Ken Read prepares the Puma

by Lynn Fitzpatrick on 30 Jun 2007 Ken Read is the skipper for the PUMA Racing Team’s entry into the next Volvo Ocean Race. As he prepared for the start of the HSH Nordbank blue race, a 3,600 nautical mile race between Newport, RI and Hamburg, Germany, he reflected on the some of the changes in the sport of sailing.

Ken, the son of a Rhode Island dairyman and great sailor, is astounded that he and his younger brother, Brad, found themselves with careers in the marine industry. 'We’re living proof that you can do anything that you want to do,' said Ken.

The brothers have two of the most forward thinking and visible sailing programs in the United States at the moment. Ken is the skipper for the PUMA Racing Team’s entry into the Volvo Ocean Race and Brad is the Executive Director of Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center, located at Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island.

While Ken and Brad’s sailing careers followed a similar path for a number of years – each going through the Barrington Yacht Club junior sailing program, achieving All-American status at Boston University and working for North Sails, it was in 1996 that Brad’s career shifted.

Following the death of his mother, he wanted to stay closer to home. As the Executive Director of Sail Newport, Brad has become the leading spokesman for the sport, especially for youth sailing programs and inclusive facilities that offer easy and affordable access to sailing. Each year Sail Newport introduces thousands to the water. Both have taken giving back to the sport that they love to an admirable level.

Ken has captured media attention through his winning J24, Etchells and Melges 24 campaigns, his affiliations with big boat programs, including the America’s Cup, and now with the PUMA Racing Team.

Without question, Ken will always sail one-designs. He elaborates, 'one-design sailing makes you a better sailor. It keeps you sharp and it helps you train for a larger boat. The Etchells is long and heavy and has the feel of an America’s Cup boat and the Melges sailing has been great preparation for the Volvo campaign.'

As he seeks new challenges, Ken sees becoming involved in larger boat campaigns, including the Volvo, as a 'natural progression'. Ken is quick to point out that he was doing the bow on 2-tonners when he was 15 years old, but now days he welcomes the mental challenges of working with larger teams of specialists.

Ken’s team of 26 took off from Fort Adams on Rambler, George David’s Reichel Pugh 90. Chris Nicholson and Justin Ferris, also named to PUMA Racing Team as watch captain and trimmer/driver, respectively, will be aboard Rambler. A few others on the HSH Nordbank blue race will be testing for a spot on PUMA.

Ken points out that there are a number of people with whom he has sailed over the years who are regular teammates and 'fit like an old shoe'. In selecting big boat teams, including the PUMA team, he’ll be 'leaning on his longtime friends in addition to a great pool of specialists in the sport. While Ken has done several Fastnet, Transpac and Bermuda races, he admits that he 'has a lot to learn and expects to learn from the experts.

Offshore campaigns require diesel mechanics, hydraulic specialists and electricians in addition to talented sailors,' admits Ken.

While the PUMA campaign is well financed, perhaps its most limited resource, at the moment, is time.

No sooner will Ken reach Hamburg than he will return to Newport to work on finding boat speed. He is thrilled to be training on the ABN Amro II, but will be working with the designer of the Emirates Team New Zealand America’s Cup challenger boat, Botin Carkeek and Bristol, RI boat builder, Goetz Boatworks, to design and build an exciting performance machine that is fit to withstand the conditions of a ‘round the world race.

Ken can’t stress enough the importance of getting out on the water whether it is aboard Rambler, PUMA an Etchells or a Melges. It’s all part of his non-stop development program.

As Ken tries to assemble all of the ingredients for a successful VOR campaign, he can look around at others in the sport who are also mounting efforts that are bringing media attention to sailing and promoting involvement to all ages.

Among today’s standouts is Roy E. Disney’s Morning Light team that is registered in this year’s Transpac. He appreciates the exposure that the effort has brought to sailing and the development opportunity that the crew has. 'If it develops one new sailor, it’s great,' said Ken. 'If it develops a number of big boat sailors, teaches teamwork, and interests others in the sport, it’s fantastic.'

When asked about Newport being a stop on the Volvo Ocean Race, Ken said that there is no question that Newport would have been his 'first choice, but Rhode Island did not have the resources or the drive to host the event. If you can’t get sailing into the Providence Journal, how do you expect to bring such a big event to Rhode Island?

Naragansett Bay is the State’s greatest resource. Newport and Rhode Island have hosted many great maritime events, but city and state governments and private interests ran with the ball and demonstrated that they really want to host the VOR in Boston.' Read credits Puma’s corporate presence in Boston as being a significant factor in the decision to award the host event to Boston.

Ken knows that he is embarking on more than yet another race. He is facing the challenges of heading a long term team challenge that will take him to yet another level of sailing. He has a lot of people routing for him, the most significant, being his family. 'It was a family vote to do the Volvo race and we want to make it family friendly.'

Let’s hope that Ken and the PUMA Racing Team will show New England and the world what great things can happen when you follow your bliss and have the support of family, friends and the public and private sector.