Elite Traveler HRS 2018-2019

STYLE

elite traveler HOTELS, RESORTS & SPAS 2018/2019 32

Watches by Emma Reynolds

Les Voiles de St Barth welcomes competitive regatta racers to the island each April for five days of sailing on the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea

RICHARDMILLE RM 60-01 AUTOMATIC FLYBLACK CHRONOGRAPH REGATTA “LES VOILES DE ST BARTH” In honor of this year’s Les Voiles de St Barth, a regatta Richard Mille has sponsored since 2009, the Swiss watchmaker released a limited-edition chronograph sure to attract the attention of the most accomplished seafarers. For racing purposes, the 30-minute countdown timer function is crucial, as is the quick-locking and releasing mechanism, which is activated by a turn of the secondary crown to prevent timing errors. Making the watch a standout among other yachting timepieces is a bidirectional rotating bezel with indications of the four cardinal points, and a graduated 360-degree and 24-hour scale disc that can determine your current location, if you know the position of the sun and the local time. While RM 60-01 was launched at the regatta, even noncompetitors will like the flyback chronograph function, annual calendar, oversize date, running seconds and universal time function. The titanium watch, which comes with a bright yellow rubber strap, is limited to just 50 pieces. $161,000, Cellini in New York, +1 212 888 0505, richardmille.com Whether you’re counting down the seconds to a regatta or sitting seaside for amaritime race, look the part with a yachting-inspired watch that’s as practical on the water as off. Don’t let the sporty aesthetic fool you— these pieces house complicatedmovements, resulting in uber-accurate times that give you an extra edge on the high seas READY, SET, SAIL

BREITLING EXOSPACE B55 YACHTING Despite Breitling’s strong aviation roots, the brand is expanding to accommodate all things land, sea and air —made clear with the Exospace B55 Yachting. Perfect for techies, it was designed specifically with the modern yachting aficionado and regatta competitor in mind, thanks to its Bluetooth capabilities — it connects to an app on your smartphone to transfer all data after a race. The watch’s countdown system combines audio, visual and vibrating alarms, so no matter how distracted you are, you can’t miss the start of the race. It can calculate up to 99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds, a time historically used for astronauts and military personnel counting down to a mission. Splits are accurate to 10 milliseconds, and the bidirectional bezel can be adjusted to track wind direction, sailing angles and can even indicate the best starting-line position based on its ability to detect the wind direction, giving you an advantage during the race. Its thermocompensated quartz electronic movement powers a chronograph, and the watch features both analog and digital displays. A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides allows for clear viewing on sunny days sailing the seas. Similar to other smart watches, you can see emails, texts, phone calls and calendar reminders, and even those who aren’t smartphone savvy will find the watch extremely user-friendly.

The Superyacht Cup Palma in Palma, Mallorca, held annually in June, is the longest-running superyacht regatta in Europe and the Mediterranean

$7,170, Breitling in New York, +1 855 999 1884, breitling.com

Photos Christophe Jouany, Claire Matches, Youenn B