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"We have made this decision due to heightened security worldwide since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States," said Kenichi Mitsui, Commodore, HMYC. "We feel the risks in arranging transportation for skippers to travel from US and Europe to Japan are too great at this time."

As a result, Swedish Match Tour Year 3 will now be comprised of eight events. The Swedish Match Tour Championship Prize Purse will remain at US$200,000 and the scoring will be based upon a skipper's best six-of-eight finishes instead of the previous best seven-of-nine finishes.

"We understand and support the HMYC's difficult decision in these trying times," said Scott MacLeod, Swedish Match Tour Director. "We look forward to working with them in the future."

The next event on the Swedish Match Tour is the Sun Microsystem's Australia Cup, March 12-17, in Perth, Australia.