Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin has partnered up with the Vendée Globe to sponsor the toughest, most spectacular single-handed sailing race in the world.
“This is not a race for those who doubt themselves”, explains Ulysse Nardin CEO Patrick Pruniaux. “This is a challenge for modern-day Ulysses who believe that they will be able to confront themselves, their fears and nature’s strongest forces in order to complete an Odyssey of epic proportions.”
And for the occasion, Ulysse Nardin created two 44 mm diving watches, the Diver X Cape Horn and the Diver X Point Nemo.
Ulysse Nardin, time for victory
Both chronographs are equipped with the self-winding UN-118 manufacture movement. Moreover, they each have a power reserve of more than 60 hours and are water resistant to 300 metres (30 bar). In addition, the dials feature an embossed “X”.
The Diver X Nemo Point, in blue, comes on a matching fabric strap that has red stitching reminiscent of a surfboard leash. The watch’s case back is stamped with the geographical coordinates of Nemo Point as well as the route of the Vendée Globe race.
Meanwhile, the Diver X Cape Horn, in black, is set on a matching fabric strap adorned with saffron orange stitching that evokes the Spice Route. In this case, the watch’s case back is stamped with the geographical coordinates of Cape Horn as well as the route of the Vendée Globe race.
This year, the 9th edition of the Vendée Globe, nicknamed the “Everest of the seas”, had two winners: Charlie Dalin, the first to cross the finish line after 80 days, 6 hours, 15 minutes and 47 seconds, and Yannick Bestaven, who came in third but was crowned the winner after receiving a time bonus for helping to rescue fellow competitor Kevin Escoffier.
Patrick Pruniaux therefore presented a Diver X Nemo Point to Yannick Bestaven and a Diver X Cape Horn to Charlie Dalin.