25.02.2009
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Tricky Doldrums sailing in the Pacific Ocean
PUMA team take time out to celebrate fatherhood
February 25, 2009 – It has been an eventful week for the PUMA Ocean Racing
team, who are presently a quarter of the way through the longest leg of
the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, from Qingdao, China to Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil. Whilst the incredibly close racing continues, with just 26 miles
separating the top three boats; PUMA, Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4, the PUMA
Ocean Racing team are battling with tricky sailing conditions in the
Doldrums area just south of the equator. In between squall showers, the
PUMA team had a double celebration this week in crossing the equator and
the youngest member of the team, Michi Mueller (GER) becoming a father for
the first time.
Very few boats have ever raced through this region of the Pacific Ocean
before, a new route for the Volvo Ocean Race. Safely back in the southern
hemisphere and currently heading towards the tropical islands of Fiji, the
fleet will soon cross the date line and enter the western hemisphere, a
further milestone in this epic 12,300 mile leg.
Skipper Ken Read (USA) commented on the close racing: “You would think
that some day we would have nice ‘ocean passage sailing’. But as always,
we and our competitors are all sailing in a tiny little space in the
ocean. It never fails in this race. There always seems to be a boat in
sight. And we are in the middle of nowhere! How does this happen? Ericsson
3 has been our companion for three days now. Two days ago they sailed into
our world after we got out of a squall into some lighter air. We then
started a 48 hour flat out drag race and slowly pulled out a very hard
earned four mile lead, only to have it evaporate late last night in one
squall. We slowed to 11 knots, they came roaring up at 20 knots and it has
been game on ever since. They get one, we get one. Each squall is usually
accompanied by a a sail-changing frenzy with a bit of commotion on deck.”
Regarding the onboard celebrations: “We officially celebrated Michi
becoming a Dad and the equator crossing all in one shot. Out came the
cigars that [Jerry] Kirby (USA) stashed away and a bit of rum and coke
that Justin [Ferris, NZL] had buried in the sailmaking kit (courtesy of
our enterprising young sailmakers Scoob and Tom who put the rum in a small
bottle and labelled it ‘sewing machine oil’!). Michi immediately claimed
that cigars were not a tradition in Germany but rum and coke may as well
be and went that route. Jerry [Kirby, USA], Erle [Williams, NZL], Sid
[Gavignet, FRA] and I went for the cigars. If you think about it, that
half hour on deck was the only time the entire crew may be on deck
together barring a sail change or a serious situation. Never are we all on
deck together just to hang out. 11 guys enjoying each other and relaxing
for a minute in the middle of a fairly high stress environment. Now we are
back at it again. This race is just getting started.”
Leg five of the Volvo Ocean Race is expected to take 35 – 40 days to
complete. 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 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
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