PUMA Ocean Racing Set for First In Port Race

by PUMA Ocean Racing media on 3 Oct 2008
Ken Read, skipper of PUMA Ocean Racing and his crew are all set for the inaugural event of this year’s epic Volvo Ocean Race, the Alicante in port racing.

Two short, 50 minute races will take place in the Mediterranean Sea, just off the coast of Alicante on Saturday afternoon, 4th October. Both of the races count for points towards each team’s overall score in the epic nine-month, 37,000 mile round the world race.

First integrated into the Volvo Ocean Race programme during the 2005-06 race, in port racing is designed to give spectators a real taste of what these racing machines can do. For the first official time, the eight entries in this year’s edition of the race will line up against one another on the start line, and so each team will be gunning to prove themselves against the next. All but one of the eight entries are second-generation Volvo 70 racing yachts, and the PUMA sponsored entry, il mostro – the monster – will be vying for a podium position alongside the race favourites.

Sailing onboard il mostro for the in port race will be PUMA’s Ocean Racing team of Andrew Cape, Navigator; Justin Ferris, Trimmer; Sidney Gavignet, Trimmer; Jerry Kirby, Bowman; Jonathan McKee, Tactician; Michael Mueller, Grinder/Sewer; Chris Nicholson, Main; Rob Salthouse, Pit and Casey Smith, Bowman. They will be joined by PUMA’s two in port racing specialists, who have been recruited for their sheer strength and grinding skills, key for racing round a short course: Shannon Falcone and Andrew Taylor. Rick Deppe, PUMA’s Media Specialist will also be onboard providing a live video stream straight from the boat, which can be viewed at www.volvooceanrace.tv

PUMA Ocean Racing skipper Ken Read commented: 'The whole PUMA team is looking forward to getting out there on the water this weekend and giving Alicante a preview of what is to come in this Volvo Ocean Race. The racing here will be fast and furious, it’s hard work sailing these 70 foot boats over such a short course. Whilst it will be interesting to see how the eight different boats line up against each other here and figure out who is fastest, for the day. It’s important to understand, that in port racing is very different to the offshore legs of the Volvo Ocean Race. The whole race itself is a marathon. Racing round the buoys here in the Mediterranean is more similar to sprint racing – really they are fifty minutes of ‘grinding world championships’. We have a team of highly experienced sailors onboard il mostro and we’re ready to get out there and race.'

The first leg of the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race will begin on Saturday 11th October 2008 from Alicante, Spain, taking the fleet 6,500 miles to Cape Town, South Africa. The Volvo Ocean Race is made up of ten legs, finishing in June 2009 in St. Petersburg, Russia. In port racing will be conducted in seven ports, including Alicante.

PUMA Ocean Racing Sailing Team List, In Port Race, Alicante:

Ken Read, 46 (Newport, RI, United States) Skipper
Andrew Cape, 43 (Lymington, Hampshire, Great Britain – originally AUS) Navigator
Michael 'Michi' Müller, 24 (Kiel, Germany) Grinder/Sewer
Rob Salthouse, 41 (Auckland, New Zealand) Pit
Casey Smith, 29 (Brisbane, Australia) Bowman
Jerry Kirby, 51 (Newport, RI, United States) Bowman
Jonathan McKee, 47 (Seattle, WA, United States)Tactician
Justin Ferris, 32 (KeriKeri, New Zealand)Trimmer
Sidney Gavignet, 39 (Paris, France) Trimmer
Chris Nicholson, 37 (Belmont, NSW, Australia) Main
Andrew Taylor, 45 (Valencia, Spain – originally NZ) Grinder
Shannon Falcone, 27 (Valencia, Spain – originally ANT) Grinder

By joining the race, PUMA has entered a new premium category and is the only Sportslifestyle company to participate in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. For more information about the race, team and the PUMA Sailing collections, please visit www.pumaoceanracing.com