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Hilfiger Sailing will be skippered by former America's Cup winner, and two-time Olympic medallist Randy SMYTH (USA), for the opening race in Sanxenxo, Spain, taking place on 6 November 2005. The boat will compete in additional races in Portsmouth, Great Britain and Rotterdam, the Netherlands through the spring and summer of 2006. The 40 foot catamaran will be branded by Hilfiger, and the crew of five will be outfitted in Hilfiger Sport sailing apparel. This sponsorship is the first step in the development of a fully functional sailing collection by Hilfiger, scheduled to launch in Spring 2007.

The Volvo Ocean Race reaches out to billions around the globe during its eight month quest visiting five continents. Research showed that the previous race attracted more than an 800 million cumulative TV audience. Tommy Hilfiger are proud to be associated with this prestigious sailing event and look forward to competing against the four other teams in this new, fast-paced 40 foot multihull racing circuit, where speeds can exceed 35 knots.

Tommy HILFIGER, Honorary Chairman and Principal Designer of Tommy Hilfiger Corporation, stated, 'We are thrilled to step into the world of high performance sailing with our own VX 40 team. This circuit is the perfect way to show innovation, teamwork and great fun at 40 knots. Enjoy the race!'

Avery BAKER, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Tommy Hilfiger Europe, commented, 'This sponsorship is a very exciting addition to our sport portfolio, and the ideal platform to support the development of a dedicated Tommy Hilfiger sailing apparel collection. We feel the VX40 series, with its speed, excitement and glamour, has the potential to become the ultimate Grand Prix of Sailing. It is an excellent vehicle to further communicate the global lifestyle appeal of the Tommy Hilfiger brand. We wish Randy and his crew the best of luck in the opening race.'