Puma Racing : The LEAPING CAT of the Volvo Ocean Race

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RED & BLACK - the livery of some of the hottest and meanest looking machines on the roads (we all absolutely love the McLaren F1 car...dont we?)...and NOW...PUMA...one of the world's most love brands enters the World of Ocean racing in the Volvo Ocean Race with it's LEAPING CAT - il Mostro !


Five months before the start of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, PUMA Ocean Racing had its new racing boat christened “il Mostro” by Oscar-nominated actress Salma Hayek in a waterfront ceremony at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

In the ongoing race, it has not only overawed people with its form, but also with its performance.

IL MOSTRO - THE MONSTER

Puma Racing Team employed the world-renowned design team, Botin-Carkeek, and acclaimed custom yacht builder, Goetz Custom Boats to begin work on their new Volvo Open 70.


Marcelino Botin and Shaun Carkeek are internationally known for their outstanding reputation, designing some of the fastest racing yachts in the world. They are recognized as industry leaders and had planned to test the boundaries of modern yacht design when it comes to PUMA’s new race boat.

Marcelino Botin is also the lead designer for Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup Challenger Trials. The designers have had resounding success in the highly competitive IMS and TP 52 classes.

Goetz Custom Boats of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, has set the standard for building state of the art composite racing yachts. Goetz has a stellar reputation for building boats for offshore endurance races that are built for speed, strength and reliability.


Goetz boats has proven itself in the most competitive arenas, having built boats that have won the America’s Cup, Admiral’s Cup and Maxi Worlds. Goetz boats have also competed successfully in three Volvo Ocean Races.

THE TEAM

Only the third confirmed team at the time of its launch, Puma Ocean Racing was to headed by none other than Ken Read of the United States.


Read, considered one of the world's most accomplished sailors, has twice been involved in America's Cup campaigns in 2000 and 2003.

He was named United States Rolex Yachtsman of the Year twice and has over 40 world, North American and National Championships to his credit.


Read joined Ericsson Racing Team for the last four legs of the 2005-06 race.

The other Ten Team-members are:-

1) Andrew Cape - Navigator

2) Michael Muller - Bowman/ Trimmer/ Driver

3) Rob Salthouse - Trimmer/ Driver

4) Casey Smith - Bowman

5) Jerry Kirby - Bowman

6) Jonathan McKee - Trimmer/ Driver

7) Justin Ferris - Trimmer/ Driver

8) Sidney Gavignet - Watch Captain

9) Chris Nicholson - Watch Captain

10) Rick Deppe - Media


Bound to bring in a new group of enthusiasts into the sport with their out-of-box thinking, Puma Ocean Racing's campaign is a success even before the race began.