Avid sailor and Richard Mille’s CEO EMEA, Peter Harrison has just raced his Maxi 72 in the latest edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Barth, which the maison had been partnering for a decade before becoming its title sponsor in 2018. A deliberate move that confirms that the sea does indeed provide an excellent test bed for new solutions for a brand that has made innovative its signature.
Richard Mille and sailing have many aspects in common: «Research and development are as fundamental in horlogerie as in yacht racing. The approach and the methods that yards use to find ever more efficient aerodynamic solutions and lighter and tougher materials also underpin Richard Mille’s work. A Richard Mille watch, just like a racing yacht or racing car, is the product of very complex engineering work that takes many hours and requires huge precision. For example, our tourbillon watches are subjected to tests in which the loads are up to 10,000 G.» Peter Harrison explains.
Richard Mille’s 60-01 Flyback Chronograph Regatta is designed to meet sailors’ needs. It is a very useful watch in cruising and racing conditions of all kinds. Time really is key in competitive sailing. The rotating bezel has the four points of the compass and two coloured scales – one showing degrees up to 360 and the other 24 hours – which allow to you to find your position in an offshore race. But in a triangle race, the chronograph flyback and central second counters as well as the 30-minute countdown function at 9 o’clock are very useful.
