Oman Sail announce MOD70 campaign

Sixth MOD70 sold ready for next year's Krys Ocean Race.

Oman Sail is the latest team to announce its participation in the MOD70 circuit with skipper Frenchman Sidney Gavignet. The MOD70 #06 will race under the colours of the Sultanate of Oman and is due for launch in April 2012.

The MOD70 circuit is Oman Sail's latest venture followng their strong participation on the Extreme Sailing Series which they won in 2010 and following their entry into the Route du Rhum last year.

“The MOD 70 will take the Oman Sail project to another level," says explained David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail. "It is a very powerful boat whose crew will need to have the skill base to perform against some of the world’s best sailors. It will be crucial to recruit the right people to the project and I know we have a number of great sailors in Oman that will earn their place onboard and make Oman proud. It is a truly inspirational project that will provide a platform for our current top sailors compete and develop their sailing skills and inspire a whole new generation of Omani’s into sailing.”

Marco Simeoni, President of the MOD SA., which manages the circuit’s promotion and development, is delighted about the arrival of the Omani team: “Oman Sail’s involvement ties in nicely with where we’ve always endeavoured to go with this project, namely the creation and development of an international class and circuit. Today we have French teams – Veolia Environnement, Foncia and Edmond de Rothschild Group – a Swiss team, Race for Water and an Omani team, Oman Sail. Over the coming weeks, another team will officially join us. To sum up the current state of play, for the circuit’s first race in July 2012, the Krys Ocean Race, we’ll have an international fleet with skippers of renown, and above all talent, in charge of our MOD70s. The circuit is gradually taking shape, on bases which we hope are solid and worthwhile for everyone involved. ”

The launch of the Oman Sail MOD70 is scheduled for April 2012 which the team to compete in the Krys Ocean Race, the first major event on the MOD70 circuit in 2012. Oman Sail will be the last boat to be able to compete in this transatlantic race from New York to the Tonnerres de Brest (Brittany’s ‘Shiver Me Timbers!’ maritime extravaganza), as the construction schedule for this one-design series dictates that the launch of the next boat, the MOD70 No.07, will only take place in July 2012.