WEST MARINE EARNINGS DOWN S.S.

THE EARNINGS OF A WATSONVILLE BASED COMPANY ARE DOWN DUE TO HURRICANE DAMAGE BACK EAST. WEST MARINE INCORPORATED STILL HOPES TO OPEN 35 NEW STORES THIS YEAR, BUT THE HURRICANES FORCED THE CLOSURE OF SEVERAL OF THEIR STORES IN THE FLORIDA AREA. THE NATIONAL BOATING SUPPLIER SAID THAT SEPTEMBER SALES WERE LOWER THAN EXPECTED, BECAUSE HURRICANES HAD A MORE PRONOUNCED, AND WIDE-SPREAD, IMPACT THAN ANTICIPATED.