And they're off...the PUMA Ocean Racing Team has left Newport, RI and are on their way to Alicante in preperation of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009.
Depending on who you ask, this day either came far too early, or didn't come fast enough. "We can't wait to get this race started" exclaimed Read as he left the dock for "a little sail across the pond." "We will have put nearly 8,000 miles of sailing on il mostro prior to the start of the race and feel pretty good about the boat and its capabilities. I hope the boat is quick, but we will never know until we finally get this adventure started for real."
The transatlantic crossing will serve a number of purposes for the PUMA team. It will be their official 2000 mile qualifying sail, a requirement for the Volvo Ocean Race. Sailing "across the pond" will also give the team plenty of opportunity to put PUMA's il mostro through the paces, and making those all important final adjustments before they start the first leg of the Race on October 11, 2008.
The team is scheduled to arrive in Alicante during the second week of September. We can't give you an exact date because with sailing you never know a precise date or time. You're at the mercy of the weather gods...and hoping for a good breeze is all we can ask.
