Kiwi Coutts Steers Swiss Boat Alinghi To Victory

PRESS RELEASE October 10, 2002

KIWI COUTTS STEERS SWISS BOAT ALINGHI TO VICTORY IN OPENING MATCH WITH STARS & STRIPES

AUCKLAND, NZ, OCTOBER 10, 2002-Team Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes today lost to Alinghi, the Swiss challenger for the America’s Cup in their initial meeting during the first Round Robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Ken Read, from Newport, RI, skippering the New York Yacht Club’s challenger for the America’s Cup, stayed close and pressed Alinghi hard with 13 tacks on the first leg after Stars & Stripes crossed the start line 11 seconds after her opponent.

Both boats were late for the start, completing two down-speed tacks after the gun, after Read pressed in vain for an advantage.

Alinghi skipper Kiwi Russell Coutts, who three years ago successfully headed New Zealand’s defense of the Cup, protected the right-hand side of the course with its starboard tack right-of-way advantage and in the second half of the first leg consolidated his lead in the 16 to 18-knot southerly.

“It was a key moment in the race when they were able to get the jump on us off the starting line,” said afterguard member Peter Isler, from San Diego, CA. “Those guys are good. They handle their boat well.

“We had a team meeting on the way in tonight and despite losing four races in a row, our team spirits are very high,” Isler continued. “There is plenty of optimism. We are working through some tough times right now, and paying the price to learn a few lessons, but we’re confident that we’re going to pick up momentum pretty quickly here.”

Team Dennis Conner, representing the New York Yacht Club, has a 2-4 record in the First Round Robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

The current points for Round Robin 1 of the Louis Vuitton Cup are: OneWorld Challenge, 5-0; Alinghi Challenge 5-1; Oracle BMW Racing 4-0; Victory Challenge 3-2; Prada Challenge, 3-3; Team Dennis Conner, 2-4; GBR Challenge 1-4; Le Défi Areva, 0-5; Mascalzone Latino Challenge, 0-5 (Note: Byes and incomplete races result in different totals).

The crew of Stars & Stripes today was: Vince Brun, Wally Henry, Peter Isler, and Bill Trenkle, from San Diego, CA; Chuck Brown, Jerry Kirby, Rob Myles, Ken Read and Tony Rey, from Newport, RI; Chris Kam, Stonington, CT; Rock Ferrigno, Fairfield, CT; Tom Whidden, Essex, CT; Terry Hutchinson, Andrew Scott and Morgan Trubovitch, Annapolis, MD; and Dave Calverley, Tampa, FL. The 17th man was Stripes supporter Charles Dana, Commodore of the New York Yacht Club.

Team Dennis Conner and the New York Yacht Club have partnered to put forth the finest team of American designers, sailors, boat builders and shoreside support to win America’s Cup XXXI and return the America’s Cup to the United States. The America’s Cup has began on October 1, with the four-month challenger elimination series known as the Louis Vuitton Cup. The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will challenge Team New Zealand for the right to defend the America ’s Cup in a best of nine series starting on February 15, 2003.

Team Dennis Conner's platinum sponsor, Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE: CA) delivers the software that manages eBusiness. As the world’s third largest enterprise software company, CA provides industry-leading integrated solutions through strategic partnerships and powerful brands such as Unicenter®, BrightStor™, eTrust™, CleverPath™, Advantage™, Jasmine® and AllFusion™. With mission-critical software in security and storage, CA provides reliable, quality technology. For more information, visit www.ca.com.

Gold sponsors of the Team Dennis Conner America's Cup challenge include Citizen Watch Company (www.citizenwatch.com), proud maker of the new Eco-Drive Sailhawk, the official Stars & Stripes team watch, the ACE Group of Companies (www.acelimited.com), a premier global insurance and reinsurance organization and Airgas, Inc. (www.airgas.com), the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding, safety and related products. With an integrated network of nearly 800 locations nationwide--including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers--Airgas' national scale and strong local presence offer customers a competitive advantage

Team Dennis Conner’s Silver sponsors are Nautica (www.nautica.com), the team’s official apparel sponsor and a leading global fashion and lifestyle company with products ranging from men's, women's and children's sportswear, denim and accessories to a complete home collection and Manugistics (www.manugistics.com), a leading software company that provides comprehensive solutions which enable companies to share inventory, pricing and planning information with customers and suppliers over the Internet.

Team Dennis Conner’s Suppliers are 3M, Air New Zealand, Airgas, Airtech, APL Limited, Arc Second, Bathysphere Digital Media Services, Columbus Line, Digi International, Dupont, Earth Tech, Itronix, Lewmar Marine, McLube, Media Bin, Munters, Nautica Eyewear, New England Ropes, Newport Adhesives & Composites, OmniSonics Medical, Pacer Technologies, Parker, Plastimo, Protector, Remy Amerique, Saucony, WiTango and Xygent.

ENDS

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