Every sailor is aware of the fact that the most important are those five minutes before the start, which decide about success or failure in a yacht race. Split-second timing is critical, never more so than now with the high speed that the new breed of America’s Cup catamaran yachts kick off the start line. If a sailor starts a moment too late, he is sucking gas from his speedier rival. If he starts too soon, and he is in the penalty zone – also condemned to playing catch-up.
The Tambour Regatta America’s Cup watch - Credit: Louis Vuitton
The Tambour Regatta America’s Cup watch developed by Louis Vuitton is designed with the importance of the pre-start in mind. The watch reproduces the five-minute countdown thanks to a specially created movement.
Yves Carcelle, Chief Executive of Louis Vuitton, commented: “With the new regulations, time has never been of such importance in this event and we are pleased to be part of it. We have developed a special series of limited edition chronographs with two Tambour Regatta America’s Cup watches, one automatic and one quartz. This collection celebrates the prestige of the competition.”
With the silhouette of the America’s Cup trophy engraved on the bracelet, the dial and the back, the watches look beautiful, and they are practical too. Hamdi Chatti, Louis Vuitton’s Vice President Watches and Jewellery, was tasked with designing and producing the watches in just a year. Normally the process takes twice that long. He is proud of the aesthetics and performance of the watches.
“Having the countdown to the start procedure in a mechanical watch is very challenging,” he said. “This is the first time it has been done in the watch industry. The base case is coated with a specific rubber with a specific treatment that makes it unscratchable, which we felt was important for a sports watch.”
Richard Worth, the CEO of the America’s Cup, said he was delighted to be working again with Louis Vuitton. “I am glad that we can once again rely on the support of Louis Vuitton, our long-standing partner of unequalled loyalty, and official timekeeper of this event. Louis Vuitton is also, and especially, the ‘guardian’ of the spirit and tradition of the America’s Cup.”
