** MEDIA ALERT **

OLYMPIC YACHTING TEAM TRIALS POSTPONED

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (October 15, 1999) -- The start of racing at the Olympic Yachting Trials, scheduled to begin Saturday, October 16, at St. Petersburg Yacht Club (St. Petersburg, Fla.) for 470 and 49ers, and at Eau Gallie Yacht Club (Indian Harbor, Fla.) for Mistrals, has been delayed.

According to Trials Manager Tom Farquhar (St. Petersburg, Fla.), "the expectation of weather unsuitable for racing on Saturday, October 16, on both coasts of Florida, due to Hurricane Irene, has caused the postponement of all racing until Sunday. Sunday's racing includes an additional race for each event due to having lost a day of racing. With an eight day racing schedule, the loss of one day should not have a material effect on the regattas."

The schedule for all classes includes a lay day on October 20, with racing resuming October 21 and concluding October 24 with the naming of the first eight members of the 2000 Olympic Team - Yachting.

Results, competitor bios and venue information are available online at: www.ussailing.org/Olympics/OlympicTrials.

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