The 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race is Go!

At the time of writing, Puma’s ‘Mar Mostro’, lovingly designed by GBH, is currently in second position sailing around the top of Africa, en route to Cape Town in Leg One of the world’s toughest endurance event.

For the next 10 months, Puma Ocean Racing will go toe to toe with Mother Nature, not to mention its five world class competitors, in a bid to sail around the world fastest, culminating with a triumphant arrival in Galway on 3 July 2012.

Second, three years ago, Puma Ocean Racing mean business this time around, and Skipper Ken Read and his 12 man crew are committing their collective skill, stamina and substantial sleep depravation to winning the race outright.

GBH were lucky enough to be guests of Puma at the Race kick off in Alicante just a week ago, and we had the privilege of a VIP tour of our pride and joy, much to the envy of the onlooking crowd.

Our temporary glimpse of life on-board was made even sweeter seeing our ‘Monster’ in the flesh. It looked incredible—all 70 feet of it—majestic in its hand painted livery, perfect in every detail.

The Yacht’s design was the result of a 15 month process at GBH, which saw us create a fully integrated brand campaign around the race including the design of a Children’s character, ‘Marmo’, created to highlight the Ocean’s plight to young people. The project also encompasses a children’s book written with Cristina Hodson and illustrated by Neil McFarland from UsTwo; a ‘Monster’ inspired product collection for both adults and children, The Puma Ocean Racing Team’s official gear, In-Port brand expression including the design of a unique carbon-fibre paddleboard in a hook-up with surf legend Laird Hamilton, the art direction on the Puma QUAD, a mobile retail and hospitality venue in-port and an Outdoor Advertising campaign inspired by B-Movie Monster flicks for five key race cities.

GBH would like to wish Ken, Kimo and all the team, both on-board and shore-based, the very best of luck for the race.

GBH worked with a host of collaborators to produce the project vision both within Puma and externally, including CGI from Danny Holden at Tapestry in London and custom painting from Dean Loucks at TOAD in Indiana, USA.

Images:
First action shot: Navigator Tom Addis on the pedestal and Ryan Godfrey in the pit on PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG's ‘Mar Mostro’ during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. ©Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

All other Images ©GBH

Links:
Read more about GBH’s collaboration with Tapestry ‘here’.

You can follow Puma’s progress in the race LIVE ‘here’.

Learn more about the Volvo Ocean Race ‘here’.

Follow Puma Mar Mostro from its on-board updates ‘here’.