DEVELOPMENT SAILORS SHOWN THE ROPES BY PUMA'S MONSTER CREW
November 2008

Cape Town, South Africa, November 2008 - Five aspiring Cape Town sailors from the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth which is run from the SA Navy in Simon's Town are working alongside and being mentored by experienced campaigners from the PUMA Ocean Racing Team taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.

The five members of the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth, are doing a work-shadow that involves assisting the PUMA team in repairing il mostro (the monster) after completing the first leg of the gruelling nine month round the world race. They will also get to sail alongside il mostro crew members during the Wednesday night racing hosted by the Royal Cape Yacht Club on November 12.

The five are Kenwin Daniels, 18, Denzio Davids, 19, Jerome Williams, 18, Asinathi Jim, 16, and Yster Nkosiabo Gaveka, 18.

The highlight will be sailing aboard il mostro as she cruises Table Bay on Thursday November 13. PUMA has also committed to assisting the development sailors by providing them with sailing gear.

The Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth uses sailing to teach life skills to disadvantaged young South Africans and to provide access to career opportunities in the world of sailing - it is also a feeder programme for South Africa's America's Cup campaigns.

Established by Olympian Ian Ainslee and Matthew Mentz in 2001, Izivunguvungu is a non-profit organisation affiliated to and supported by the South African Navy and funded by the Mediterranean Shipping Company.

The Volvo Ocean Race began in 1973 as the "Whitbread Round the World Race". Today the 11-legs of the legendary yacht race take about nine months to complete as the world's fastest monohulls cover 37,000 nautical miles in often dangerous waters. The race blends state-of-the-art design and technology, elite sporting performance and extreme adventure. It is a high-endurance, physically-challenging race, sailing continent to continent, in an easterly direction around the globe.

In a race first, the Royal Cape Yacht Club has officially adopted il mostro for the duration of the Cape Town stop-over during which the yacht is flying the club's burgee (flag).

For more information about the race, team and PUMA sailing collections, visit www.pumaoceanracing.com or contact PUMA on (021) 551 0832.

PUMA® is the global Sportlifestyle company that successfully fuses influences from sport, lifestyle and fashion. PUMA's unique industry perspective delivers the unexpected in Sportlifestyle Footwear, Apparel and Accessories, through technical innovation and revolutionary design.  Established in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1948, PUMA distributes products in over 120 countries. For further information please visit www.puma.com

Back to Press Releases