(Alameda, CA April 1997) --Linda Newland, of Alameda, California, has announced her entry into the 1997 Transpacific Yacht Race. A world-class sailor who has competed in the Singlehanded San Francisco to Japan and San Francisco to Hawai`i Races, Linda Newland is skippering an all-women crew in her competitive ultra-light ocean-racer in a bid for the trophy.

The Transpac, one of the worlds premier yachting events is the longest-running international yacht race in the world. Only 3 all-women crews have ever competed in this race, and never on a modern ultra-light ocean-racer. Linda Newland's Transpac Women's Challenge team has been training since last May for the July 1997 race. In training races to date they have netted a First to Finish, First in Class and First Overall in the San Francisco to Santa Barbara Ocean Race (sponsored by Encinal Yacht Club), and First place in both the Drakes Bay and Half Moon Bay Ocean Races sailed out of San Francisco.

The crew includes Melinda McCoy (Long Beach, CA.), and Sue Senescu (Dana Point, CA) who, along with Newland competed in the 1995 Transpac on the only all-women crew that year. Other crew members include Beth Bell (Alameda, CA), Celeste Collins (Mission Viego, CA) and Katie Pringle (Dana Point). Their coach is Dan Newland of Alameda, CA.

Pegasus XIV, designed by Dan Newland, is ultra-light and ultra-high tech -- the lightest boat of its type in the world. It is made of carbon fiber, Kevlar_,and "S" glass. Dan won the Singlehanded Transpac in 1992 aboard Pegasus XIV and was also the overall winner in the 1994 San Francisco Offshore Ocean Racing Series among many other wins.

The Transpac Women's Challenge ^(tm) is accepting donations and exploring sponsorship offers. Tax-deductible contributions may be made to the San Francisco Sailing Foundation.