YOUNG AMERICA TIED WITH TEAM ZEALAND 2-2

Close Racing Puts Pressure on For Final Day of Second Road to America's Cup Regatta

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, March 29, 1997 - NYYC/Young America and Team New Zealand split the two races sailed here today in the second Road to America's Cup 2000 regatta, leaving it all up for grabs going into the final day of the regatta tomorrow.

Young America defeated Team New Zealand in the first race by 11 seconds and Team New Zealand won the second race of the day. In race one, Young America and Team New Zealand were never more than two boats lengths apart in a race where the outcome was unknown until the last stretch to the finish line.

Young America skipper Ed Baird won the start and had the Kiwis in control by about a boat length at the gun. Young America, sailing the white boat, and the Kiwis in the black boat, had a fairly even beat to the top mark, with Young America rounding about two boat lengths ahead.

Team New Zealand gained on the leeward leg, making it a tight squeeze at the bottom mark. "We defended our inside position at the leeward mark," Baird said. "We gave them a little light and then closed the door on them." As Team New Zealand rounded, the bow of the black boat rammed the transom of the white boat and the umpires flagged Team New Zealand with a penalty.

A fierce down-speed tacking duel ensued on the second beat with Young America finally splitting away to protect the generally favored right side of the course. Team New Zealand gained on a big left shift, providing the Kiwis with
enough time to take their penalty turn. The black boat came out of the turn on port tack with very little speed. Baird, on starboard, seized the opportunity to regain control at the top mark.

Again today the black boat was considerably faster downwind, so Baird knew the run to the finish would be tight. "We held them out to the side and stayed between them and the finish line," Baird said. "Team New Zealand got ahead, but couldn't jibe to port across our bow."

The second race of the day was essentially over at the start. In an aggressive pre-start, Young America chased Team New Zealand into the spectator fleet. The two boats were mixing it up when the umpires flagged Young America for getting too close as a windward boat. Young America then missed the timing on the start, getting to the line about 15 seconds too early. Team New Zealand skipper Murray Jones had a great start and then protected his lead for the remainder of the race. "I pooched the start, and that was the race," said Young America's Baird.

The onboard guests in Saturday's races were NYYC Commodore Bob James, Candy Isdale, wife of NYYC Vice Commodore Dooie Isdale, Dr. Robin Wallace, ACCA secretary, Glenn Foster, NYYC supporter, and David Lewis, Managing Director Nautica Australasia, representing Nautica International, clothing outfitters of the Young America team for this regatta. Russell Coutts was on board as Team New Zealand's designated observer.

The start of racing on Saturday was delayed for almost two hours due to a lack of wind. Host Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Team New Zealand hope to stage three races Sunday to provide seven races for the second Road to America's Cup Regatta.