AMERICA’S CUP SAILOR AND OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, PETER HOLMBERG, DRIVES ONDECK RACING YACHT TO SILVER IN 35TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ROLEX REGATTA

Press Release - April 2, 2008

Media contact: John Holmberg - Telephone: +1 (340) 777 4944

AMERICA’S CUP SAILOR AND OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, PETER HOLMBERG, DRIVES ONDECK RACING YACHT TO SILVER IN 35TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ROLEX REGATTA –

Companies Yachts, Crews, now Race Ready for Performance Competition under Holmberg’s Training

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Gusty winds. Choppy seas. Long days racing on both round-the-buoy and round-the-island courses. Both the chartered regatta-ready Farr 40 and race-trained crew from ONDECK Ocean Racing proved that preparation and instruction by St. Thomas native, Olympic Silver Medallist and America’s Cup skipper, Peter Holmberg, paid off during the 35th International Rolex Regatta. ONDECK Bandit finished second in the hot IRC class.

“Our finish in Rolex proves that ONDECK’s concept of offering performance charter boats for Caribbean regattas can be an attractive option for those who want to compete with a strong chance of winning and with the convenience of not having to transport their own boat to the Caribbean,” says Holmberg.

Holmberg – back in his home territory less than a year after serving as one of the helmsmen for Team Alinghi, the Switzerland-based syndicate that successfully defended the 32nd America’s Cup in July 2007 in the waters off Valencia, Spain – spent several days in the lead up to the International Rolex Regatta holding basic race-training sessions in Charlotte Amalie’s harbor for nine of ONDECK’s professional crew. At the same time, he advised ONDECK how to upgrade its fleet to a high performance level by equipping yachts with everything from a smart sail inventory to efficient on-board control systems.

In the lead up to the International Rolex Regatta, Holmberg says, “We fit crew into positions they seemed to be most skilled for.”

He adds, “When the regatta began, we spent time each morning setting our goals for the day and reviewing all possible scenarios that could occur. That certainly paid off the first day. We tore our spinnaker in half at the start of the first race. It definitely was a setback, but the crew reacted perfectly. It’s a testament to them that a replacement spinnaker was up within a minute.”

The ONDECK team went into the final day of the regatta tied on points with the UK’s Richard Matthews’ Humphreys 42, Oystercatcher XXVI.

“The last day we focused on beating Oystercatcher, while still sailing smart against the fleet,” says Holmberg.

The final day’s course traversed the islands and cays between St. Thomas and St. John. “The crew did a great job and we probably sailed our best race that final day,” says Holmberg.

He adds, “It’s a result the crew can definitely stand up and be proud of, and as a result, the ONDECK crew is now up-skilled from the training and racing experience to provide quality crew for future competitive race charters.”

Clive Yarwood, ONDECK’s business development manager, comments on Holmberg’s help in stepping up the company’s competitive race charter program: “We at ONDECK realized that there was a huge gap between our understanding of sailing and professional racing, Peter’s level that is. In the last couple of week’s, I’ve seen his energy, enthusiasm and passion for the sport rub off on the crew.”

Racing sailors from around the world can now take advantage of ONDECK’s race charter program. The company still has a Farr 65 and Farr 40 available to charter for Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, April 27 to May 3. One charter fee includes regatta entry fee, dockage, fuel and ONDECK crewmember that can swiftly bring a charter racer up to speed with the yachts operation.

Following ASW, crew charter positions are still available aboard one of ONDECK’s four Farr 65s for the Atlantic Challenge, a 3500-nautical mile race across the Atlantic from Antigua to the UK by way of The Azores.

In Spring 2009, ONDECK’s full fleet of Farr 65s, Farr 40s, Beneteau 40.7s, and Pindar Open 60, are available for the following Caribbean Regattas: Grenada Sailing Festival, the Presidente Cup (Dominican Republic), St. Croix International Regatta, St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Culebra Heineken International Regatta, International Rolex Regatta, BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, and Stanford Antigua Sailing Week.

ABOUT ONDECK:

ONDECK is based on the Solent (Gosport, Portsmouth and Ryde in the UK), Portugal, Antigua and US Virgin Islands.

ONDECK Sailing has been operating a RYA registered sea school for over 10 years.

In 2004, the business re-formed to expand the charter division. ONDECK’s existing fleet comprises high performance Farr 65s, Farr 40s, Beneteau 40.7s and Dehler 39s. In addition it manages the charter of the Pindar Open 60, Volvo 60 and corporate hospitality vessel Hatherleigh.

The ONDECK offering ranges from adventure sailing and transatlantic crossings to sailing and power school, racing in main events including Skandia Cowes Week, Round the Island Race, Fastnet; matched regattas for corporate and private individuals; team and leadership development, and corporate hospitality. www.ondeckoceanracing.com

ABOUT PETER HOLMBERG:

Holmberg was born and raised on St. Thomas and learned to sail at age five and began racing internationally at age nine. After many years of training locally in the Virgin Islands, Holmberg won the Silver Medal in the Finn Class at the 1988 Olympics in Korea. This is the first and only Olympic Medal ever won by the Virgin Islands. In 1989 Holmberg began racing as a professional sailor and has since gone on to win numerous World and International Championships. In 1992 Holmberg shifted his focus to Match Racing and traveled the world extensively with his small team of Virgin Islanders, finally reaching the #1 World ranking in 2002. In 2003 Holmberg joined the Swiss America’s Cup team Alinghi. He served as one of the helmsmen and won the 2007 America’s Cup over Team New Zealand.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL ROLEX REGATTA:

Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2008, the three-day International Rolex Regatta is an annual favorite on the Caribbean racing calendar, catering not only to handicap yachts but also to one-design sailboats of at least 24 feet and beach cats. The regatta’s popularity is attributable to its professional race management, dependable trade winds and varied and challenging schedule of races -- including both windward-leeward and distance courses. After racing, beachside social activities blend St. Thomas Yacht Club's island-style hospitality with the outstanding camaraderie and competition that hundreds of participants have come to expect each year. www.rolexcupregatta.com

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