BEVERAGE BRANDS TO SPONSOR MELGES 24 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FLEET HQ

The International Melges 24 Class Association and Premiere Racing Inc. are delighted to announce that UK drinks company Beverage Brands will be the Melges 24 Fleet HQ Sponsor for the forthcoming 2001 Melges 24 World Championship, to be held in association with Terra Nova Trading / Yachting Key West Race Week from 20-25 January 2002.

A Beverage Brands sponsorship will help to provide additional measurement, fleet check in and launching facilities at the Truman Navy Basin as well as a fantastic welcome party for the Melges 24 crews on the Saturday evening.

Beverage Brands will be featuring their brands of Woody's Ice launched in the USA in Spring 2001 and also introducing to the USA market for the first time WKD Hard Blue. Both Woody's Ice and WKD Hard Blue are specially designed for the US market as premium malt beverages with natural fruit flavours.

Joe Woods, founder and Managing Director of Beverage Brands (UK) Ltd, is a keen member of the Melges 24 class and will be competing at the Championship aboard his boat WKD Blue.

Joe Woods said "I have been a keen Melges owner since the Inaugural World Championships in my home club in Torbay. Key West 2002 will be my third time at Key West and I am delighted that Beverage Brands is able to assist and be associated with the Melges 24 World Championship".

The Woody's Ice Melges 24 Fleet HQ will open at Truman Navy Basin on Friday 18 January and all Worlds competitors should assemble there for pre-event check-in and boat measurement. The Woody's Ice Welcome Party will take place on Saturday 19 January in the main Key West Race Week event marquee.

For further information about the 2001 Melges 24 World Championship please visit www.melges24.com or contact Fiona Brown, IMCA Press Officer, 3 Palmers Road, Emsworth, PO10 7DL, UK, Tel +44 7711 718470 or E-mail

For further information about Woody's Ice and WKD please visit www.wkd.co.uk For any other information about Beverage Brands please contact Maria Harding at Beverage Brands (UK) Ltd on Tel + 44 1803 201020or E-mail Beverage Brands's importer for Woody's Ice in the USA is Collins International, Tel: (978) 952 2900 or E-mail