Seattle Yacht Club Will Issue Challenge to Race for the America's Cup; World-Class Syndicate to Focus On Environmental Issues.

Sports Editors

SEATTLE--(BW SportsWire)--June 20, 2000

The Seattle Yacht Club, represented by the OneWorld Challenge Syndicate, will officially notify the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron under the nearly 150-year-old rules of protocol of their intention to challenge for the world's most prestigious sailing prize -- the America's Cup.

Commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club, Kenton Thurman commented, "We are extremely proud to be partnering with the OneWorld Challenge. This is a great opportunity for Seattle, the Pacific Northwest and the globe. We could not be more pleased than to be involved with such a fine organization that is going to make a difference in the world of yachting and environmental protection."

The OneWorld Challenge is building a global team of professionals, including designers, technologists, boat builders and sailors, to bring back the cup to the United States while focusing people's attention on issues that impact the health of the world's oceans and the entire planet.

Seattle businessman Craig O. McCaw has committed early support to the OneWorld Challenge effort, commenting that it will be different from any other challenger in previous America's Cup campaigns.

"Through the OneWorld Challenge we want to focus attention on the global environment with emphasis on the world's oceans," McCaw said. "Water covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface. The oceans literally determine those who bask in blue skies and prosperity and those who will die from famine, flood and hurricane. It affects Africa, America and everywhere in between. It is an issue affecting both rich and poor alike."

As the initial sponsor of this challenger, McCaw is seeking others to join the effort and to help draw international attention to the rapid deterioration of the world's oceans.

"This challenge is on behalf of the Seattle Yacht Club, but should it be successful in winning the Cup, the location for the defense of the Cup in 2006 will be chosen based upon merit not simple regional prejudice," said McCaw. "Further, the challenge will be run as a meritocracy where we will be open to better ideas and better opportunities to make the challenge a success. We will constantly be looking for the most qualified elements and people to put forward so we can attempt to do well while doing good."

Due to extended travel outside the Seattle Area, McCaw was not available to gather with the team and officials of the Seattle Yacht Club, but commented, "We are really fortunate to have been able to bring this outstanding group together and they will make Seattle proud in the coming years!"

The underwriters being assembled have elected that they will independently underwrite the cost of the challenger so that corporate sponsorship monies are dedicated to environmental efforts.

The OneWorld Syndicate was recently formed around a team of proven, world-class professionals. Joining the team are renowned America's Cup yacht designer, American Laurie Davidson, who designed the last two winning boats for New Zealand, composite engineers Kurt Jordon and Wayne Smith, technical director Heiner Melchner, sail designer Mike Spanhake, engineers Ian Mitchell and Niel Wilkinson as well as fluid dynamicist Richard Karn and towing tank technician Richard Whitaker.

It is anticipated that the OneWorld Challenge will have its two new boats constructed in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States under the direction of the syndicate's construction team lead by cup veteran Peter Sowman.

Leading the team as sailing director will be America's Cup veteran helmsman Peter Gilmour of Australia, who brings with him six New Zealand sailors who participated in the last two winning campaigns (Jeremy Scantlebury, Mathew Mason, Craig Monk, Andrew Taylor, Richard Dodson and Pete Waymouth). The team will be comprised with sailors from around the world, including American sailors who are initially represented by Seattle Olympic medalists, brothers Jonathan and Charlie McKee, with the goal of developing a truly global team for the OneWorld Challenge.

"Our intention is to do everything we can to put the proper pieces in place to allow this team to have the opportunity to win," said Gilmour, who will serve as sailing director of the OneWorld Challenge team. "We realize it is a daunting challenge, but we are excited about our prospects and building a team of designers, technicians, boat builders and sailors who can really do something meaningful for the cup and for the world by highlighting the importance of global environmental issues."

More information about the OneWorld Syndicate and the OneWorld Challenge Foundation will soon be available on the World Wide Web at www.oneworldchallenge.com.