St Barth's goal is to focus on quality, not quantity. There are no races for the entire week, and this was planned from the beginning. St Barth is more than just sailing. It is a lifestyle. Sailing is a family affair, and sailors and their families spend time on the island. Les Voiles de StBarth, which is only eight years old and has been running for the past four years, is considered one of the world's top five regattas.
What kind of sailing do your do?
We usually do a series of races known as the TP52 Super Series.Audemars Piguet Replica Watches This is the most competitive keelboat racing in the entire world. TP is an acronym for Trans Pac, and the boat was developed for the Trans Pacific Race from San Francisco up to Hawaii. 52 is the length in feet of the boat. This year we have six events - Key West Miami Scarlino Sardinia Majorca Minorca. I won't be able to race at all of them, but will still do four. Les Voiles de St Barth may not be part of the Super Series, but I will race there every year because Richard asked me to represent the event. We have a classic boat, Sorcha as well, for LesVoilesde St Tropez.
There is a good mixture of crew, from America's Cup and ex-Olympic medalists to amateur helms like me. It's hard to find another sport where you can say: "Today, I beat a guy that won gold in the last Olympics." That's notto say you don't have to be fit. A comment made by my navigator Campbell Field a few years back prompted me to get into shape. I lost 30 kilos. The Super Series is a lot of fun but it's also very physical. I knew I had to get in shape if I was going to do well. We do offshore sailing, like the Fastnet. To sail non-stop, for three days, on just three hours of sleep is really hard work.
Can you find a crossover between watch and sailing technology?
Audemars Piguet Replica Watches-like, the technology of a pure racing boat such as Sorcha is based on knowledge from the aerospace and Formula 1 industries. We make watches with TPT (formerly known as NTPT - North ThinPly Technology). It is used for watch cases, but comes from the highest level of carbon sail development.Blancpain Replica The anano-structure has a honeycomb center like the shells of F1 cars. It is incredibly light and strong. Everything on Sorcha must be as light as possible. For example, the ropes holding the mast can withstand pressures of up to seven tons - which is enough to lift four Rolls-Royces.
EMEA Limited Edition RM 07-01 with Blue Ceramic Case and Pink Rubber Strap
RM 67-01 Extra Flat Automatic with Medium-set Case and White Rubber Strap
Many watch brands are involved in different kinds of sailing. Why does the sport of sailing appeal to watch brands.
It goes back to last century, and the evolution of the watch customer. In the heyday of the 1940s and 1960s, watch buyers who were into sports would ask their watchmakers to design a timepiece that suited the sport they were involved in. This connection, I believe, is the reason why watchmakers have maintained their relationship.