Puma to take part in Volvo Ocean Race
MADRID (AFP) - Puma Ocean Racing will take part in the next Volvo Ocean Race, the world's most gruelling offshore yachting event, in 2011-12 after finishing second in the 2008-09 edition behind Sweden's Ericsson 4.
• Abu Dhabi to host stop on Volvo Ocean Race
The team based in Newport, Rhode Island will be led again by US skipper Ken Read, a veteran of two America's Cup campaigns.
"This last race was an amazing journey for me personally and for our start-up company Puma Ocean Racing. To have the opportunity to continue where we left off is a dream come true," Read said in a statement.
Puma Ocean Racing are the fourth team to officially sign up for the next edition of the around-the-world race after France's Groupama, Italy's Italia 70 and a team from Abu Dhabi.
About 20 teams are in talks to take part and organisers expect at least ten will compete compared to eight in 2008-09.
The race, which was launched in 1973 as the Whitbread race will start in its home base of the Spanish port of Alicante and conclude in Galway, Ireland.
In between, there are stops in Cape Town in South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Sanya in China, Auckland, Itajai in Brazil, Miami, Lisbon and Lorient in France.
