Ken Read (b. June 24, 1961, USA) is one of the world’s most accomplished and celebrated sailors. He was named “United States Rolex Yachtsman of the Year” twice (1985, 1995) and has over 40 World, North American, and National Championships to his credit in a variety of classes including the J/24 and Etchells 22. While sailing at Boston University (Boston, MA. USA), Read was a three-time Collegiate All American (1981, 82, 83) 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.[1]
Read was helmsman onboard two (2000, 2003) 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.
This Newport, Rhode Island native began racking up the offshore miles when he joined the Ericsson Racing Team for the last four legs of the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race. [2]
Read was skipper of Puma Racing Team’s il Mostro in the 2008-2009 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, [3] his first complete circumnavigation. Read took a sabbatical from his everyday task as Vice President of sailmaking company, North Sails,[4] to run PUMA Ocean Racing.