08.05.2009
Home team PUMA ready for Boston In Port race
May 7, 2009 – PUMA Ocean Racing, dubbed the Boston hometown team due to
their ties with the Massachusetts city, are pumped up and ready for the
fifth In Port race of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, to be held this
weekend. The first of two races to be held on Broad Sound, just outside
Boston Harbor will start at 1300 local (1800 GMT). Conditions are forecast
to be favourable and the PUMA team will be gunning for much-needed points.
Currently sitting in third place overall on the leaderboard, the PUMA team
are just 0.5 points behind second-placed team Telefonica Blue. In front of
a home crowd, the PUMA team will be looking to secure top points for the
day in order to overtake the Spanish entry. A maximum of four points can
be earnt from the two short 50 minute races. In Port racing is designed to
show off these incredible 70 foot racing machines to spectators both on
the water and lining the shores of east Boston.
Sailing onboard il mostro for the In Port race will be PUMA’s Ocean Racing
team of Ken Read, Skipper; Andrew Cape, Navigator; Justin Ferris, Trimmer;
Sidney Gavignet, Trimmer; Jerry Kirby, Bowman; Kimo Worthington, index;
Michi Mueller, Grinder/Sewer; Rob Greenhalgh, Tactician; Rob Salthouse,
Pit; Casey Smith, Bowman; Shannon Falcone, Trimmer/Pit and Andrew Taylor,
Grinder. 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 in real time on race day.
Skipper Ken Read (USA) commented: “Almost two years ago to the day, we
announced our PUMA Ocean Racing team programme and our intention to
compete in this race, here in Boston. Almost exactly one year ago to the
day, award winning actress Salma Hayek was here to christen our boat il
mostro right here at the dock, and finally, this weekend we’re actually
going to race here, in the waters of Boston. It’s been such a long journey
to get to where we are, but we’re really looking forward to going out and
doing what we do best, right here in Boston. It’s like home to us, with
one of PUMA’s headquarters based just down the road; we hope we can put on
a good show for all of Beantown this weekend.”
“In terms of points,Telefonica Blue and Ericsson 4 are our two closest
rivals, for sure we always have our eyes out on those two guys, but on
Saturday we’ll be racing against the whole fleet – round the cans out
there anything can happen.”
Following the In Port racing, the PUMA Ocean Racing team will spend their
final week in the States preparing for the start of leg seven from Boston
to Galway, Ireland. Leg seven from Boston starts at 13:00 on Saturday May
16th.
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
In celebration of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, the award-winning PUMA
City, designed and conceptualized by PUMA and international acclaimed
architects, LOT-EK, is PUMA’s home in the Boston race village. PUMA City
is a mobile retail, event space and bar that will host activities, parties
and festivities for Boston – free and open to the public until May 16th.
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 +1 857 334 2783
bridgid.murphy@puma.com or kate.fairclough@puma.com
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