Team selection efforts are already underway and will likely include a number of sailors from PUMA's 2008-2009 team, plus a mix of new and veteran talent from the professional racing world. Training will begin onboard PUMA's il mostro in Spring 2010 at the team's homebase in Newport, Rhode Island.
Skipper Ken Read, considered to be one of the world's most accomplished racers, was in charge of PUMA Ocean Racing and at the helm of PUMA's il mostro throughout the entire Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. The U.S.-born Read has twice helmed America's Cup programs in 2000 and 2003 and was named "United States Rolex Yachtsman of the Year" twice and has 46 World, North American and National Championships to his credit.
"This last race was an amazing journey for me personally and for our start-up company PUMA Ocean Racing," said Ken Read. "To have the opportunity to continue where we left off is a dream come true. For PUMA to want to come back to this adventure is a testament to the event itself and to the entire PUMA Ocean Racing team past and present. We look forward to the challenges that lie ahead both organizationally as well as competitively."
PUMA is committed to working across the globe in sustainable, creative and innovative ways to lessen the impact on the environment and to give back what it takes from the planet by seeking to reduce its carbon footprint in all areas of business. The sportlifestyle brand's entry into the Volvo Ocean Race is compatible with this mission, as sailing is considered a 'clean sport', using only the wind to harness the power needed to race across the world over the course of nine months.
The entry into competitive sailing extends PUMA's focus into premium lifestyle sports - a category PUMA has forged through its Formula 1 partnerships and other Motorsports collaborations such as Ducati and Ferrari, and the launch of a sportlifestyle Golf collection in 2006.
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