Puma Ocean Racing Team Sets Sail For Galway Ireland

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG team set out on the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 on Sunday afternoon, departing Lorient, France, for the 550 nautical mile sprint to Galway, Ireland. PUMA’s Mar Mostro completed the 6.5 nautical mile inshore loop in second position, 30 seconds behind Team Telefónica, before heading out on the bulk of Leg 9.   The final leg  first takes the fleet 25 miles around the island of Belle Ile off the coast of France before sailing up the coast of Brittany, past the Fastnet Rock landmark and on to Galway. The leg will take the fleet approximately a day and a half to complete with arrival expected early Tuesday morning.

“As we got ready this morning, you start thinking, ‘Hey, I may never put these boots on again, I may never put this foul weather gear on again, I may never do this again,’” said skipper Ken Read. “This is an emotional leg for everybody. To complete a race like this is a big deal, and we’re about to accomplish something pretty incredible. This is a great team, a great group of people. Win, lose or draw, I’m really proud of what we’ve done.   “In all likelihood we’re fighting for second, third or fourth at this stage. Groupama would have to make a pretty spectacular mistake, and I don’t expect that, but if they do, we will be there to capitalize,” Read said. “It will be a tight-reaching drag race. In a leg of this length, there won’t be a lot of stretching out, maybe 2-3 miles and in essence it looks to be a rhumb line race. Straight to Fastnet Rock.”

The fleet can be followed live online through the live tracker. Photos and video from onboard and aerial shots will be updated during the leg and can be viewed via the Livestream tab or at. Three live video calls to PUMA’s Mar Mostro are scheduled during the leg and can be viewed on Livestream: one today, July 1 at 20:00 UTC; and tomorrow, July 2 at 09:30 UTC and 18:00 UTC. PUMA is second in the overall race standings, 25 points behind the leading Groupama Sailing Team – 225 points to 220. CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand is four points back in third place (196). After the completion of this final leg, one In-Port Race remains on the schedule: Saturday, July 7 in Galway.  The Volvo Ocean Race started on November 5 in Alicante. When the fleet arrives in the final port of Galway, the crews will have traveled approximately 39,270 nautical miles around the world, stopping at 10 ports along the way.

The PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG team is under the leadership of Read (Newport, Rhode Island, United States). Collectively, the crew has won the Around the World Race six times. The core includes: Tom Addis, Navigator (Sydney, Australia); Ryan Godfrey, Pitman (Adelaide, Australia); Kelvin Harrap, Helmsman & Inshore Tactician (Napier, New Zealand); Brad Jackson, Design Coordinator & Watch Captain (Auckland, New Zealand); Rome Kirby, Trimmer & Driver (Newport, Rhode Island, USA); Michael “Michi” Müller, Bowman (Kiel, Germany); Tony Mutter, Aerodynamics Coordinator & Watch Captain (Auckland, New Zealand); Casey Smith, Bowman (Brisbane, Australia); Jonathan “Jono” Swain, Helmsman & Trimmer (Durban, South Africa); Amory Ross, Media Crew Member (Newport, Rhode Island, USA); Kimo Worthington, General Manager (Portsmouth, Rhode Island, United States); and Tim Hacket, Shore Team Manager (Sydney, Australia).  

Weather Conditions The Talk At RORC IRC National Championship

Mike Bartholomew's King 40, Tokoloshe won the race in IRC One, handling the conditions better than most, making a big gain on the first beat by using the lift off the island shore.  After what seems like a textbook kite hoist, the South African boat handled the feisty conditions with some ease until a vicious gust knocked them into a spin, tearing their spinnaker in half. "Great racing, just fantastic!" exclaimed Mike Bartholomew. "We knew we had done pretty well at the finish but it could have been a really expensive day, as we lost most of the spinnaker over the side. However, to my delight, Eddie Warden Owen and Nick Elliott from the RORC were out following the racing in a RIB, to my surprise they picked it up and returned it to the boat after the finish, which really capped off a fine win."

Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens, earned the second place, retaining the lead in the big boat class for the series. As Tonnerre came round the top mark, the Dutch flier hoisted their spinnaker, pulling the trigger downwind at over 20 knots. The sleigh ride did not last too long, after burying the bowTonnerre went 'down the mine' for a spectacular wipe-out.   

  

François Goubau's First 47.7, Moana, was one of the few yachts to reef their mainsail today and showed impressive upwind performance to take third place in IRC One from Anthony O'Leary's Antixby just 13 seconds.

In IRC Two Sailing Logic's Reflex 38, Visit Malta Puma, also won moving up to first in class after four races. The sailing school yacht chose not to use a spinnaker and the decision seemed to pay off. "I actually wanted to put the kite up," admitted Visit Malta Puma's Skipper Tim Thubron. "The crew made me change my mind, which was probably a good thing having witnessed some of the big broaches out there today. On the short course we would have not gained significant time on the run with a kite up, I was absolutely delighted with the win today and especially the performance of the crew."

Marc de Saint Denis's MC34, Courrier Vintage, with the highly experienced Géry Trentesaux at the wheel was a rocket ship downwind, scoring a second in the race to move the French team within a point of the class leader. Jim Macgregor's Elan 410, Premier Flair, put in a great performance today, only to be called OCS but at the time of this report is seeking redress. Even so, Premier Flair remains third in class on their strong performances.

In IRC Three David Franks' JPK 1010, Strait Dealer, scored their fourth win in a row but only just. Defending class champion, Mike Bridges' Elan 37, Elaine, was only 10 seconds behind on corrected time, with Peter Morton's Corby 33, Salvo, claiming third today and in class after four races.

"We certainly learnt a lot about the boat today," commented Strait Dealer's skipper, David Franks. "This weekend is the first time we have taken the boat out in big breeze and it has been a real eye-opener. I like to race offshore as well as inshore and out in the ocean you have to be able to race in any conditions, so today was a very valuable lesson."

In IRC Four Grant Gordon's J/97, Fever, won the day and now leads the class from Mike and Jamie Holmes' J/97, Jika Jika. "We had a bad start but the crew did a great job upwind. We led at the top mark and from there we could cover Jika Jika," commented Grant Gordon. "I have to say, it is a shame to be back on the dock, that was some of the best sailing I have done in the boat but on balance it was a good call to get us out there for a race but also to pull as back in early. On the way back to Cowes we saw a couple of gusts close to 40 knots. I thought the race management today was first class."

Tomorrow is the last day of racing at the RORC IRC National Championship and all classes are still wide open. The weather forecast is for a more moderate breeze of between 10-15 knots, which should provide more of a tactical test after a two day masterclass in the black art of heavy weather sailing.

   

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Is Coming

Sailing will be a headliner this summer when, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, organised by Cowes Week Limited will be held  August 11-18, 2012. Competitors from across the globe, will enjoy the fun and festivities of this year’s Cowes Week in what is a very special year for Great Britain.  Early entries include  Antigua and Barbuda,  Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA; all helping to give the regatta its international flavour.

Since 1826, the Cowes Week Regatta has played an integral part of Britain's summer sports calendar and is considered to be one the longest running and most successful sporting event in the UK.   This mammoth sailing event stages up to 40 races daily, with about 1000 boats, making it the largest sailing event of its kind in the world.

The regatta which is over 180 years old and now known as Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week offers a great mix of competitive sailing, social activities and entertainment.  Over the week of competition, over 8500 competitors ranging from olympic and world class caliber to recreational sailors, mingle with an excess of 100,000 spectators who are out to have a great time at this one of kind event.

United States skipper Ted Sawyer will be in Cowes for the first time since breaking his neck during the Dragon Edinburgh Cup, in Cowes six years ago! The event will be the swan song of his wonderful cold-moulded Petticrow Dragon Clairvoyant, which will be sold after the event. As Ted will be 80 years old in 2013, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week will probably be his last major UK regatta in the Dragon class.

Between them, Ted’s two professional crew, Stavros (Martin Payne) and Pedro Andrade have won over 15 International & National Dragon titles and are threatening to give local favorite, Graham Bailey, a run for his money!

Closer to home, Brian Cooper of East Cowes was the fastest out of the blocks with his entry for Little Spirit being the first received by Cowes Week Limited. Home-grown Island talent will feature strongly among those battling for pole position at this year’s regatta, and the Island contingent will be hoping their local knowledge will provide an advantage in August.

The new Aberdeen Asset Management youth scheme has proved very popular with the offer of funding support to the first ten entries, with a full crew complement of under 25 year-olds being snapped up.  Among those contesting for the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25’s Trophy are the Davies brothers at 16, 17 and 18 years-old who will be racing their XOD Westwind.

There are three entries from the British Keelboat Academy; a partnership between the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) designed to support young people aged 18-24 in developing the skills needed to take their keelboat racing to a professional level. From further afield, the Welsh crew racing in the Etchell’s class on Darling S, kindly loaned to them for the season by Ted Fort, will be making the journey to Cowes in August. Additionally, a team comprised entirely of Newcastle University students from the School of Marine Science and Technology will be racing in the ISCRS class in their aptly named boat, Newcastle University.

This year’s regatta promises to be better than ever with celebrations of Olympic proportion’s, as the country celebrates a summer of royal heritage and sporting prowess. So, for those that are deliberating entry for this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week,should not procrastinate too long.