THE SEA-LAND 43rd INTERNATIONAL 505 PRE-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE SERIES BEGINS

HYANNIS, MASS. - The wind was blowing in from the south at 8-10 mph at the start of the Sea-Land 43rd International 505 Pre-World Championship Race Series. "There was very light air when we first went out, but then when we came back in we were truckin'!", exclaimed Clive Robinson from Great Britain.

Overall Mike Zani and Peter Alarie from Bristol,Rhode Island sailing blasted away from the pack at the "rabbit" style start to win both races on the first day of the North American Championships. Mike said ."The course chosen by the committee was perfect and the fleet dealt with a substantial wind shift just after the start of the first race. One Race Committee member related how today's conditions were perfect for them to understand the parameters under which the 505 Class sails under optimum conditions.

Second place in race one was captured by Nick Trotman and his crew Mike Mills sailing out of Manchester, MA. In race two it was Howard Hamlin from Long Beach, CA and his crew Mike Martin. The third place prize today in race one was garnered by Robin Brown from Vancouver and his crew Richard Mundell. In the second race the third goes to Mark Upton-Brown from Great Britain along with his crew Ian Mitchell.

Following today's races the Hyannis Yacht Club hosted a cocktail party and presentation of the winners from the first day of competition. The national anthem of the United States rang out over Lewis Bay to honor Mike Zani and Peter Alarie who certainly showed the way today.

Fourth place,Race One was taken by Hamlin and Martin; fourth place in Race Two went to Ebbe Rosen and Olie Wenrup who hail from Sweden. Fifth place in Race One belonged to Tim Collins from Newport, Rhode Island with his crew Bill Smith. Fifth place in Race Two went to Nick Adamson from San Francisco and crew Ben Benjamin.

Tomorrow's wind forecast for the second day of the 505 North Americans is predicted to be 12 - 18 knots out of the south.