NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2002 Snipe Western Hemisphere and Orient Championship
Scheduled for Sept. 21 through Sept. 28 at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club
In Long Beach, California, USA

Thirty of the best Snipe class teams in the Western Hemisphere will be competing at the upcoming Snipe Western Hemisphere and Orient Championship regatta at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club between September 21 and 28. This prestigious regatta is held every two years and is limited to the top Snipe teams from the participating Western Hemisphere countries.

Expected participants from the United States include five time US National Champion Augie Diaz, four time US National Champion and former US Championship of Champions winner George Szabo, and current A Division Collegiate National Champion Bryan Lake.

Challenging the strong United States contingent will be 1999 Snipe World Champions Nelido Manso and crew Octavio Lorenzo representing Cuba. Other countries participating will include Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, the Bahamas, Japan, Uruguay, and Canada. The international flavor of this regatta coupled with the very competitive sailors from South America, Japan, and the United States is promising to make for an exciting week of racing and socializing.

Alamitos Bay Yacht Club will be hosting the racing in the Pacific Ocean over four days of racing with two races scheduled per day. The formal opening ceremonies will recognize each team along with the flag of each country in the spirit of this international event on Monday, September 23 at approximately 5 PM. A final awards ceremony will close the regatta on Saturday, September 28.

For further information; please contact regatta press liaison Todd Smith at (310) 607-7972 or via e-mail at trsmith@west.raytheon.com.