VOLVO Cars of North America, sponsor of the 2001 Volvo Ocean Race, is pleased to announce its title sponsorship of the 1999 Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta events, a series of 36 charity sailing events held throughout the United States benefiting the Leukemia Society of America.

Volvo is the first national title sponsor of the Leukemia Cup regatta series, which was first established in 1993 as a single, local fundraising event in Annapolis, Maryland. The event was strong success, prompting founding committee member and former Americas Cup captain Gary Jobson to establish a national series of events at yacht clubs throughout the country. The series has grown every year since its inception, and has raised more than $2 million for leukemia research. Approximately 3,000 sailors will participate in Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta events this year.

The Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta series is part of Volvo Cars' enhanced commitment to sailing, which also includes Volvo's sponsorship of the Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread. The Volvo Ocean Race, a round-the-world ocean through some of the world's roughest and most challenging waters, will launch from Annapolis, MD in September 2001.

According to Richard Martin, Marketing Manager for Volvo Cars, "We are excited about the relationships we have established between Volvo Cars and sailing, including the Volvo Ocean Race and Leukemia Cup Regatta series. We will be using the Volvo Ocean Race as the foundation of the relationship between Volvo and sailing, and look forward to the Leukemia Cup Regatta series as a way to educate the sailing community about our commitment to the sport. The Leukemia Society is a very worthwhile organization, and we are happy to support their efforts."

Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta Fact Sheet

• The Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta series is a series of sailing events taking place at yacht clubs throughout the United States that raise money for the Leukemia Society of America.

• Sailors participating in Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta events raise money through pledges and individual donations.

• Sailors also compete for prizes and awards in Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta races held at participating yacht clubs.

• The national Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta series was founded by Americas Cup captain Gary Jobson in 1994, following the success of the initial Leukemia Cup regatta in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1993.

• In 1999, 36 Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta events will take place at yacht clubs throughout the United States.

• In the past five years, Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta events have raised more than $2 million for leukemia research.

• Individual sailors taking part in the Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta have raised as much as $21,000 for the Leukemia Society of America.

• More than 3,000 sailors will take part in Volvo Leukemia Cup events this year.

Americas Cup Captain and ESPN Commentator Gary Jobson Launches 1999 Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta Series

Former Americas Cup Captain and National Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta Chairman Gary Jobson has announced he will participate in at least 10 of the 38 scheduled 1999 Volvo Leukemia Regatta events taking place throughout the United States this summer.

Jobson, who was part of the initial Leukemia Cup Regatta that took place in Annapolis, MD in 1993 and has been a driving force in creating a national series of Volvo Leukemia Regattas, will participate in events in San Diego, North Carolina, Annapolis, Virginia, Connecticut, Ohio, and Georgia.

Jobson has been instrumental in attracting both sailors and sponsors to the Leukemia Society's sailing events, including Volvo. Volvo's title sponsorship of the national series of events "has been huge," says Jobson. "It is a well respected company, strongly committed to the environment, and has a product that sailors can really use."

Jobson has raced and won many championships, including the America's Cup with Ted Turner in 1977, the infamous Fastnet Race, and many of the world's ocean races. He has been ESPN's sailing commentator since 1985, has authored 11 books on sailing, and is Editor-at-Large of Sailing World and Cruising World magazines.

1999 Leukemia Cup Regatta Schedule
Chapter	Location	Date
Louisiana	New Orleans Area Yacht Clubs New Orleans, Louisiana	March 19-21, 1999
Mississippi	Jackson Yacht Club Jackson, Mississippi	March 26-27, 1999
Palm Beach	Palm Beach Sailing Club Palm Beach, Florida	April 10-11, 1999
Mississippi	Biloxi Yacht Club Biloxi, Mississippi	April 18, 1999
San Diego	San Diego Yacht Club San Diego, California	April 30-May 2, 1999
North Carolina	Wrightsville Beach Ocean Racing Assn Wilmington, North Carolina	May 14-15, 1999
South Carolina	Charleston to Bermuda Race Charleston, South Carolina	May 22, 1999
Tri-County	Dana West Yacht Club Dana Point, California	June 4-6, 1999
Mid-America	Lake Stockton Yacht Club Stockton, Missouri	June 12, 1999
Washington State	Corinthian Yacht Club Seattle, Washington	June 12-13, 1999
Texas Gulf Coast	Houston Yacht Club Houston, Texas	June 18-20, 1999
Los Angeles	Long Beach Yacht Club Long Beach, California	June 18-20, 1999
Maryland	Eastport Yacht Club Annapolis, Maryland	June 19, 1999
Michigan	Grand Traverse Yacht Club Traverse City, Michigan	July 7, 1999
Virginia	Hampton Yacht Club Hampton, Virginia	July 10, 1999
Northern Ohio	Cleveland Yachting Club Rocky River, Ohio	July 16-18, 1999
W. Penn.	RC Marina Clarke, Pennsylvania	July 24, 1999
Los Angeles	Santa Monica Windjammers and Del Rey Yacht Clubs Santa Monica, California	July 30-31, 1999
Wisconsin	Lake Winnebago Oshkosh, Wisconsin	August 7, 1999
Wisconsin	Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin	August 7, 1999
Long Island	2nd Annual Great South Bay Regatta Nicoll Bay, New York	August 7, 1999
Indiana	Michigan City Yacht Club Michigan City, Indiana	August 8, 1999
Rocky Mountain	Denver Yacht Club Denver, Colorado	August 13-15, 1999
N. Florida	Epping Forest Yacht Club Jacksonville, Florida	August 14-15, 1999
Rhode Island	Sail Newport Newport, Rhode Island	August 20-21, 1999
Southern NJ	Corinthian YC of Cape May Cape May, New Jersey	August 20-22, 1999
NY City	Liberty Landing Marina New Jersey	August 21-22, 1999
Chicago	Chicago Yacht Club Chicago, Illinois	August 28, 1999
Michigan	Port Huron Yacht Club Port Huron, Michigan	September 5, 1999
National Capital	Washington Sailing Marina Alexandria, Virginia	September 11, 1999
Michigan	Macatawa Bay YC & Anchorage YC Holland, Michigan	September 11, 1999
South Carolina	Charleston Maritime Center Charleston, South Carolina	Sept. 17-18, 1999
Georgia	Savannah Yacht Club Savannah, Georgia	Sept. 24-25, 1999
Kentucky	Louisville Sailing Club and Cruising Club Louisville, Kentucky	Sept. 24-26, 1999
Long Island	Port Washington Yacht Club Port Washington, New York	October 9, 1999
Alabama	Marina Bay Yacht Club Pell City, Alabama	November 6, 1999
Michigan	Bay View Yacht Club Detroit, Michigan	TBD