Rolex's History of Yachting and Sailing

rolex boating collage

In sports like sailing and yachting, the difference between success and failure hinges on making the right decision at the right moment in time. Few brands in the world embody the need for accuracy and mastery over time quite like Rolex, which is why the luxury Swiss watch manufacturer has forged a strong relationship with the world of sailing.

Today, Rolex serves as a major sponsor of several yachting events and enjoys a positive relationship with many sailors. In fact, its Yacht-Master collection was designed specifically to accommodate the complex needs of competitive sailors, and models within the collection are some of the most popular fashion accessories in the sport.

Rolex and Boating Events

One of the biggest ways in which Rolex are involved in the worlds of sailing and yachting is through sponsorship, especially of major races. These deals provide money to organizers in order to keep the competitions going, while also offering Rolex valuable exposure within the sport. Some of the notable Rolex-sponsored races include:

Rolex Sailing Event

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – One of the most challenging and grueling yacht races in the world, the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht is an offshore yachting event, spanning 1,170 km. It is recognized as one of the top three events in the sport and Rolex has been the title sponsor since 2002.
The Rolex Swan Cup – Part of a long-term partnership between Rolex and Nautor’s Swan luxury sailing yachts, the Rolex Swan Cup is one of the sport’s signature regattas. The event is organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Rolex have served as the title sponsors since 1984.
The Rolex Farr 40 World Championships – The pinnacle event in the Farr 40 calendar, the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships has been sponsored by Rolex since 2001. It is a fiercely contested event, where crews of 10 are made up of a combination of amateurs and professionals and competing yachts are identical.
The Rolex Fastnet Race – Considered one of the classic offshore races, the Rolex Fastnet Race is a biennial event, which has been sponsored by Rolex since 2001. It is organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and passes a number of famous UK coastal landmarks, including Land’s End and Bishop’s Rock.

Rolex Yacht-Master

Both the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 and Yacht-Master II have been designed with the needs of amateur and professional sailors in mind and are ideal purchases for anyone with an interest in the sport. Both timepieces are sports watc
hes, with a casual appearance, meaning they are suitable for everyday use on land as well.

The Yacht-Master 40 is defined by its date display window, complete with Cyclops lens, and two-directional bezel, which allows the wearer to make complicated calculations. The Yacht-Master II, on the other hand, features a programmable countdown, with a mechanical memory – a world first, and ideal for the start sequences of races.

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