For America’s Cup sailing teams, the quest to gain the winning-edge takes place many months before the racing actually begins.
In this high-tech sport, boat designers play a decisive role in a crew’s victory. At the Christening of the Kiwi boat in Auckland, the designers and boat builders enjoyed their well-earned moment in the limelight. The bubbly was broken over the innovative hull of a second generation AC75, optimised to achieve a perfect balance between hydrodynamic and aerodynamic performance. The boat’s name, “Te Rehutai” couldn’t be more appropriate, as it signifies the essence of the ocean invigorating and energising strength and determination.
On hand to cheer on the designers of the boat were the crew destined to sail it, including OMEGA ambassadors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. The sailors attended the launch wearing an impressive piece of Swiss-made technology.
OMEGA’s Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M, worn by ETNZ, is a Master Chronometer certified chronograph. The 45.5 mm stainless steel watch features a blue ceramic dial with Arabic numerals, a date window at 6 o’clock and two sub dials: one with small seconds, another with 60-minute and 12-hour counters for intuitive reading of elapsed time. Circling the dial is a blue ceramic unidirectional rotating divers’ bezel, with Liquidmetal™ diving scale. Other features include an alveol screw-in caseback and an antibacterial blue leather strap with rubber lining. The watch also comes with a steel bracelet for those moments when a formal look is more appropriate.
Ideal for marking time in race conditions, thanks to its chronograph function, the watch worn by ETNZ is also well suited for adventures beneath the waves. The Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer Chronograph is water resistant to 60 bar (600 metres / 2000 feet), and sports a helium-escape valve. OMEGA’s Calibre 9900, seen through the transparent caseback, has passed the industry’s toughest tests to achieve Master Chronometer status. The certification guarantees the watch offers exceptional resistance to magnetism, which is particularly useful for sailors and designers working in high-tech environments with banks of computers and other electronic equipment.
The launch of “Te Rehutai” was an exciting moment for OMEGA, as the brand has been a proud partner of ETNZ for 25 years. The obvious parallels between boat and watch design has led to a mutual respect and an open exchange of ideas. For almost two centuries, OMEGA has forged its own reputation for cutting-edge innovations. Its designers, watchmakers and engineers, although working on a vastly different scale, share the same passion for precision, functionality and aesthetics as the creative minds behind the world’s fastest sailboats.
OMEGA congratulates ETNZ on the launch of its extraordinary vessel. As an official partner of the Kiwi crew, we are thrilled with the boat’s winning form.
