PUMA in the Stockholm In-Port Race. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
by Kate Fairclough
The PUMA Ocean Racing team Sunday 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 maintain 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 leads as the fog rolls in. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
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 remains strongly in control and are set to take second in Russia.
Charging downwind in Stockholm. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
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.”
PUMA on the start line in Stockholm. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
“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.”
PUMA leads the fleet in Stockholm. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
“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.”
PUMA and Telefonica Blue in Stockholm In-Port Race. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
Following this weekend’s In Port race, the PUMA Ocean Racing team will compete in the friendly Pro-Am race Monday, 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.
PUMA downwind in Stockholm. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
The Volvo Ocean Race is made up of ten legs, finishing in St. Petersburg, Russia on 28th June 2009.
PUMA's big cat strikes again, as Kenny Read celebrates Fathers' Day. Image copyright Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.
PUMA Ocean Racing
Volvo Ocean Race
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