Volvo Ocean Race

PUMA skipper Ken Read says his crew are united in their desire to get out of the brutal slamming conditions of the South China Sea.

Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

“We are approaching Taiwan and it is unanimous on board, and I am sure across the fleet: ‘GET US OUT OF THE CHINA SEA!’” Read wrote in his latest report from the boat today.

“We are so sick of going upwind and slamming on waves, and the hollow sound of living inside of a base drum. It wears on you,” Read said.

PUMA have been on the back foot since being dumped to last when they fell foul of a wind hole when leading the Leg 4 Stage 1 coastal inshore race. This resulted in them leaving Sanya 40 minutes behind the leaders in the Stage 2 staggered start and fighting to catch the pack.

“As most know by now, this leg did not start with a bang for the fine yacht Mar Mostro,” Read said. “To say that was frustrating is the understatement of the century. But we had to remind ourselves that we have 5,500 miles to make up that gap.

Read confessed that the opening days of the second stage of Leg 4 had been a struggle for the trailing PUMA crew as they fought to get in synch with the fleet.

“The leg started the way we thought: crummy left over seas, up-and-down winds and a race to the east towards the Philippines for a right-hand shift.

“As the last boat out, when the shift came through we tacked to leeward of the fleet to start a drag race north. Unfortunately the drag race really benefited the boats to the right and we got creamed by all to the right of us.

Read’s frustrated team had to pull out all the stops, tacking up to five times in a single 40 minute period as they fought to get back in the game.

“This set up some of the harder decisions we have to make in these races,” Read explained. “We all have to do it at times -- take your medicine and go get in line -- which always means take a huge loss in order to prevent a catastrophic loss later.

“So we had to suck it up and take the transoms of the fleet by lots of miles and start again. The fact is we should have made the call about 10 hours earlier.”

Despite their tribulations Read said the PUMA crew had managed to remain optimistic as they slowly but surely closed down the main pack.

“We have actually gotten a few nice lanes and closed back into the group and are a part of the race again,” he said. “Believe it or not the mood on board is quite optimistic right now.”

“We have a lot of crappy weather to get through: Big waves, lots of wind and very little wind. Did I say big waves? Not real pleasurable, but in about a week’s time we should have some great trade winds sailing through the Pacific.

“It can't come soon enough,” Read concluded.