News Release

AmericaOne TACTICIAN KOSTECKI TO DEFEND 1997 VICTORY IN MAYLASIA Blustery, Hot Conditions Predicted

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- NOVEMBER 25, 1998, -- Last year, AmericaOne Tactician John Kostecki won the inaugural Malaysia Challenge Match Race event in Langkawi, Malaysia. This year, the second annual five-day regatta will again attract an international field of sailors including some of the most top-ranked sailors in the world from December 1 - 6, 1998.

Twelve teams made up of nine invited skippers, plus two teams from an open pre-qualifying event and one wildcard entry from Malaysia will compete in identical Farr 25 boats. Hosted by the Government of Malaysia , and with $100,000 in prize money.

Last year, conditions on the race course off the island of Langkawi were hot and breezy. Racing was close and exciting racing with frequent wipeouts downwind. Kostecki dominated the event winning three of the four elimination rounds (and runner-up in one) before advancing to the Semi-finals, where they chose to race Gavin Brady, who gained entry from the pre-qualifying event; the other pair was Peter Gilmour vs. Ed Baird, seeded # 1 and # 2 in the world match-race rankings and both head of teams that are fielding challenges for the 2000 America's Cup.

Kostecki and team quickly dispatched Brady 3-0 and went on to meet Ed Baird for the Finals. In the best-of-five Finals, Kostecki beat Baird 3-1 to win the Malaysia Challenge trophy and a total of $28,000 for the event. At regatta's end, a pleased Kostecki commented, "The crew are all proven winners with a lot of match racing experience and they did a fantastic job."

AmericaOne is dedicated to recapturing the America’s Cup by applying U.S. technology in computer equipment, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, sail design, naval architecture and structural engineering to America's Cup sailboat design. Technology partners include Hewlett-Packard, Bellcore/SAIC and Ford Motor Company and Visteon. Operating since June 1, 1996, the AmericaOne team is comprised of 36 professionals, including 20 members of the design team, actively working on the research and design of its sailboats. Operating since June 1, 1996, AmericaOne is the challenger on behalf of San Francisco’s St. Francis Yacht Club. To learn more about AmericaOne , visit the web site at www.ac2000.org

For more information on Malaysia:

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For additional information on AmericaOne, contact: Gina Von Esmarch E-mail: gvonesmarch@americaone.org Phone: 415-474-3425 Fax: 415-474-3571

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