PUMA Ocean Racing

..everything...and the challenge... and the fact I feel alive everytime I go...

It was in the early hours of the morning in Galway, having watched as Erriccesson 4 lead the way into Galway docks, then Puma followed by The Dragon and then Tele Blue had docked.....we waited patiently for Black Betty....being avid sailing enthuaists we were probably the only sober ones left at the foot of the podium. My sister look and noticed a puma jacket and said in a pretty astonished voice "is that Ken Read?" Looking over my shoulder i knew it was him...just walkin through the crowd (none of which even knew who he was). He was with his wife and so we were reluctant to bother him but....well......we just couldnt help it! So we approached him as congratulated him on 2nd place.....and cursed him for takin 2nd off the Dragon it must be said.....but it was all light-hearted! We even asked him how his finger was...after the 'incident.' Having posed for pictures with us we wished him and his wife all the best and let them off....at last, as we turned back to waiting to Delta Loydd!

Having met and talked to sailors such as Justin Slattery, Damien Foxall, Ian Walker, Torben Garel and Fernando Echavarri over the course of the Galway stop-over I must admit that, that moment on the dock-side in Galway at approx. 4.30am was not just one of the highlights of the stopover, or even the VOR but just one of the best moments of all time!!Kenny Read is one of the most genuine, sincere and honest men ive ever met.

Just thought id sare that with ye!... Read more
It wont let me post this on the wall....so if ye could and share it with everyone it would be greatly appreciated!!

Duzzen matta - a salty sea dog cares about the race and being out there, no matter if wet or cold - look at the old boys 50 years or so ago in the Hobart - they didnt have Musto OS or Gore-Tex - they kept going anyway :-)
They don't make 'em like they used to ! :-)

Har! Har! Har! Go the Pirates & my salty Sea Dog! xo

They are two totaly different events. That said, the cup as it stands now is an embarresment to sailing. The childish behaviour of both parties does not do the sport any good. This is very unfortunate as it is polarising the sailing community as a whole.