HEAVY WINDS HELPED PUSH THE U.S. INDEPENDENCE CUP/NORTH AMERICAN

 CHALLENGE CUP TO AN EXCITING END

Nick Scandone wins singlehanded division; Karen Mitchell/

Kerry Gruson take top spot in doublehanded racing

CHICAGO, August 9, 2004 – High winds made for an exciting final day of

racing in the 2004 Independence Cup/North American Challenge Cup today (IC/NACC),

following two days of light winds.

In the 2.4mR class, Nick Scandone, of Fountain Valley, Calif., held on to his

lead from the previous two days’ racing to sail to victory this afternoon in the

singlehanded division with a total of 10.7 points. Finishing second in the division

with 14.7 points was fellow Californian David Trude, who was competing in his second

U.S. Independence Cup/North American Challenge Cup.

“It is a very good event, I had a great time and hope to do it again,” said Scandone,

 who was competing in the IC/NACC for the first time.

In Freedom Independence 20 class competition, the team of Karen Mitchell and

Kerry Gruson took the championship title for the second year in a row in the

doublehanded division with a total of 9.7 points. The winning pair, who hail from

Deerfield Beach, Fla., and Miami, respectively, beat out Allen Fiske and

Joseph Cook for the title. Fiske and Cook, of Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, had 13 points.

“We had a rough start, but it all came together in the end,” Mitchell said. “This

 event is highlight of our summer; we look forward to coming to Chicago to

 compete with great anticipation all year.” Mitchell is hoping to become the

 first woman to represent the USA in sailing in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.

She is currently ranked as the best disabled skipper in North America.

Kerry Gruson has been sailing partners with Mitchell for years and said,

 “She is very proud to be her crew.” She believes the able-bodied assistants

 (AB’s) did an exceptional job, “we loved our AB’s,” she exclaimed.

“It is an honor for the Chicago Yacht Club to put on this event for disabled s

ailors in North America,” said Roland Rayment, chairman of the IC/NACC

Committee of the Chicago Yacht Club. “I am certainly pleased with the level of

competition we had over the course of the entire weekend.”

Final Standings:

Freedom Independence 20 Class

Gold Section (top Freedom Independence 20 finishers overall):

1st Karen Mitchell/ Kerry Gruson

2nd Allen Fiske/Joseph Cook

3rd Bob Jones/Ken Kelley

2.4mR Class

Gold Section (top 2.4mR finishers overall):

1st Nick Scandone

2nd David Trude

3rd Bruce Millar