Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast

Series 1 - Ep9b - Ken Read Part 2


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The second instalment of Shirley Robertson's chat with sailing legend, Ken Read.   The pair continue their discussions following on from an illuminating Part 1 which saw Read discuss his role as President of commercial sailing behemoth North Sails, and his America's Cup campaigns with US sailing all star Dennis Connor.

In this edition the chat gains momentum, as the stories continue to flow.  Read's easy going style make him a delight to listen to as he reveals how he was lured into a Volvo Ocean Race campaign mid race back in the 2005-2006 edition of the famous race.  From there, Read goes on to reveal how a chance meeting with the owner of Puma set the ball rolling on what would become one of the Ocean Race's most memorable of entries.  For two editions, in 2008-09 and 2011-12 Read was at the helm of the memorable red Volvo entry 'Puma' - and here reveals how both campaigns took shape, and just how close he came to winning one of sailing's most illusive trophies.

The thrill of racing the planet over with, Read then discusses what happens when a billionaire sailing fanatic decides to invest in building a boat to smash records.  The result was of course the 100ft maxi "Comanche" - the design and build of which was done very much under Read's watch.   Once finished the boat was an absolute beast, a head turner wherever she sailed - in fact Robertson was onboard on one of the first forays in big winds on Comanche, a day the pair remember well - Read's tales of charging the Bass Straits in the iconic Sydney to Hobart Race are compelling.

The pair wrap up with some thoughts on the future of the sport, chat about the televising of sailing and Read's time on the commentary team of the America's Cup.  They then conclude with an honest, heart felt discussion about what sailing has given Read, how much he has invested in it over his life time, and the inevitable personal costs it's brought.  It's a compelling listen - an honest and forthright conversation with one of the great communicators of the sport of sailing.

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Shirley Robertson's Sailing PodcastBy Shirley Robertson

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