Tuesday 24 March 2009

VOR: PUMA Slogging It Out on the Approach to Rio

Food rationing has begun on il mostro


Skipper Ken Read checks the trim on board PUMA Ocean Racing, on leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Qingdao to Rio de Janeiro. Image copyright Rick Deppe/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race.

by Kate Fairclough

The PUMA Ocean Racing team has 725 miles to go until reaching the finish line of the longest ever leg of the Volvo Ocean Race and is expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil early this week. Along with the two Ericsson boats, on whom the PUMA team are closing, PUMA is making slow progress towards the carnival city of Rio. Plagued with light winds, the 11 man crew have already begun rationing food given the further light weather expected for the final approach to Rio.

Reducing Ericsson 3’s lead of 200 miles on PUMA to 130 over the past 48 hours, the PUMA team will be pushing every last inch of speed out of their boat il mostro until crossing the finish line off the Marina da Gloria in Rio this week. Having begun this leg from China on 14th February today is the 38th day that the team has been at sea. For everyone other than Navigator Andrew Cape (AUS), it is the longest that any member of the team has been at sea non-stop. Showing obvious signs of fatigue and weight loss in the images coming off the boat, the team are dreaming of steak, caiprinhas and beer in Rio, where they will be welcomed by their families, friends and the PUMA shore team.

PUMA Ocean Racing
Volvo Ocean Race

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