(Galway, Ireland)- Ken Read's PUMA Mar Mostro Wins Volvo Inshore Title!
A PUMA team decked out in Irish rugby shirts rounded off the Volvo
Ocean Race 2011-12 in style on Saturday, securing victory in the In-Port
Race series with a win on the waters of Galway on a day that saw Franck
Cammas's GROUPAMA celebrate the overall win in the Volvo Ocean Race.Ken Read's team scored a commanding first place in the Discover Ireland In-Port Race, their ninth podium finish of the 10-race inshore series and a first victory. An electrifying scrap for second between CAMPER and Groupama saw the two teams virtually inseparable right to the end of the 8.2-nautical mile course with Chris Nicholson's team stealing the runners-up prize on the day, and in the series as a whole.
Driven to score their first in-port win, there was no stopping Kenny and the PUMA gang as a flawless performance saw them extend their lead at the first mark, holding on to take the win around the 8.2 nautical mile course by one minute and 19 seconds and secure the overall in-port title. “It tastes very sweet,” said Ken Read who punched the air in delight as he steered Mar Mostro over the finish line. “To race against the best offshore sailors in the world and come out on top is all we can ask for.”
Thank goodness all that practice winning five J/24 Worlds paid off over the course of time! Congratulations to Ken, the Puma Team and Kimo Worthington for job well-done! Time to retire and go for a cruise to Cuttyhunk and Canada with Kathy and Tory for a bit of R&R and family time. Next up? Ken is going sailing on the Chicago-Mackinac Race on his first Volvo 70- Puma il Mostro (a bit of a "busman's holiday", eh?)! No rest for the weary.
