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KRYS, title partner to the 2012 and 2014 editions of the KRYS OCEAN RACE:

Already involved in the cycling domain through its Vision Plus brand, Krys Group is boosting its activity in sport by selecting sailing and the burgeoning MOD70 circuit in particular. In this way the 2012 and 2014 editions of the KRYS OCEAN RACE will proudly sport the colours of the French leader of the eyewear market.
Set up in 1967, KRYS is the group’s reference brand; a brand whose notoriety among consumers is the most significant. Professionalism, accessibility and beauty define its positioning on the market. Krys, whose turnover increased by 3% in 2010, has its headquarters near La Défense in Paris, but is accessible in over 850 shops distributed across the whole of France, as well as in Belgium, Morocco and in the French overseas territories.

From New York to the Tonnerres de Brest Maritime Festival 2012…

The KRYS OCEAN RACE is the first event of the MOD70 circuit and aims to be a major meeting for the series. Two editions have already been scheduled for 2012 and 2014.

The KRYS OCEAN RACE 2012 is positioning itself in the wake of the first major transatlantic races, the most famous of which honoured Charlie Barr and the schooner Atlantic in the early 20th century. Since then a whole score of sailors, keen to reduce the transatlantic passage time, have battled to beat the reference time of this now famous course, but never in a formalised race.

The first six one-design trimarans in the running for this first edition will have to cover 2,950 miles to get from New York City, a cosmopolitan megalopolis, to Brest, where the fleet will be embraced by the Tonnerres de Brest Maritime Festival 2012 in full swing.
As such it’s from the foot of the New York skyscrapers that the starting signal for the first KRYS OCEAN RACE will be given by the members of the prestigious New York Yacht Club, which played host to and defended the famous America’s Cup for 132 years.
As for the finish, the outcome will be decided in the purest tradition of seafarers, right in the midst of the international maritime festival, to help it celebrate its 20th anniversary in style.

Six teams competing on equal terms across the Atlantic:

With the MOD70 class respecting a strict one-design imperative, the launches of the various craft can only succeed one another at a predefined rhythm as the same yards are involved in the construction of each of the trimarans. Given this fact, just six MOD70s will be able to line-up for the start of the first KRYS OCEAN RACE. From then on the fleet will be regularly fleshed out to reach the restricted intake of 12 craft by the end of 2013.

Three French teams and three overseas teams comprising six sailors per boat, will do battle over the 2,950 miles that make up the course. The 36 competing sailors, alone, will make the difference. For the time being, we only know four of the six protagonists; and solely by reading the track records of the skippers involved thus far – Stève Ravussin, Roland Jourdain, Michel Desjoyeaux and Sébastien Josse – we can wager that it will be a choice affair to say the very least!

The KRYS MATCH in October 2011:

With an enduring partnership firmly in their sights, the association with the KRYS brand begins this year with the KRYS MATCH, the first MOD70 show in real conditions, which will take place from 6 to 8 October 2011. This will be the first time the series will be together as a fleet. Participants will be able to show what they’re made of during speed runs, as well as having the chance to challenge each other!

Arnaud Ploix, Managing Director of Krys Group:
“Beyond all the common values we share with sailing in general, it’s also interesting to be present at the genesis of a project. With a new class and a new partner in the maritime universe, we naturally have some fine human stories to write together. We’re going to rely on this fantastic race to share the really thrilling, inspirational moments with our customers and further unify our opticians. Furthermore, though we want to associate the brand’s image with the values of sailing, a single operation would only have little significance. It takes time to establish a successful collaboration. Our involvement in the first two editions of the KRYS OCEAN RACE is the first concrete proof of a partnership which Krys is keen to be part of over the long term.”

Marco Simeoni, President of the MOD S.A:
“The KRYS OCEAN RACE constitutes both a success and the start of the adventure. The various partners associated with this event - Krys, our title partner, as well as the cities hosting the start and finish, the cosmopolitan New York, and Brest with the fabulous Tonnerres de Brest maritime festival – all come together to provide some very promising elements in terms of notoriety and popular success for this first race, whose aim is to be a major event on the MOD70 circuit.”

Mr Cuillandre, Mayor of Brest:
“The MOD70 project represents the future of offshore racing with one-design multihulls aboard which the crews will be able to pit against each other on equal terms on powerful, high performance machines. As such it is important for Brest to be associated with such a project, so as to bring to the fore its facilities, such as the new Port du Château and its network of businesses specialising in the sector of offshore racing and watersports. A race like the Krys Ocean Race is an additional opportunity to showcase Brest and its maritime excellence. Furthermore, a finish in the midst of the Tonnerres de Brest maritime festival 2012 further strengthens the link with the whole world of sea and sailors”.

Participating crews and boat owners:
• MOD01: Launched on 25 March 2011 –  Race For Water, Stève Ravussin (SUI)
• MOD02: Launch scheduled for June 2011 –  Veolia Environnement, Roland Jourdain (FRA)
• MOD03: Launch scheduled for August 2011- Foncia, Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA)
• MOD04: Launch scheduled for October 2011 –  Edmond de Rothschild Group, Sébastien Josse (FRA)
• MOD05: Launch scheduled for January 2012 –  announcement to come
• MOD06: Launch scheduled for April 2012 –  announcement to come

KRYS OCEAN RACE in brief:
- Start: on 7 July 2012
- 2,950 miles from New York to Brest
- Opening of the race village in New York: from 30 June to 7 July
- Opening of the race village in Brest: from 13 to 17 July
- 6 competing MOD 70s
- 3 French teams, 3 overseas teams
- 36 sailors racing

Useful links:
www.krys-oceanrace.com
www.krys.com
www.nyyc.org
www.brest-evenements-nautiques.fr
www.brest.fr
www.multioneattitude.com
www.lestonnerresdebrest2012.fr