** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **

SEPTEMBER 30, 1999

Good Karma For Team COMPUCOM / KITTY HAWK

The American 470 sailing team of Paul Foerster (Rockwall, Texas) and Bob Merrick (Portsmouth, Rhode Island) recently returned from competing in the 1999 Sydney Harbor Regatta, also known as the Pre-Olympic Games Regatta, where they bested 27 teams for second place. Since each team had to qualify for this event by being ranked number one in their respective countries, the competition was as tough as it comes. Paul and Bob had sailed in Sydney Harbor one previous time, when they won the Sydney International Regatta in December, 1998.

Winning the Pre-Olympic Games Regatta wasn't regarded as a good omen this year. In fact, many sailors who finished in the top five at this event said they were perfectly satisfied with their results--for now. "I don't envy the Portuguese team," commented Gildas Phillipe, 1997 World Champion and third place finisher, about the gold medal winners. "They will have their own best record to try to beat here next year; the expectations will be high. Too much pressure."

Other sailors at the awards ceremony echoed his thought. "I am content with how this regatta turned out for us," smiled Foerster with his silver medal dangling around his neck. "While we didn't win, we improved a bit; and that's what I was hoping for. Now it's time to focus on the USA Trials. Theorizing about the possibility of returning here next year for the Olympic Games is bad karma in my book. We take our training one regatta at a time - looking to improve every step of the way."

Foerster and Merrick have trained together since April, 1997, working to become the world?s best sailors in the 470 class. They have competed in fourteen regattas this year alone at sailing venues all around the world. As of June 29, they were ranked 8th in the world with the next American team ranked 33rd.

While many countries use the best finishes at two of three major regattas to determine who will participate in the Olympic Games, the United States elects to use only one event, the Olympic Trials Regatta, as an all-or-nothing selection vehicle for our representative. While this seems exceptionally difficult and perhaps unfair, the national governing body for United States Sailing is determined to replicate in the Trials the ?winner take all? pressure that sailors experience at the Olympic Games when pursuing a gold medal. Foerster's success at two previous Olympic Trials, 1988 and 1992, will hopefully see him through to represent the USA once more.

Stay tuned for the results of the Olympic Trials which will take place October 14-24 in St. Petersburg, Florida. You may find results and information on the Team CompuCom/Kitty Hawk Olympic Campaign at www.rcyc.org/Team_2000.

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CONTACT:
Carrie Foerster
Team 2000 USA
Phone: 972-771-4649
Fax: 972-722-5233
Email: JYpie@aol.com