Word in the wind is that Ronstan or Harken USA is to pimp and distribute a new range of Puma Sailing Gear to assist with promoting Puma’s entry into the 2008/2009 Volvo Ocean Race.

The new gear, aimed to suit the needs of a sailor is said to be mainly red and inline with the graphical design that is displayed on the topsides of the Puma Volvo 70.

Whilst nothing official has been released from Puma at this stage, the world should expect an announcement within the next few days.

If this rumour is true, the Puma line of sailing gear will join a whole line up of sailing brands that are already on the market today.

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PUMA Sailing Performance Line to Launch at Retail, Summer 2008

Westford, Mass. and Portsmouth, Rhode Island, January 31, 2008 – Today, sportlifestyle company, PUMA® North America, announced their partnership with Ronstan International Inc. as the official U.S. sailing sales agency for the sportlifestyle brand. As part of this agreement, Ronstan will focus on the marine specialty retail category in the United States and represent PUMA’s performance sailing line, which includes performance outerwear, apparel, footwear and accessories for sailing enthusiasts. Ronstan and PUMA officially announced their partnership and unveiled the PUMA performance sailing collection to the industry at the 13th annual Strictly Sailing Chicago Boat Show on January 31st.

“As we enter this new category, PUMA is turning to Ronstan, true experts within the sailing field, to assist us with meeting our goals and objectives in the competitive retail sailing environment,” said Tom Morgan, Senior Vice President of Sales for PUMA North America. “PUMA Sailing is designed to perform, inspire and excite and as we prepare for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 and forge into this new category, we are confident the industry will be ready for a brand like PUMA to come in, mix things up and do things differently.”

Ronstan’s U.S. Headquarters, based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, will handle the PUMA account and work hand-in-hand with PUMA’s U.S. sales team based in Westford, Massachusetts. Ronstan will focus their efforts on strategic retail partners in the sailing specialty category across the country. Scot West, Ronstan’s U.S. President, will lead a team of six sales agents.

“We are thrilled with this partnership! Getting on board with a brand like PUMA as the Volvo Ocean Race is gearing up is a fantastic opportunity for us,” said Scot West, U.S. President for Ronstan. “PUMA has been very aggressive in their development of the gear and marketing plans and we are excited to bring this new PUMA line to the market.”

There are three distinctive lines within PUMA’s Sailing offerings: Performance for extreme sport enthusiasts; Volvo Ocean Race – in honor of PUMA’s entry into the world’s premier yachting event – for recreational and occasional sailors; and Lifestyle for general consumers who embrace nautical styles. Ronstan will handle the sales for the Performance line to marine specialty sales retailers, while PUMA’s lifestyle sales agencies will handle the Lifestyle collections. Both Ronstan and PUMA will sell the Volvo Ocean Race products, Ronstan through marine channels, PUMA through mainstream markets.

PUMA announced their entrance into the Sailing category in March 2007 as part of the company’s Phase IV business development plan. The entry into competitive sailing extends PUMA’s focus into premium lifestyle sports, following introductions into motorsport and golf. As part of PUMA’s entrance into the sailing category, PUMA will compete in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, the legendary around-the-world yacht race that blends state-of-the-art design and technology, elite sporting performance and extreme adventure into one global event. PUMA will be the official supplier and the official licensee of replica merchandise for the world’s premier offshore ocean race.

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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 80 countries. For further information please visit http://www.puma.com

Ronstan is a world leader in the provision of racing sailboat hardware. Combining technical excellence, a passion for innovation and 50 years involvement with elite sailors in the world’s most competitive racing, Ronstan delivers sailboat equipment that performs better. See http://www.ronstan.com for more information.