In 1992, the America’s Cup- the world cup of yachting, was won by the America 3 Foundation and its yacht Defiant. Did you know that Ocean Waves was the official sunglass supplier and that the crew wore our sunglasses in every race? The Foundation could have chosen any sunglass they wanted and they chose us! Why? Quite simply, they knew that we were the best! And they weren’t the only ones- we turned down several other boats.

Each year, at large boat shows like the one in Miami, we meet serious sailors from all over the world who are quick to sing the praises of our sunglasses. Even if you never sail competitively we know two things for sure- you have a passion for sailing and you should be wearing our sunglasses. Here’s why.

Protection
Sailors spend a lot of time on the water and that means that their eyes are exposed to a lot of glare and U.V. light. Without proper protection, that can lead to serious eye damage and the only way to get that protection is to wear good quality polarized sunglasses. Also, non-polarized sunglasses simply reduce the amount of light getting to the eye. You often have to strain to see and there is little protection from damage. Since your eyes tend to open wider, the damage can be even greater. U.V levels are going up consistently so you need all the protection you can get. In many areas there can also be a problem with debris in the water as well as shoals. You need to be able to see these things to be able to avoid them and for that you need polarized lenses.

Comfort
When you leave the dock, you likely bring along what you need to enjoy the day and be comfortable. How about your eyes? Don’t they deserve some comfort? Being on the water in high glare situations can lead to eye strain which can produce headaches and a tired feeling. Poor quality sunglasses can make matters worse since distortions in the lens can add to the strain.

Performance
Serious yachtsmen know that good vision and endurance can give them a competitive edge. The crew of the Defiant certainly found that to be the case!

Why Ocean Waves
Our sunglasses have a degree of polarization and freedom from lens distortion that sets us apart. Also, we protect against the entire spectrum of U.V. light up to 420 nanometers. Most manufacturers of quality glasses only protect to 400! And because our glasses are so well made, we can offer the best warranty in the business. Our laminated lens protects the valuable polarizing film and mirrors and rugged frames can take a pounding. We can also supply prescription sunglasses in days- not weeks.

Ask the Pro
If you have a question relating to sunglasses and sailing, send it in. Our Captain will post the answer right here. Also, if you have a picture of you on your boat wearing our glasses, send it in and we’ll make you famous by posting it as well.