09.12.2008
http://media.pumaoceanracing.com
PUMA ready for battle
il mostro back in water and set for Leg Three of Volvo Ocean Race
December 9, 2008 – PUMA Ocean Racing, led by Skipper Ken Read (USA) is
ready for battle in leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Having
undergone essential structural repairs in Cochin, India over the past
week, PUMA’s il mostro was today lifted back into the water. The team will
now begin their final preparations and testing prior to the start of the
third leg, which begins at 1400 local (0830 GMT) this Saturday, 13th
December.
Sailing the second Asian section of the 37,000 nautical mile round the
world race from Cochin, India, to Singapore, Malaysia, the Volvo Ocean
Race fleet will once again take to uncharted waters in this 1,950 nautical
mile leg. PUMA Ocean Racing, who are currently in third place overall, are
due to arrive in Singapore just days before Christmas.
Cochin, India, has welcomed the team with open arms, and the local
community has been flocking to the race village in their thousands. The
Indian stopover has been unlike any other for the team, not least due to
damage sustained to PUMA’s il mostro during the last leg. Neil Cox, PUMA
Shore Manager and his team have been working day and night to repair the
damage sections of the boat’s hull.
PUMA Skipper Ken Read commented: “Our great team of boat builders, working
alongside our consultant engineers and boat designers has made a great job
of this monster task of fixing the issues we had during this past leg.
Stepping onboard, not only can you not actually tell that there was ever
previously a problem in that area, but the engineers tell me that we
should be back at 100%, which is what we are aiming for. There’s no doubt
about the extremely high level of competition in this race. These boats
have never been pushed harder. It is likely that each of the teams will
encounter some sort of problems along the way – we broke some structural
components aboard PUMA, both Telefonica boats broke their daggerboards,
Green Dragon snapped their boom – that’s half the fleet. We’re all pushing
the limits. However, it’s those teams who are able to solve those issues
they experience, and continue to push even harder, who will shine
through.”
The PUMA Ocean Racing team plan to head out for a test sail just off the
coast of Cochin, in the Indian Ocean, later this week. As part of the
team’s planned crew rotation strategy, Rob Greenhalgh (UK), who sailed
aboard the winning boat, ABN AMRO ONE during the 2004-05 Volvo Ocean Race
will join the team this leg, whilst Robbie Naismith (NZL) flies home due
to other commitments.
Leg three to Singapore which begins at 1400 local (0830 GMT) on Saturday
13th December. 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
PUMA Ocean Racing Sailing Team List
Leg Three, Cochin - Singapore:
Ken Read, 46 (Newport, RI, United States) Skipper
Andrew Cape, 43 (Lymington, Hampshire, Great Britain – originally AUS)
Navigator
Michael "Michi" Müller, 24 (Kiel, Germany) Bowman
Rob Salthouse, 42 (Auckland, New Zealand) Trimmer
Casey Smith, 30 (Brisbane, Australia) Bowman
Shannon Falcone, 27 (Antigua, Caribbean) Trimmer
Rob Greenhalgh, 31 (Hamble, UK) Trimmer/Driver
Justin Ferris, 32 (KeriKeri, New Zealand)Trimmer
Sidney Gavignet, 39 (Paris, France) Watch Captain
Chris Nicholson, 37 (Belmont, NSW, Australia) Watch Captain
Rick Deppe, 44 (Philadelphia, USA, originally UK) Media Crew Member
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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