Skipper Ken Read commented: "The whole PUMA team is looking forward to getting out there on the water this weekend and giving Alicante a preview of what is to come in this Volvo Ocean Race. The racing here will be fast and furious, it's hard work sailing these 70 foot boats over such a short course. It will interesting to see how the eight different boats line up against each other out there and figure out who is the fastest for the day. It's important to understand, that in port racing is very different to the offshore legs of this race. The whole race itself is a marathon. Racing around the buoys here in the Mediterranean is more similar to sprit racing – really they are fifty minutes of 'grinding world championships'. We have a team of highly experienced sailors onboard il mostro and we're ready to get out there and race."
Sailing onboard PUMA's il mostro for the in-port race will be Andrew Cape, Navigator; Justin Ferris, Trimmer; Sidney Gavigent, Trimmer; Jerry Kirby, Bowman; Jonathan McKee, Tactician; Michi Mueller, Grinder/Sewer; Chris Nicholson, Main; Rob Salthouse, Pit and Casey Smith, Bowman. The team will be joined by PUMA's two in port racing specialists, who have been recruited for their sheer strength and grinding skills, key for racing around a short course: Shannon Falcone and Andrew Taylor. Rick Deppe, PUMA's Media Crew Member will also be onboard providing a live video stream straight from the boat. All the action can be viewed live at Volvo Ocean Race TV
The first leg of the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race will begin next Saturday on October 11, 2008 from Alicante. The team will sail 6,500 miles to cape Town, South Africa. The Volvo is made up of ten legs, and will finish in June 2009 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
