Blog From The Seas

From: Ken Read, Skipper PUMA's Mar Mostro
Date: July 4, 2011: Transatlantic Race 2011


Back in the saddle again.

It’s unreal, actually. I wish I could say all was great, but to be honest, it was pretty hard leaving home yesterday knowing that your goal is to sail around the world. It’s quite daunting when you are reading the paper and having your last cup of coffee the morning before departing.  

Of course, the first step is continued training which includes this race across the pond. But, the fact is we have left Newport with a mission, and the next time this boat touches American soil (hopefully in Miami after Leg 6), she will have completed a true lap…the long way.

July 3, 2011, has been on our team’s calendar ever since the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club joined forces to create this race – that seems like an eternity ago. Since then, we have put together a team, designed and built a boat, trained, tested, built and re-built a program that everyone involved should be very proud of. Step No. 1 is complete. Now, it’s on to step two, and we are currently in the thick of it. Rambler100 (the monster) is showing everyone the way. But to be honest, we are pleasantly surprised that we are well ahead of the other 100-footer, Leopard, at this stage.

Right after the fantastic send off that Newport gave us, Leopard snuck by when we were on the wind. But as soon as we cracked to a reach, we were actually able to hold our own, and about a half hour later we got around them and sailed away. We were all really surprised, and it certainly gives us some extra incentive to push the boat hard. For sure, the 100-footer will have conditions where they are quite a bit faster, but for now our little 70-footer is doing just fine.

It’s the Fourth of July back home, and I am missing the Bristol Parade with my daughter, Tory, and our friends the Scotts and the Dimeos. It has been a father-daughter deal since the kids could sit up by themselves, and is another reason to be a little home sick right now.

But, it is back to racing. The Sable Islands are not too far away, and we are making great time even though we are in quite a bit less breeze than anticipated.

Again, thanks a ton to all the friends and family who really made us feel special with the send off from Newport.  It always means a lot, and especially yesterday.

-- Kenny