10 January 2009
For images and footage free for editorial use please go to:
http://media.pumaoceanracing.com
PUMA second in Singapore In Port Race
January 10, 2009 – PUMA today finished the Singapore In Port race day in
second place. After a very convincing win in the first race, having led
from the very start, the PUMA team finished race two in fourth, after an
impressive tactical move on the final lap saw the team overtake Green
Dragon at the last moment.
Racing in over 25 knots of wind, which built throughout the day, the seven
boat Volvo Ocean Race fleet raced around a short 2.5 mile course off East
Coast Park in Singapore. Over two hundred spectator boats crowded round
the racecourse to watch these spectacular machines strut their stuff
against the backdrop of the Singapore skyline.
Stepping onto the podium in second place, PUMA Ocean Racing skipper Ken
Read commented: “Our first In Port race here today in Singapore was fast,
smart, we had a good start, took a great shift; we were really pleased
with our performance. Unfortunately in the second race, our keel system
shut down just at the worst possible moment. Four boats just sailed around
us as it took us three minutes to get it sorted, and we then had to play
catch up for the rest of the race, which is not so fun, but got ourselves
back into fourth. One little problem like that can easily turn into a
major and playing from the front is much more fun than playing from the
back.”
“We had perfect breeze here in Singapore for In Port racing in Volvo 70’s
today, though the racecourse here was shifty, and hard work. In 25 knots
of breeze, these boats end up closing on each other fast, so racing
doesn’t get much closer than that.”
Second place today brings the team a little further up the overall
leaderboard, with now just two points separating PUMA from Telefonica Blue
in second place. The PUMA Ocean Racing team will spend the next week
making preparations for the start of Leg Four, from Singapore to Qingdao,
China, and ensuring the keel issue experienced today is resolved. Leg Four
begins at 1300 local/0500 GMT/0000 EST on Sunday 18th January.
The Volvo Ocean Race is made up of ten legs, finishing in June 2009 in St.
Petersburg, Russia. 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
For more information on Puma Ocean Racing, please contact:
Bridgid Murphy or Kate Fairclough
PUMA Ocean Racing
Tel: +1 978 996 5155 or +44 7827 277 517
bridgid.murphy@puma.com or kate.fairclough@puma.com
For more information, please visit www.puma.com
|
