Approximately 22 crews from Japan, Hawai`i and the U.S. mainland are expected to race in The Asahi Super Cup '97, a four-race sailing competition scheduled for August 13 and 14.

This first regatta of its kind to be held in Hawai`i is sponsored by Asahi Breweries, USA, Inc, and is organized by Ala Wai Marine, Ltd., Hawaii's oldest haul and launch boat facility.

It is designed to accommodate visiting sailors from Japan and the mainland United States interested in racing the waters of Hawai`i but unable to bring their boats here. Instead, local Hawai`i skippers will charter their boats to the visiting competitors and race with them over the two-day period.

This new concept -- that of holding a regatta that matches top racing boats already in Hawai`i to visiting sailors interested in racing here -- came as the result of requests to Ala Wai Marine from Japanese sailors who have either participated as crew in Hawaii's biennial Kenwood Cup offshore racing series or by sailors who have read of the event. Hawai`i is famous for its offshore racing conditions that offer strong, steady tradewinds and warm, tropical waters.

There will be two races daily over a course located approximately 2 miles south of Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. The first race begins at 11 am on August 13 and follows a windward-leeward course of approximately 8 nautical miles. The second race is an Olympic triangle course, (approximately 11 nautical miles) and begins five minutes following the last finish in race one. The Regatta is governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing, prescriptions of US Sailing, the Hawaii Yacht Racing Association's standing instructions, pertinent class rules and the notice of race. It is open to all offshore class owners, skippers or charterers of boats with a valid Hawai`i Performance Handicap Rating or J-24 Class boats meeting Hawaii's J-24 fleet standards. Entries will close august 5, 1997.

For entry or racing information, please contact Michiko Yoshino at Ala Wai Marine, 808-946-4213 or Phil Drips, Principal Race Officer at 808-946-4405.