YOUNG AMERICA SPLITS OPENING DAY
WITH TEAM NEW ZEALAND

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, March 28, 1997 - The NYYC/Young America Challenge team today had their first taste of America's Cup class competition Auckland style, splitting the first two races of the Road to America's Cup series 1-1with Team New Zealand.

In a close first race, Team New Zealand won by 44 seconds. NYYC/Young America prevailed in race two, soundly defeating the Kiwis by one minute, two seconds. The series stands tied going into tomorrow's second day of racing.

The series opener was sailed on a windward leeward course on the Auckland inner harbor, with New Zealand sailing fans lined along North Head overlooking the Waitemata race course. Sailed in a moderate 8-10 knot northeasterly breeze in brilliant fall sunshine, the short windward leeward courses provided close racing action between NYYC/Young America and Team NewZealand.

In the second race of the day, skipper Ed Baird aggressively won the start. The Americans fouled the Kiwis in the pre-start and the umpires assessed a penalty for tacking too close. NYYC/Young America quickly took their penalty
turn during the first windward leg, still maintaining a lead of several boat lengths over Team New Zealand.

Baird and crew opened it up on the first leeward leg, solidifying their lead a the bottom mark. The NYYC/Young America team continued to stretch the lead on the second lap around, finishing one minute, two seconds ahead of Team New Zealand.

While the lead was solid, the shifty breeze and changing current made it race that could easily have gone the other way. "Despite the big lead, we never felt safe," according to tactician Tony Rey. The NYYC/Young America crew sailed a textbook race and maintained the lead around the track right to the finish.

In the first race, both boats were late to the line with Young America taking the port side and Team New Zealand going for the starboard side. Baird went to the left side of the course toward North Head. In the first crossing, Young America was on port ready to duck Team New Zealand when the Kiwis tacked too close. Team New Zealand was assessed a penalty turn by the umpires, but the narrow margin between the two boats would prevent the Kiwis
from taking the penalty until the third lap

Team New Zealand made big gains on the first windward leg, stretching their lead to about four boat lengths. Young America fought back on the second windward leg, closing the gap on Team New Zealand to only 18 seconds at the top mark. The margin was too narrow for Team New Zealand to risk taking its penalty turn. Team New Zealand gained on the second leeward leg, upping the margin to 35 seconds.

On the final windward leg, Young America split tacks with Team New Zealand. The Kiwis had increased their lead and took the penalty turn, still gaining on the windward leg and increasing the margin to 45 seconds. Young America
put the pressure on downwind, finishing 44 seconds behind Team New Zealand.

Young America, the New York Yacht Club's Challenge for the America's Cup, is dedicated to winning the America's Cup through technological innovation, teamwork and a total commitment to success. Its effort will represent the entire country through an alliance of distinguished Partner Yacht Clubs and by enhancing the scientific literacy of America's K-12 students with the innovative Young America National Education Program.