PUMA passed through the leg six scoring gate in fourth place last night, to maintain their current overall second place in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Having endured tricky light wind sailing during the first week of the 4,900 nautical mile leg from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Boston, USA, the PUMA team are currently battling through squally doldrums conditions as they fight their way northwards towards the equator. With 3,500 miles to go to Boston and currently placed second in this leg, PUMA have been climbing the leader board fast over the past 48 hours.
Fernando de Noronha, an Atlantic archipelago which the fleet passed to the west of during leg one and to the east late last night, is the first milestone of the leg to Boston. In keeping with the intensely close race to date, PUMA was almost within touching distance of their rivals as they passed through the gate, earning valuable points which count towards the team’s overall score in the race. With their minds set on the next milestone of the leg – the fourth and final equator crossing of the 37,000 nautical mile round the world race – the PUMA team are racing within sight of the close pack of boats around them. While wind speeds are varying wildly between five and 18 knots, and the direction swinging from north east to east south east, the ten man crew is being kept on their toes, with everyone poised to run on deck to change sails at any moment… DetailsÂ
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The Powerboat P1 World Championship organisers claim they host the world’s premium international motor sport event and looking at the extreme professionalism and the manner in which it is promoted, it would be difficult to argue the point.
In 2009, teams will compete for the world crown at five Grand Prix of the Sea events on offshore waters at some of the world’s most exotic tourist locations.
The destinations across Europe and the Middle East, allied with P1’s exclusive VIP entertainment village and hospitality offer a world class racing experience that attracts celebrities, global media, fans and boaters.
Now in its seventh season, Powerboat P1 is contested in two classes, Evolution and Supersport, all mono-hulled, twin-engine boats in the 30’ to 45’ (9.14 to 13.71-metres) size range.
The Evolution Class comprises prototype race boats with …Â Details & Pictures
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For offshore racing fans all eyes will be on Qatar later this month (April 23-25) with the opening round of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.
Australia will be well represented with a two boat team, ‘Maritimo 11’, with Tom Barry-Cotter (driver) and Pal Virik Nilsen (throttles) and ‘Maritimo 12’, driven by Italy’s Giorgio Manuzzi with Maritimo crew chief Peter ‘Muddy’ McGrath on throttles.
Multiple World Champion Steve Curtis, MBE, the most successful throttleman in offshore racing history, has issued a warning to all teams; he is out to…Â Details
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Skipper Raphael Domjan and navigator Gerard d’Aboville together with a seafaring band of scientists and engineers are building what they call the largest solar boat in the world, a $13 million catamaran they hope will take them around the world next year.
The world sea voyage powered by solar energy is the dream of Raphaël Domjan. ‘I want to prove it is possible,’ explained the adventurer from Neuchâtel. ‘We want to be the Philéas Foggs of the 21st Century. But beyond Jules Verne’s dream, our project is to serve humanity and the environment and to overtake the classical energies of fossil fuels.’
Construction is well underway on the 98-foot-long vessel, which will feature …Â Details
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