boat well - everyone feels comfortable in it."

As for competing in high winds, Lewin said: "It doesn't matter to us but it is tougher sailing - it is a different type of sailing."

Looking forward to today's showdown with defending champion Jesper Radich, Lewin said: "We feel good and we feel quite confident. We are ready to give him a good fight. We have been sailing for five days but it will be tough racing because he is the number one seed in the world."

And Lewin said it will probably all come down to who makes the least mistakes out on the course. "There will not be many mistakes made on his boat so we have to make sure we are sailing very well. It will come down to who makes the less mistakes."

And if she does get past the Danish number one seed, the Bermudian will be through to the semifinals and closer to that $30,000 top prize.

After the Gold Cup Lewin will be taking a well-deserved rest. She has been sailing hard for much of the year in preparation for the Olympics. In September Lewin and crew, sister Peta and Maria Lopez, competed at the Ygling World Championships in Spain and finished in 10th place - a spot they were a bit disappointed with since Lewin is ranked in the top five in the world.

Then came the Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championships in Annapolis, Maryland where Lewin along with crew sister Peta, Carola Cooper and American Dana Riley finished in second place.

Lewin said yesterday: "After the Gold Cup I will be in Bermuda for a while for a rest period and then in January I will be back competing in the Ygling but there may be a few training sessions before then although we haven't set anything up as of yet."