PUMA joins France’s Groupama, Italia 70 and Team Abu Dhabi as officially declared entries. There are over 20 additional syndicates actively working on campaigns.
PUMA finished a gallant second overall in the 2008-09 race. Read and his men just pipped Bouwe Bekking’s Telefonica Blue in a race-long battle played out behind eventual winner Ericsson 4.
Read was delighted to be returning . “This last race was an amazing journey for me personally and for our start-up company PUMA Ocean Racing,” he said. “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 organisationally as well as competitively.”
Team selection is already underway and will likely include a number of sailors from PUMA’s 2008-09 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 home base in Newport, Rhode Island.
“PUMA Ocean Racing was a ground-breaking team in the last Volvo Ocean Race," said race CEO Knut Frostad, "not only bringing a very competitive team, but the creativity of a world class fashion brand. Their funky attitude and design spoke to a young audience who engaged with both PUMA and the race.
“It is great to have Ken Read and his team back, after their outstanding performance in the 2008-09 race and I am sure he is striving to achieve the ultimate goal.
PUMA continues to expand its line of sailing performance gear and will be the official supplier of footwear, clothing, and accessories to the Volvo Ocean Race.
The route for 2011-12 includes: start port of Alicante (Spain), Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Miami (US), Lisbon (Portugal), Lorient (France) and the finish port of Galway (Ireland).
The preliminary course will be published later this month.
