Sailing Duo Launch Athens 2004 Olympic Challenge

21st February 2002 - The Irish 49er racing team, Tom Fitzpatrick and Fraser Brown, today launched their Olympic Campaign for Athens 2004. The main team sponsors are Vhi Healthcare and Salesforce.com with associate sponsor Kellogg's Nutri-Grain.

The 49er, a high speed skiff, is the Formula 1 of the eleven Olympic sailing classes and one of the most visually exciting racing boats in the world.

The Irish 49er racing team has just returned from Australia where they competed in the Down Under Racing Series. The team is currently placed 31 in the World - having been ranked 250 just 12 months ago.

Helm, Tom Fitzpatrick from Dublin is three times winner of the Irish Champion of Champions trophy and was voted Irish sailor of the Year in 1998. Fraser Brown, from Co Down, has been ranked in the top three Irish Laser sailors for the last two years.

The two sailors give up their jobs in November 2001 and are committing themselves full time to training and racing in preparation for the 2003 World Championships in Cadiz and the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

The fully rigged 49er takes pride of place in Café En Seine in Dublin this evening for the launch party which will be attended by 300 people.

"We are delighted to have Vhi Healthcare and Salesforce.com as our main sponsors and Kellogg's Nutri-Grain as our associate sponsor. Their support means that we can concentrate on winning races. We have been training in Australia with the Olympic Gold Medallist, Mark Turnbull, and the Triple 49er World Champion, Chris Nicholson. We will be travelling extensively for the next 29 months as we compete around the world and improve our rankings. We intend to be medal contenders in Athens in 2004," said Tom Fitzpatrick.

For further information contact:
Corporate Communications
Vhi Healthcare
7994078