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Fotogalerie Leg 9
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21.06.09
PUMA’s In Port race result virtually locks overall Volvo Ocean Race
standings
June 21, 2009 – The PUMA Ocean Racing team today finished an incredibly
close Stockholm In Port race competition in second place. Racing in 10-12
knots of wind under beautiful blue skies, PUMA won the first race and
finished third in the second race, to tie on points with Spanish rivals
Telefonica Blue. On tie break, the PUMA team finished the day in second
place and continue to indextain second place overall in the Volvo Ocean
Race, 6.5 points ahead of Telefonica Blue. As the race stands, PUMA has
only to finish the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race in any position,
first to seventh, to confirm second place overall in the Volvo Ocean Race
2008-09. Leg ten from Stockholm, Sweden to St Petersburg, Russia starts
this Thursday, June 25 and will finish on Saturday, June 27.
PUMA have had an excellent In Port race record in this edition of the
Volvo Ocean Race. Finishing on the podium in all but one of the seven In
Port races sailed in the nine month round the world race, only Telefonica
Blue have bettered PUMA’s score, winning four of the In Port races and
finishing on the podium in all seven. In the offshore legs, including
scoring gates passed on each of the longer legs, PUMA has performed
consistently, finishing on the podium in seven of the nine legs to date,
and never below fifth place. While Ericsson 4 have mathematically won
first place in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, second and third places will
not be confirmed until the bitter end of the nine month, 37,000 mile
nautical mile round the world race. PUMA reindexs strongly in control and
are set to take second in Russia.
Skipper Ken Read (USA) commented on the dock after racing: “We went out
there with one goal and one goal only today. To either get ourselves ahead
of Telefonica Blue for the day, or finish within one place. What that
would do is virtually lock up second place overall in the race. For the
first time in our lives, getting on the podium wasn’t that important.
Being within one place of Telefonica Blue was.”
“We knew it would be tough, as they [Telefonica Blue] have always been
good in these In Port races, especially in that breeze. Sure enough they
were great, but we equalled them. We succeeded today. Today goes down in
history as one of the best ever days for the PUMA Ocean Racing team. Since
we mathematically couldn’t win this race any more [as Ericsson 4 have]
second overall is our ultimate goal. Today the team sailed spectacularly,
the boat was going really fast. Rob Greenhalgh (GBR) did a great job
tactically, especially a couple of really key moves. Our weather team also
deserves a special mention, Ken Campbell and Will Oxley have been a
massive help to our tactical crew onboard, helping us call the weather on
the course. I couldn’t be happier with the entire team and the boat. Today
was the ultimate success. Mission accomplished.”
“I think there were about a half a billion boats out there watching us!
But they were the best behaved half a billion boats. I have sailed plenty
of America’s Cup races and I have never seen a crowd that big before. It
was pretty spectacular. Huge kudos to the whole of Stockholm for their
massive support, we feel it, and it’s pretty inspirational.”
Following this weekend’s In Port race, the PUMA Ocean Racing team will
compete in the friendly Pro-Am race tomorrow, which takes place just
outside the city of Stockholm. The team will then spend their last two
days in Stockholm preparing for the start of leg ten, the final leg of the
Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 on Thursday June 25.
The Volvo Ocean Race is made up of ten legs, finishing in St. Petersburg,
Russia on 28th June 2009. By joining the race, PUMA has entered a new
premium category and is the only Sportlifestyle 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
Alongside PUMA’s entry in the Volvo Ocean Race, PUMA has launched a full
range of marine clothing and apparel, from offshore sailing gear to
onshore lifestyle fashion. The PUMA Sailing Performance collection was
developed and tested by the PUMA Ocean Racing team itself, and is worn by
the team throughout the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. The PUMA Sailing
Lifestyle collection takes inspiration from the sport.
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
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