Ken Read

Who is Ken Read?

Ken Read is an American yachtsman who is considered one of the world’s most accomplished and celebrated sailors. He was named “United States Rolex Yachtsman of the Year” twice and has won more than 40 world, North American, and national championships in a variety of classes including the J/24 and Etchells 22. While sailing at Boston University Read was a three-time collegiate All American and is a member of the BU Hall of Fame. Read also won the "Everett B. Morris Trophy", awarded to the ICSA's College Sailor of the Year in 1982. Read was helmsman aboard two of Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes America’s Cup campaigns. He also served as strategist and coach with America’s Cup entry Young America in 1999.

Read first began racking up offshore miles when he joined the Ericsson Racing Team for the last four legs of the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race.

Read was skipper of Puma Ocean Racing Team’s il Mostro in the 2008-2009 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race—his first complete circumnavigation. Read took a sabbatical from his job as vice president of sailmaking company North Sails to skipper PUMA Ocean Racing's entry in the race.