FALCON2000 Breaks Mast Young America Team
Withdrawls from Antigua Sailing Week 0

SOUTH PORTLAND, ME, April 28, 1997- Falcon2000, the ILC maxi being campaigned by the NYYC/Young America sailing team, lost its rig about eight feet above the deck while sailing upwind during practice for Antigua Sailing Week Saturday, April 26, forcing the team to withdraw from the regatta which began yesterday. No one was hurt and only very minor damage was done to the yacht.

Oklahoma City businessman and New York Yacht Club member Don Smith is skipper. Smith has contributed Falcon2000 to the NYYC/Young America campaign as part of the big boat training program for the America's Cup. Falcon2000 underwent a major refit this winter, including a new carbon fiber rig built by Southern Spars of Auckland, New Zealand.

Falcon2000 designer Bruce Nelson and Southern Spars are evaluating the damage. So far no specific cause for the mast failure has been identified. Falcon2000 is motoring to Florida for repairs to the mast. The team expects to have the yacht ready to race in a special ILC maxi event in conjunction with the NYYC Spring Regatta June 18-21 in Newport.

The Falcon2000 sailing team includes Young America skipper Ed Baird as co-helmsman and Tony Rey as tactician. Rod Davis, the Falcon2000 campaign director, was also to be in the afterguard at Antigua.

Other regattas on the 1997 Falcon2000 schedule include:
* New York Yacht Club Spring Regatta, Newport, R.I., June 18-21
* Copa Del Rey Maxi Regatta, Palma de Majorca, Spain, August 2-10
* Maxi World Championship, Sardinia, Italy, September 8-13