Are you looking for the best sailing watch to accompany you on your seafaring adventures? This article will talk you through what a yachting watch is and why you may need one.
To master the thrill of seafaring, you’ll require some level of skill, precision, and a little intuition. For that, you’ll need the right gear.
Part of your kit should include a sailing watch. Sailing watches help sailors keep track of time and navigate their way across the water during harsh conditions out on the water.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional sailor or a weekend enthusiast, you can make good use of a yachting watch.
Table of Contents
What Is a Sailing Watch?
A sailing watch is more than just a timepiece. It not only keeps accurate time but also aids navigation.
Marine environments are testing and dangerous. A sailing watch can be the difference between a safe or unsafe journey out at sea, depending on your needs.
As you’ll already know, conditions out at sea can change dramatically. Having a watch that can withstand exposure to saltwater and corrosion, not to mention temperature changes, is crucial.
To help assist you out at sea, a sailing watch can include one or several additional features compared to a standard watch.
To help answer the question “What is a sailing watch?”, we’ll take a look at these complications:
Chronograph
The chronograph function in a sailing watch is what you’ll commonly see in many sports watches. The function allows you to measure elapsed time, split time, and lap times. You can use chronograph watches for races or drills.
In some models, the complication also accompanies a tachymeter scale for measuring speed based on distance.
Countdown Timer
Watches with a countdown timer can help you monitor the start of a race and synch with other racing boats.
Regatta Timer
A regatta timer has multiple stages that can help you prepare for the start of a race. In doing so, it can give you audible or visual signals at different intervals.
Compass
A compass built into a timepiece is a very clever thing, especially for those who spend a lot of time sailing. You can use a compass in a watch to orient yourself or to follow a course.
Barometer
A barometer function in a watch predicts weather changes by measuring atmospheric pressure, allowing you to plan accordingly.
Altimeter
An altimeter measures altitude above sea level, proving to be a very useful feature in a sailing watch.
The complication estimates your current position, enabling you to avoid obstacles or make changes to your route if needed.
Thermometer
Some yachting watches include a thermometer. As you’d expect, it can measure the temperature of the air or water. It can also monitor weather conditions while out on an expedition.
Tide Graph
You can monitor tide levels and phases at different times and locations with a tide graph feature in a watch. It’s great, too, if you need to plan your water-based activities around tide cycles.
Moon Phase
Moon phase functions feature in dress watches, too. They display the exact positioning of the moon as it appears in the night sky each evening.
You can use this feature to plan your sailing activities according to the moonlight given each evening.
The History of the Sailing Watch
Some of the first patented uses in sailing watches arrived in the 1950s. Timepieces fitted with a rotating bezel quickly became important in timing the moments before a race.
Early creators of yachting watches include Breitling and TAG Heuer. The Seamaster Yachting watch by Omega arrived on the scene in the 1970s.
Breitling also extended its popular Chronomat watch with the release of the Chronomat Yachting Watch in the 1980s.
Perhaps one of the most famous yachting watches of all time, however, is the Rolex Yacht-Master II. It arrived on the market in 1992.
It followed on from the reference 16672 — the original Yacht-Master. The brand has been refining these seafaring instruments ever since. It now offers a range of models in different dial designs and case materials.
Best Sailing Watches
So, what are the best sailing watches on the market, and how do you choose between them?
Well, as a general rule, the best kinds of sailing-friendly watches are those that come with a multitude of functions.
That said, if you’re a beginner, you might want to start with something simple.
Just as tablets and smartphones have revolutionized how seafarers use their displays to navigate and time their journeys, so have smartwatches. They can provide directions, make calls for us, navigate, and display all the relevant data we need.
Here are a few of the best sailing watches for beginners, advanced sailors, and everyone in between.
Garmin MARQ Captain
There are several reasons to invest in a watch like the Garmin MARQ Captain watch, especially if your preference is a smartwatch.
It comes packed with marine-relevant features like weather and tidal data, a regatta timer, and GPS. If you love your technology and you’re familiar with Garmin smartwatches, the MARQ Captain requires little time to get to grips with.
You can stream live boat data to your wrist while enjoying 32GB of memory and 27 hours of battery life in GPS mode.
Casio G-Shock Rangeman
Firstly, it’s worth noting that Casio G-Shock watches offer exceptional value for money. That’s a great thing if you’re shopping for a sailing watch on a budget.
As a round-up, the Rangeman offers functions like a barometer, Altimeter, thermometer, and compass, all rolled into one robust design.
The G-Shock series is also exceptionally shock-resistant.
Combined with suitable water resistance, the Rangeman makes for a versatile choice for all sailing enthusiasts.
Rolex Yacht-Master II
The Rolex Yacht-Master II deserves an introduction of its very own. For more insight into the brand, you can check out its history.
Otherwise, just know that the Yacht-Master II comes with a programmable countdown timer and regatta chronograph. It also boasts an unmistakable style that Rolex fans go crazy for.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ETNZ
Over the years, Omega has developed service watches for the Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ). These designs, first launched in 2015, feature a regatta-oriented display and signature colors of the championship-winning team.
Its grade 5 titanium case is but one of its many innovative features, along with a Co-Axial Caliber movement and 300-meter water resistance.
FAQs
To help you understand a little more about regatta timers and sailing watches, here are some common questions about them:
What Is the Best Watch for Sailing?
For many reasons, enthusiasts feel the Rolex Yacht-Master II is the most iconic seafaring watch of all time.
On the other hand, Garmin’s range of smartwatches for sailing are some of the most advanced in modern technology.
What Watches Do Sailors Use?
Sailors may choose any number of yachting watches depending on preference. Popular options include the Rolex Yacht-Master II, the TAG Heuer Autavia Chronometer Flyback, and the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ETNZ.
Is a Sailing Watch the Same as a Yachting Watch?
Sailing watches, AKA yachting watches, are a niche type of watch, also named regatta timers, and offer additional functions for seamen.
Set Sail With a Seafaring Watch
Whether you intend to wear your chosen timepiece below deck, on land, or in water, sailing watches are a great choice. Also known as regatta timers, their designs specifically assist the world of competitive boat racing.
They come with some superb features that can help you count down to the start of a regatta race. Rather than timing a race like a chronograph, regatta timers help you control boat speed before the race begins.
Nautical watches like the Rolex Yacht-Master II, and the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ETNZ are some of the industry’s best.
There are, however, several smartwatches designed for the seafaring industry. They sync all the relevant data you need to enhance your experience out on the water in real-time.
The question of who makes the best sailing watches remains a matter of personal opinion. But there are some features that undeniably improve your experience of timekeeping out on the water.
Above all, look for reliability, legibility, and robustness, and you can’t go wrong when shopping for a quality sailing watch.
Have you ever been sailing? Let me know in the comments!
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