The purpose of a regatta chronograph is not only to track racing time but, above all, to count down the critical minutes before the racers 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. A good start determines the success in this test of skill, tactics and technical expertise.
The new Ulysse Nardin Regatta chronograph delivers groundbreaking functionality and intuitive tracking of these cru-cial minutes. Dedicated to top-level sailing, this watch has been developed with the expert advice of famous yachtsmen Loïck Peyron and Iain Percy, both brand ambassadors and members of the Artemis Racing team.
650 artfully arranged components shape the originality and special attributes of this regatta chronograph, engineered with an ingenious two-way count-up/count-down system. Innovative in more ways than one, the regatta feature, located at the center of the dial, displays the countdown with an arrow pointing at the yellow minute scale from 0 to 10. Easily readable, this hand can be set with a pusher located at the 10 o'clock position and moves in a counterclockwise direction when when the count-down starts. At the same time, the two-way seconds hand of the chronograph ticks away the seconds in a counterclockwise direction until the countdown comes to an end. When the countdown reaches zero signaling the start of the race, the seconds hand instantly starts moving in the clockwise direction and begins timing the race, measured by an hours and minutes subdial at the 6 o'clock position. Easy to read and precise, designed for those moments during the regatta when each second counts and competitors jump into action.
Technical Specifications:
The case, in stainless steel, measures 44mm. It has an AR-coated sapphire crystal, a sapphire display back, and it is water resistant to 100 meters. Fluted bezel with rubber inserts, a screw-down crown and two molded rubber pushers.
Movement is the Swiss automatic Ulysee Nardin in-house caliber UN-155 with 53 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 3 days. It features a Silicium escapement and spring.
Functions are: hours, minutes and seconds. Chronograph with central seconds and 12 hours and 60 minutes counter at 6 o'clock. Regatta functions : countdown timer that can be set from 1 to 10 minutes, and with an inverter mechanism of the second and release of the running time.
The movement has an inverter which enables the central seconds hand to turn in either direction (counterclockwise and clockwise) to track the countdown and then the race time with no further user action required apart from activating the countdown. The result of many months of development based on the manufacture chronograph caliber UN-153, the new caliber UN-155 features performance, ease of use and perfectly designed display brightness.
Dials can be had in blue or white with Roman numerals. Turning to the dial, two variations are offered: the first features an ocean blue with bursts of signature Artemis Racing yellow and the second vivid sea foam. Both have a yellow countdown register punctuated by a sweep hand, Arabic numerals, indexes, appliqué Roman numerals glided over central luminescent hands, a yellow-tipped seconds hand and 12-hour and 60-minute subdial with the date displayed in a round aperture at the 6 o'clock position.
It comes on a black or blue rubber strap with titanium element and folding buckle.
As a tribute to its partnership with Artemis Racing for the 35th America's Cup, Ulysse Nardin has also created a limited edition of 35 watches. Featuring a black enamel Champlevé dial, this model's countdown feature appears on the bezel in yellow and anthracite gray, the colors of the Swedish team.
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