Skipper Ken Read and his crew, including Michael Müller from Kiel, were left with a heavy heart after crossing the finish line on Wednesday evening (CEST). With five miles and just over an hour's lead over Camper's red racer, they crossed the finish line and celebrated their home victory in Miami in summer temperatures.
The leg, which was sailed in mostly mild conditions, was the diametric opposite of the wild fifth leg from New Zealand around Cape Horn to Brazil, which Puma not only won, but was also the only ship in the fleet to survive without damage. However, as in Itajai, where "Mar Mostro" was victorious by a few minutes over Telefonica, this leg also remained very exciting right to the end.
The previous night, Puma had to watch helplessly at the northern tip of the island of Eleuthera in absolute calm as the New Zealanders came up from astern with better wind, but then got stuck in a wind hole themselves. The last beat to the west towards the finish turned into a battle of tactics, in which the Gulf Stream setting from south to north was also an important factor.
"Unbelievable," said the overjoyed Read at the finish. "That was razor-thin. The guys on Camper sailed brilliantly, but I'm proud of my team, they couldn't have done any better." This not only gave Puma their fourth podium finish in six legs and their second leg win in a row, but also 30 points in the overall standings, which will tighten up the leaderboard. Camper will also make up ground on the overall leaders fromTelefonica with her 25 points. How much will depend on whether the Spaniards, who were still behind Groupama 55 miles from the finish, can overtake the French riders.
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