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Bill Koch Announces Plans to Launch First
All-Female Team in America's Cup History

NEW YORK - Bill Koch, winning skipper of the 1992 America's Cup, announced today his plans to launch the first all-women's team to compete with men for the oldest and grandest trophy in sports _ the America's Cup. Koch said the America3 Foundation is making available to the historic all-female crew the same technology that helped America3 win the Cup in 1992, including the two fastest International AmericaÕs Cup Class yachts in the world - America3 and Kanza.

"In the 142 years since the first race, the America's Cup has been almost entirely male-dominated," said Koch. "This is more than just a sailboat race. It's about breaking barriers and creating more opportunities. Sailing is a wonderful sport and should become more accessible. America3 proved in 1992 that with the right attitude, teamwork and talent, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Our goal is to empower women with this same formula for success and take the America3 women's team all the way to victory in 1995."

The new team will compete in the World Championships in San Diego in the fall of 1994 and against the other two U.S. defense candidates in the defense trials scheduled for January through April 1995. The winner of those trials will represent the U.S. in the America's Cup final match scheduled for May 1995.

Initial team members selected

The America3 all-women's sailing team will ultimately include a total of 22 women chosen by the organization's coaches, who plan to conduct a nationwide search for the best female athletes in the country. To date, the new syndicate has signed on a core sailing team of leading female sailors and athletes (listed in alphabetical order):
Betsy Alison
(Newport, R.I.) Four-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and winner of numerous national and international racing titles.

Jennifer 'JJ ' Isler
(San Diego, Calif.) 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist and two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, winner of numerous national and international titles and first woman to skipper on the international match racing circuit.

Allison Jolly
(Los Angeles, Calif.) 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist (with Lynne Jewell-Shore); Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

Linda Lindquist
(Chicago, IIl.) Experienced sailor and member of first all-women's crew to compete in the Newport/Bermuda race in 1992.

Stephanie Maxwell-Pierson
(Somerville, N.J.) 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the Women's Pair rowing competition in Barcelona (with Anna Seaton).

Dawn Riley
(Detroit, Mich.) Pitman on America3 in 1992 America's Cup Defender Trials, watch captain on Maiden, all-women's team in 1989 Whitbread ÔRound the World race, and skipper of Heineken in the 1993-94 Whitbread (currently underway).

Anna Seaton
(Manhattan, Kan.) 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the Women's Pair rowing competition in Barcelona (with Stephanie Maxwell-Pierson).

Alison Townley
(Minneapolis, Minn.) 1988 and 1992 Olympic women's rowing teams, winner of 23 international and 22 USA rowing titles.

Lynne Jewell-Shore
(Newport, R.I.) 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist (with Allison Jolly); two-times Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.
"Competing in a 75-foot America's Cup boat against the best sailors in the world is a significant challenge," said Kimo Worthington, director of sailing operations for the new team. "Strength and athletic ability are crucial - especially in the grinder positions. We have already gone outside the sailing world to recruit athletes such as Olympic rowers Anna Seaton and Stephanie Maxwell-Pierson. We will take our search nationwide to find the best candidates for the team, those who possess the athletic ability, intelligence and attitude so critical to success in the team sport of sailing."
Sailing Training Program
A key element of the America3 1995 America's Cup campaign is the team's Sailing Training Program scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 1994. Led by Kimo Worthington, the coaching staff will include 1992 America3 veterans Buddy Melges and Dave Dellenbaugh. Other experienced America's Cup sailors will be enlisted as special coaches and sparring partners to share their knowledge and techniques during practice races with the women team members on America3 and Kanza . The coaching staff also plans to work with leading sports medicine experts to create a comprehensive training program that will include an intense, individual physical regime tailored for each woman to prepare her for particular crew assignments.


Board of Advisors
In addition to the management staff, the new America3 women's team also has a Board of Advisors chosen from nationally prominent individuals in sports, entertainment, business, science and philanthropy who will provide guidance on issues of positioning, fund-raising, and athletics. Among those already signed up:

Structure of the America3 Women's Team America's Cup 1995 organization

Executive staff:
William I. Koch, chairman and chief executive officer
Vincent C. Moeyersoms, president, chief operating officer and general manager
Frederick W. Wrightson, vice president and deputy chief operating officer
M. Brad Robinson, vice president and chief financial officer

Operations
James (Kimo) Worthington, director of sailing operations
Peter Grubb, director of compound operations
David Dellenbaugh, special consultant and coach
Buddy Melges, special consultant and coach

Development
Douglas A. Augustine, co-director of development and fund-raising
Linda Lindquist, co-director of development and fund-raising
Susan F. Daly, associate director of development and fund-raising

Communications
Will Robinson, director of communications and public relations
Sandra Bateman, associate director of communications and public relations

Technology and design
The same technologists who formed the core of the America3 design team in 1992 technology effort will work again with the new syndicate: Dr. Heiner Meldner, the 1992 technical director; Dr. Jerome Milgram, 1992 design director; Dr. William Unkel, information and electronics director in 1992. The 1995 technology effort will be led by Peter Wilson, director of technology operations.
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