Volvo Ocean Race

PUMA skipper Ken Read was counting his blessings after finishing the second stage of Leg 3 in fourth, with a spectacular and ultimately unsuccessful gamble resulting in a net loss of just one place.

PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean… Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean…

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG had an incident packed leg, after hitting the tree trunk, getting tangled in a fishing net and then making a bold break from the fleet with an easterly move that failed to pay off.

PUMA's Leg 3 was all about her move to the east on day 11, February 1. Until that point, the team's position in the top three had looked assured. They led the fleet from day two until an overnight shakeup on the night of day four.

Although they surrendered their place at the head of the fleet, their conservative position still ensured a prime position from which to launch an attack on their rivals once they reached the Malacca Strait in the 24-hours' time.

Cutting the corner into the Malacca Strait briefly elevated PUMA to second place, and taking their place in the 'fast lane' alongside Telefónica and Groupama, Read was intent on keeping in touch. An hour wasted in freeing themselves from a fishing net lost miles, but still PUMA held onto third place.

They cleared the Singapore Strait and then agonised over whether to take an easterly option once out in the South China Sea. Seeing a shift in the middle of the night, on day 11 the crew of PUMA took their chance, expecting those behind to follow, but no one did. The move, had it paid off, could have had significant benefits, but carried a high level of risk.

"So, we committed, no one else happened to commit, so we were out there, and believe me there were a few times when there were smiles on everyone's faces here thinking we had jagged one, but hey it didn't work," Read said.

They had been in third place at the time and Read was happy enough to have completed the leg without taking too big a hit.

What followed was an amazing rolle coaster as the team cut their losses and slammed and smashed their way back towards the coast of Vietnam to reconnect with the fleet on day 13, Feb 3. Battling with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, the crew of PUMA pulled out all the stops to grab fourth.

"Instead of just saying screw it and quitting we bowed back into it, got back in ahead of Abu Dhabi, shouting distance here of CAMPER. Net loss one boat in that whole debacle so we have to take that for what it is and live to fight another day."