Cray/Media: Mardi Larson, 612/683-3538 PACT 95 Media: Chris Goddard, 619/523-9119 CRAY RESEARCH SUPERCOMPUTERS USED TO DEVELOP YOUNG AMERICA'S FIGHTING EDGE EAGAN, Minn., April 20, 1995 -- Supercomputer-leader Cray Research, Inc. announced today that it provided more than $2 million of dedicated supercomputer time to America's Cup syndicate PACT 95 for the design of leading-edge sailing technologies for its IACC (International America's Class Cup) boat Young America, currently tied for first with Team Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes and America(3)'s Mighty Mary. Young America was the leading U.S. syndicate after the first four rounds of the race. This past Monday, the U.S. syndicates moved into the final series for the Citizen's Cup. By early next week the world will know which one of these American syndicates will move on to the May finals in the prestigious America's Cup race, according to race officials. In 1993 Cray Research upgraded The Boeing Company's CRAY Y-MP supercomputer with four additional processors that were dedicated to the complex and time-critical simulation work involved in designing and manufacturing Young America. Combined, these four processors have a capability of delivering more than one billion calculations per second, according to Cray officials. Through its design cycle, the PACT 95 designers also used additional Cray-dedicated supercomputer time at Cray's world-class computer center in Minnesota. To accurately simulate the flow around the keel and hull of this class of yacht requires a significant amount of computational power, according to Derek Robb, vice president of the applications division for Cray Research. The power of Cray supercomputers enabled PACT 95 designers to explore hundreds of design options to develop the most effective keel, bulb and hull combination before boat construction ever began, he said. Young America employs revolutionary new materials that assist in reducing drag on the sailing craft and improving lift -- ultimately increasing the boat's speed. Through simulation on Cray supercomputers, PACT 95 designers were able to better understand the effect of the new material to improve flow direction and ease the flow around the hull. "Our involvement with PACT both in 1992 and this year helps Cray show worldwide industry how simulation can be applied to design and manufacturing -- especially for industries where small improvements in design can make a big difference. In the case of the America's Cup, it can mean the difference between winning and losing," said Robb. "While Cray systems are installed at hundreds of industrial companies throughout the world for design simulation and optimization, there are many more manufacturing industries that can learn from the integrated, focused computational design effort employed by PACT 95 designers." In addition to Cray Research, PACT 95 technology partners include The Boeing Company, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Ford Motor Company. Cray Research has participated in America's Cup yacht design in the past. Simulation to develop the revolutionary design of the Stars and Stripes, the 1987 America's Cup winner sailed by Dennis Conner, were done on a Cray Research supercomputer. For Cray's PACT 92 involvement, the company dedicated substantial supercomputer time as well. Cray Research provides the leading supercomputing tools and services to help solve customers' most challenging problems.