TROTMAN PULLS OFF TWO STUNNING VICTORIES IN THE SEA-LAND 43rd INTERNATIONAL 505 PRE-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

HYANNIS, MASS. - Nick Trotman and his crew Mike Mills sailed to double victory today in Race 3 and Race 4 of the Sea-Land 43rd International 505 Pre-World Championships held off the waters of Hyannis, MA and the Hyannis Yacht Club. In both races it was a battle to the finish between Trotman/Mills and the Danish team of Jan Saugmann and Morten Ramsbaek. In Race 3 Trotman "the pathfinder" led the pack all the way after a spectacular "rabbit" start. There was pandemonium at the gybe mark as up to six and seven boats attempted to turn on the mark at the same time. Wind speed was reported to be up to 20 knots with higher puffs.

In Race 4 Saugmann/Ramsbaek led for the entire race until the finish when Trotman/Mills as well as Jim Hunt and Nick Beloe of Great Britain overtook them literally at the wire. Again conditions were optimum for the 505 Class to display their ability to sail fast and in control in high winds.

"We weren't sure were we stood against the foreign teams in the breeze," said Trotman. "We were psyched to be in there and going well."

Other top finishers in Race 3 included Chips Howarth/Bill Masterman from Great Britain in third place, Dave Smithwhite/Neal Fulcher also from Great Britain in fourth place and current World Champions Mark Upton-Brown and crew Ian Mitchell hailing from Great Britain who placed fifth. Race 4 top finishers in fourth place Upton-Brown/Mitchell and in fifth place Mike Zani and Peter Alarie winners of Races 1 and 2. After four of the scheduled seven races the Trotman/Mills team lead the series with 19.00 points with the Zani/Alarie team close behind with 23.00 points. Upton-Brown/Mitchell are third overall with 35.40 points, Saugmann/Ramsbaek are currently fourth with 48.70 points and Hunt/Beloe established in fifth place with 73.70 points.