DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles
Ulysse Nardin is of course no stranger to innovation. The brand has been churning out interesting, innovative watches for ages. Witness The Freak, the Perpetual Ludwig, the Anchor Tourbillon, the Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon (click on the links for full reviews). And this year, the Marine Regatta.
The UN Marine Regatta shows the way for regatta watches. Designed with the aid of the UN America’s Cup defender team, it features an automatic start for the chronograph once the countdown ends.
At first glance the Marine Regatta looks like any other regatta watch. Count down function. Chronograph. In addition to the regular timekeeping duties, of course. Water resistance. Many other brands offer one. Bremont, Panerai, Girard-Perregaux, Rolex, Maurice Lacroix and many other brands offer variations. The big innovation for UN comes from working with the partnership with Artemis Racing for the 35th America’s Cup: from the usual countdown, the chronograph automatically starts. In the other regular regatta watches, the sailor activates the countdown, and at the start when crossing the line, has to stop the countdown, and start the chronograph. Not so with the UN Marine Regatta. The watch automatically switches from countdown to chronograph start at the end of the countdown. To understand, let’s take a look at regatta timing.
Regatta Timing
The purpose of a regatta chronograph is not only to track racing time but also to count down the critical minutes before the racers cross the starting line. This is because, unlike an automobile, the yacht is not able to do a standing start. The yachts will have been already moving when they cross the starting line.
The “Fleet Race”, which takes place on a course marked by buoys, begins with a five, seven or ten-minute countdown at the end of which the yachts begin sailing the course. During this decisive interval of time, the competitors strategically array themselves on the startling line – based on winds and, most importantly, keeping clear of other competitors – in order to cross the line as close as possible to the starting signal. It is the skipper’s role to ensure that his yacht will cross the start line as soon as possible after the starting signal to ensure a head start, but also not to cross the line before the signal to avoid penalty points.
A good start determines the success in this test of skill, tactics and technical expertise. And the standard regatta watch will not only have to be tough enough to withstand the rigours of racing, and the water, but also perform the countdown, and chronograph timing.
Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta
The case, dial and hands
The case measures some 44mm in diameter, but seems massive. It wears large too, and prominent on the wrist. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as this is a tool regatta watch, designed to suit its purpose as worn in a yacht race. The markings on the dial are clean and clear, and highly legible, even at a glance, all the timing information is easily read.
The clever use of colour, contrasting between a beautiful blue and […]
The post Review: Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta appeared first on DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles.
Article from: DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles, by Peter Chong
Visit here for more on swiss watches for men.
Find more on luxury watches for men.
from Best Watches For Men http://ift.tt/2nEKD0m