AMERICA³ FOUNDATION BANKS ON US SAILING TEAM TALENT

USST Partner Commits Additional Resources
to Olympic Preparation

NEWPORT, R.I. (July 21, 1995)--The Olympic Yachting Committee (OYC) announced today that the America3 Foundation has committed additional resources to the US Sailing Team's efforts to win Olympic medals in Savannah. Founded in 1990 to benefit athletes in amateur competition, the America3 Foundation began funding the US Sailing Team's coaching, psychology and technology programs shortly after it fielded a winning team for the 1992 America's Cup. More recently, after winding down from its backing of a women's America's Cup team for the 1995 Defense Trials, the foundation revved up its involvement with the US Sailing Team's final preparations for the 1996 Olympic Games.

"Most visibly," said OYC Chairman Bill Shore (Newport, R.I.), "the America3 Foundation has donated the use of a 42-foot powerboat tender and driver in Savannah. For the US Sailing Team, this resource is invaluable for dealing with the logistics of towing to and from the racing areas proposed for the Olympic Regatta."

Shore added that the Foundation has also contributed funding for oceanographic and meteorologic research. "We've been collecting information on such things as wind and current patterns for several years, and now our support personnel in these areas are stationed in Savannah to analyze data and conduct further studies." The America3 Foundation also has contributed computers and software developed for similar needs at the America's Cup.

"Our goal in this relationship with the US Sailing Team," said Bill Koch (Wichita, Kansas), the America3 Foundation's President and renown visionary in the sailing world, "is to increase America's odds for winning Olympic Yachting medals. Early on, we committed to a partnership in teamwork, talent and technology. To that end, we are sharing as much research and material resources as we possibly can."

The OYC estimates that--counting coaching salaries, funding of various programs and donation of equipment and manpower--the monetary value of the America3 Foundation's involvement with the US Sailing Team is in excess of $250,000 annually.

"There are many things," said Shore, "that you can't put a price on, for instance shared research that has come from years of America's Cup involvement. Moreover, we know that behind the U.S. Olympic Committee and individuals that contribute directly to our sailors, the America3 Foundation is the Team's largest supporter."

Scheduled to begin July 20, 1996, off Savannah, Georgia, the ten events of the Olympic Regatta will run for about two weeks. In 1992 at Barcelona, Spain, U.S. sailors brought home more Olympic Yachting medals--one Gold, six Silver, and two Bronze--than any other country.

In addition to working in partnership with the America3 Foundation, the US Sailing Team is supported by national corporate sponsors Darlington Fabrics Corporation, Nautica, Rolex Watch U.S.A. and Sperry Top-Sider.

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For additonal information please send e-mail to: Rick Wrightson

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