For anyone that follows yacht races they know that the Volvo Ocean Race is the most demanding sporting event in the world. The around the world race is held every three years and this one will begin in Alicante, Spain. IWC is celebrating their role this year as the official timekeeper for the race with the new Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph “Ocean Racer” special edition.
During the next nine months the crews will battle on the course of four oceans and five continents, covering over 38,739 nautical miles. The longest leg of the race stretches from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajai, Brazil, over 7800 statute miles. In addition to the grueling distance, the crews will face waves up to 100 feet in height, wind speeds up to 70 miles per hour and extreme conditions that make this one of sailing’s toughest trips.
As the face finishes in Gothenburg, Sweden in June of 2015 a new winner will be crowned. This is the second time for IWC to serve as the official timekeeper and this timepiece marks the importance. The Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph will be limited to 1000 pieces and dedicated to the teams spirit and dedication to extreme racing. To further strengthen their relationship and commitment to the event, the brand has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team.
The “Ocean Racer” case is 45.4 mm in diameter and features the brand caliber 89361 inside with a flyback function and aggregate timing of up to 12 hours, shows by a spectacular subdial at 12 o’clock. The water resistant case can withstand up to 50 meters and is the only watch the brand produces that offers crown protection and luminous hands and indices. The 360 degree rotor on the timepiece creates the allusion of a ship’s wheel and is finished with a beautiful black rubber strap that features an alligator leather inlay.
This stainless steel beauty that IWC has delivered is clean and classic, from the legible white dial with striking blue indices to the splashes of red you see here and there the sporty yet elegant timepiece is a welcome addition for any collector, or nautical enthusiast. So if you are active in extreme racing, or simply love to have an exquisite timepiece on your wrist, this beauty might be a perfect fit, while it offers precision and quality to keep you afloat.