PUMA pushing for podium spot
PUMA Ocean Racing is on a major roll in the Volvo Ocean Race. Skipper Ken Read led the lone United States syndicate to victory in Leg 9, a 525-nautical mile sprint between the Swedish ports of Marstrand and Stockholm.
It marked the fourth straight podium finish for PUMA, which was runner-up on the last two legs and won the Galway In-Port Racing day. That series of strong results has catapulted the Boston-based syndicate into second place in the cumulative standings behind Ericsson 4, which has clinched overall victory in the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race.
"We are the hottest boat in the fleet right now. Our goal the rest of the way is to keep doing what we have been doing and put up two more podium finishes to close this thing out," a jubilant Read said yesterday via cell phone from Stockholm.
