SEA-LAND CONTAINERS ARRIVE AT HYANNIS VENUE; 1998 505 SEA LAND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TO INCLUDE STRONG OVERSEAS TEAMS

HYANNIS, MASS. - The countdown continues. With just five days to the 1998 505 Sea Land 505 pre-world warm up competition, top boats from Australia, England, Germany and France already are arriving at the regatta site at the Hyannis Yacht Club. A Sea Land container, with seven Australian boats, touched down at the Hyannis venue Tuesday. A total of nine Aussie boats are slated to race in the 505 worlds, set to kick off Sept. 19, with two Australian teams importing brand new 505s from California.

The Aussies are part of part of strong international contingent. Five more containers arrived from Europe today. The shipment includes 30 boats from England, 10 boats from Germany and three boats from France. Two more containers are due to arrive this week, including one from Scandinavia with 10 boats from Denmark and Sweden. A final container is on its way from California. Ten West Coast boats were loaded on that container. All of the containers have been provided to the event by Sea Land.

"The momentum is building," said senior event organizer and competitor Tom Kivney. "The addition of the European and Australian teams means this championship event is shaping up as the premier high performance dinghy regatta in North America this year. I could not be happier. The Hyannis Yacht Club and the 505 class is pumped and ready to go."

With over 1200 members in 18 countries, the International 505 class is the largest and most active two person high performance dinghy class in the world, providing the highest level of non Olympic racing available. Despite its exceptional performance, the 505 is relatively easy to sail; but a challenge to sail well! It is raced by Olympic medalists and club sailors, men and women, juniors and seniors, on lakes and on oceans, in drifters and in 35+ knots. Many of the best known names in International Sailing have raced, or currently race 505s.

"We welcome the Europeans and Australians to Hyannis," said 505 American Section Secretary-Treasury Jesse Falsone, who will also be sailing in the event. "The Europeans are likely to provide some tough competition. They will ensure that the 505 Worlds is one of the most hotly contested regattas in North America this year."

Registration for the Sea-Land 505 North American Championship, or "pre-worlds" begins September 12th, with the first two races September 14th. Registration for the Sea-Land 505 World Championship begins September 18th, with the first official race on September 19th. Worlds races are one a day through September 25th. Sea-Land is the title sponsor for both events, other sponsors include McLube, Ronstan, North Sails, Ullman Sails, Heineken, Chester's Cider, Layline and Ipswich Ale.

Extensive information about the International 505 sailboat is available on the web at URL: http://www.sailing.org/int505/