CONTENTS INTRO DU CTIO N
3 5
BRE M O NT A ND THE A M E RICA’S C UP THE HISTO RY O F THE A M E RICA’S C UP BRE M O NT A ND O RACL E TE A M USA THE BRE M O NT A ME RICA’S CU P A ND O RACL E TE A M U SA SERIES THE BRE M O NT A ME RICA’S CU P REG ATTA SERIE S 29
17
13
9
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 3
INTRODUCTION Bremont is delighted to announce its appointment as Official Timing Partner to the 35th America’s Cup and to the defending champion, ORACLE TEAM USA. As the first official British timing partner to the America’s Cup since 1851, Bremont has embarked on a very exciting project to produce a special edition collection of timepieces to celebrate its involvement. Renowned as the oldest trophy in international sport the America’s Cup first took place in 1851 on the waters off England’s south coast. Today this exciting and compelling event remains firmly at the forefront of the international sporting calendar, with cutting edge catamarans crewed by world-class sailors fighting to win the historic trophy.
AC I
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 5
BREMONT AND THE AMERICA’S CUP As children Bremont Co-Founders Nick and Giles English lived on a sailing boat built by their father Euan English, an ex-RAF pilot with a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering. He inspired his young sons with his knowledge of aviation, yacht construction and clock manufacture, leading them to form the Bremont Watch Company in 2002. Giles English, who studied as a naval architect, said, “Nick and I grew up with both flying and sailing in our blood, so it’s a dream-come-true that Bremont has the opportunity to support and promote the amazing story of this world-famous race, the America’s Cup. We are honoured to be involved in this prestigious event with such historical importance”. Bremont is delighted to announce its appointment as Official Timing Partner to the 35th America’s Cup.
The adventure, heritage and engineering fundamental to the Cup make the event a natural fit for Bremont. Nick English says, “As with all our partners we will look to learn from them and work closely on a technical level but we also intend to explore the Cup’s rich history”.
6 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
The event’s roots are firmly entrenched in British maritime past, making the Cup a natural successor to Bremont’s previous nautical projects celebrating historic British achievement. Particularly close to their heart is John Harrison, a self-educated English carpenter, who invented the first successful marine chronometer in 1761. He solved the problem of telling the time at sea by enabling the determination of longitude, allowing Britannia to truly rule the waves. Bremont designed its beautiful, handmade-to-order B-1 Marine Clock in tribute to his remarkable accomplishment. Bremont’s love of the sea was further demonstrated by the Bremont Victory: a classic limited edition timepiece manufactured using original copper and wood from the world’s only surviving 18th century warship, HMS Victory. Launched in 1765, Victory is most famous as Lord Nelson’s flagship in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. Perfectly reflecting the passions that drive the Bremont brand, the modern catamarans of the America’s Cup are a phenomenal fusion of flight principles and sailing technology. Giles English says, “The engineering we have seen surrounding the wingsail catamarans is immense. With strong support from the aerospace industries they are pushing the technology far beyond traditional naval architecture.” With towering rigid wingsails based on aircraft wing design, the catamarans feature retractable L-shaped hydrofoils beneath the hulls.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 7
Once enough speed is gained the foils lift the twin hulls above the water surface so the catamarans fly over the waves. This huge reduction in hydrodynamic drag enables them to travel faster than the wind. ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill decided that gaining his pilot’s license was the best way to understand the aerodynamic principles at play: “It’s interesting how many people in the sailing world are into flying. There’s a natural crossover. I find when you do other sports where there are similarities, that’s where you really learn stuff or stimulate ideas”. Quickly getting hooked on flying, Jimmy recognised kindred spirits at Bremont. He knows that Bremont’s aviation expertise increases their understanding of how to assist the sailors: “I can tell instantly that these guys are into it and this is really important to them just as it is to us. Thanks to their backgrounds and interests I really see it being a strong partnership.” ORACLE II
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 9
THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICA’S CUP Today the America’s Cup is a global event featuring high-tech hydrofoiling, wingsailed catamarans capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots. The crews are elite athletes contending with the great physical extremes of sailing such high performance boats. The competition was equally fierce in 1851, when an American syndicate brought a radical new yacht to English shores. The schooner, called America, was invited to compete in the Royal Yacht Squadron’s annual Isle of Wight regatta to win the ‘£100 Mug’. America coasted home to victory with an eighteen minute lead. Legend states that Queen Victoria, watching this unparalleled winner cross the finish line, asked who was second. She was told, ‘Your majesty, there is no second’. Known as the ‘Auld Mug’, the sterling silver cup (manufactured by Garrard of London, the world’s oldest jewellers) was entrusted to the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) as a “perpetual challenge trophy to promote friendly competition among nations” alongside a ‘Deed of Gift’ that still provides the basis for the Cup’s rules and The ‘Auld Mug’ pictured with Bremont’s America’s Cup edition B-2 Marine Clock. On the left is the schooner ‘America’, winner of the 1851 America’s Cup.
regulation. Adopting the name of the winning schooner, the America’s Cup quickly attracted challengers hoping to return the trophy to Great Britain. From inception, the event showcased the latest developments in racing yacht design. Sir Thomas Sopwith, renowned aircraft manufacturer and designer of the legendary World War
1 0 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
I fighter plane the Sopwith Camel, used his aeronautical expertise to advance the design of his challenging J-Class yachts Endeavour and Endeavour II in 1934 and 1937. Sopwith launched an aeronautical link that continues today but failed to take the Cup. Racing ceased during World War II and resumed in 1958. The NYYC successfully defended the Cup against frequent challengers for a phenomenal 132 years. Growing global interest in the event necessitated the launch of a Challenger series with the winner going through to race the Defender for the America’s Cup. The NYYC’s unbroken run as Defenders ended in 1983 and the Cup finally left American shores. Alan Bond’s yacht Australia II used a radical new winged keel to take the Cup for the Royal Perth Yacht Club. The 1980s continued to see rapid advances in racing yacht design. The first fibreglass hull entry in 1987 was swiftly followed by the first multihull when the San Diego Yacht Club’s catamaran trounced Australia’s monohull yacht in 1988. The following decades saw the Cup move hemispheres again, with Team New Zealand and Swiss competitors Alinghi keeping the Cup out of America for 15 years. Now a global televised spectacle, the 35th America’s Cup will be fought in Bermuda with high-speed hydrofoiling AC Class Yachts and defended by 2010 and 2013 winner ORACLE TEAM USA. Challengers include BAR, Groupama Team
Today the America’s Cup features high-tech hydrofoiling, wingsailed catamarans capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 1 1
France, Sweden’s Artemis Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand and new competitor Softbank Team Japan. The America’s Cup attracts the elite sportsmen of the sailing world, and Bremont is pleased that the 35th edition welcomes a new British challenger: the Land Rover BAR (Ben Ainslie Racing) team. Sir Ben Ainslie, the most successful sailor in Olympic history, sailed to victory as ORACLE TEAM USA’s tactician at the 34th America’s Cup. His team hopes to return the trophy to Great Britain for the first time since 1851, whilst his former colleagues at ORACLE TEAM USA will be fighting fiercely to keep the Cup for the Golden Gate Yacht Club. In the build-up to the final event, all the teams will showcase their skills sailing AC45 catamarans during the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series. They will earn points towards the 2017 Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers and Playoffs where the ultimate Challenger will be decided. The azure skies and crystal clear waters of Bermuda will provide a stunning backdrop to the June 2017 final, where the Challengers will race ORACLE TEAM USA for America’s Cup glory.
AC-R/RG
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 1 3
BREMONT AND ORACLE TE AM USA Founded in 2000 by Oracle Corporation Executive Chairman Larry Ellison, ORACLE TEAM USA has pushed the boundaries of racing yacht design and provided audiences with some of the most thrilling racing in the America’s Cup history. Representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco, ORACLE TEAM USA mounted challenges in 2003 and 2007 before going on to win the 33rd America’s Cup in 2010, beating Swiss defender Alinghi in Valencia, Spain. At the time, ORACLE TEAM USA’s winning yacht USA-17 was the fastest boat ever to race for the Cup. The radical trimaran design featured a 223 foot rigid wingsail, the largest wing ever built, giving it a considerable advantage over the defending champion, Alinghi. ORACLE TEAM USA stormed home to victory, returning the America’s Cup to the USA for the first time since 1995. Aged just 30, Australian Jimmy Spithill became the youngest ever skipper to win the Cup. JIMMY SPITHILL (above Left) – ORACLE TEAM USA Skipper Jimmy became the youngest ever skipper to win the America’s Cup with ORACLE TEAM USA in 2010, and oversaw their remarkable 2013 victory, thrilling audiences with one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history.
1 4 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
As Defenders of the America’s Cup, ORACLE TEAM USA could dictate the specifications of yacht sailed in the next event. They opted for a striking design, faster and more extreme than any seen before. The AC72 was a carbon-fibre hydrofoiling catamaran with a 135 foot rigid wingsail capable of speeds beyond 45 knots. At nearly six tonnes and requiring 11 crew, the AC72 was the most challenging and demanding boat to ever race for the America’s Cup. Rising up to fly over the waves on L-shaped hydrofoils the catamarans were closely-matched speed demons. But within days of the 2013 America’s Cup race starting, ORACLE TEAM USA found themselves trailing, unable to keep up with Emirates Team New Zealand’s Aotearoa on the upwind legs. Emirates Team New Zealand steadily built an 8-1 lead over ORACLE TEAM USA, requiring only one more race to win the Cup. Faced with the very real prospect of losing the Cup to Emirates Team New Zealand, skipper Jimmy Spithill and his team pushed themselves to improve the catamaran’s handling and the team’s race tactics. They slowly clawed themselves back from the brink, sailing ORACLE TEAM USA 17 faster and faster to successfully stage one of the greatest comebacks in the history of sport. With both teams level-pegging on eight race wins, ORACLE TEAM USA were able to take the lead in the final race, beating Emirates Team New Zealand by 44 seconds. A delighted Larry Ellison quickly pulled alongside ORACLE TEAM USA 17 on the support boat telling his victorious team, “Do you guys know what you just did? You just won the America’s Cup!” ORACLE TEAM USA is now preparing to defend the America’s Cup in 2017.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 1 5
Already relocated to their new base in Bermuda, they have been sailing and testing their two prototype AC45S boats on the Great Sound. For his part, Jimmy Spithill is confident that the new America’s Cup Class boats will hit higher speeds than the AC72 come 2017: “The America’s Cup Class is going to be the fastest boat around the racetrack.” In the build-up to the Cup, ORACLE TEAM USA have been taking part in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, demonstrating the Cup racing style to audiences around the world. The main goal for ORACLE TEAM USA will be training, testing and sailing right up to the 35th America’s Cup final where they will be looking to secure a third consecutive victory. Jimmy cites teamwork as the key to success, speaking highly of ORACLE TEAM USA’s absolute dedication: “It’s about putting yourself second and really thinking about the team and your team mates. We’re pretty fortunate that we’ve got great people, and that’s what wins the America’s Cup - great people”.
ORACLE I
1 6 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 1 7
THE BREMONT AMERICA’S CUP AND ORACLE TE AM USA SERIES The America’s Cup Series is a classic watch collection befitting the history of the Cup and Bremont has launched two Special Edition watches, the Bremont AC I and AC II. These models have been inspired by the legendary J-Class yachts of the 30s, both classic and beautiful. Carrying the ‘London’ mark on the dial, all of the watches are built in the UK using the highest quality components. The watches are also delivered in Bremont’s English made America’s Cup leather wallets. In partnering with ORACLE TEAM USA, the current Defender of the America’s Cup, Bremont has a very special and unique opportunity to work with them to create a practical and beautifully engineered collection of sailing watches, setting a new standard in technical innovation, precision and durability.
1 8 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
AC I Movement
Calibre 11 ½’’’ BE-36AE automatic chronometer, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800 bph, 38 hour power reserve, Bremont moulded and skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute/second, date at 6H. Case
Polished stainless steel Bremont Trip-Tick® construction with scratch-resistant DLC treated case barrel. Protective anti-shock decorated movement mount. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm. Polished stainless steel case back with integrated flat crystal, 5 stainless steel screws with polished heads. Dial
Metal ‘Auld Mug’ embossed dial with blue steel hands and classic numerals. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Temple Island rubber strap with polished stainless steel pin buckle. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification. AVAILABILITY
Limited to 535 timepieces.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 1 9
AC I
AC I CASE BACK
2 0 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
AC I 32 LADIES CHRONOMETER Movement
Modified calibre 9’’’ BE-10AE automatic chronometer, 18 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800bph, 40 hour power reserve, Bremont moulded and skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute/second, date at 6H. Case
Polished hardened stainless steel Bremont Trip-Tick® construction. Case diameter 32mm, lug width 16mm, case thickness 9.65mm. Polished stainless steel case back with integrated flat crystal, 6 stainless steel screws with polished heads. Dial
Metal ‘Auld Mug’ embossed dial with blue steel hands and classic numerals. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
5 ATM, 50 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Various straps with polished pin buckle or integrated stainless steel bracelet. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification. AVAILABILITY
Limited to 535 timepieces.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 2 1
AC I 32
AC I 32/BR
2 2 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
AC II Movement
Calibre 13 ¼’’’ BE-50AE automatic chronometer, 28 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800 bph, 42 hour power reserve, Bremont moulded and skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minutes, small seconds counter at 9H. Date at 6H. Chronograph centre sweep seconds hand, 30 minutes counter at 3H. Case
18 carat rose gold Bremont Trip-Tick® construction with scratch-resistant DLC treated case barrel. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm. 18 carat rose gold case back with integrated flat crystal. Dial
Metal dial with blue steel hands and classic numerals. ‘Auld Mug’ embossed subdials. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Embossed alligator with 18 carat rose gold pin buckle. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification. AVAILABILITY
Limited to 235 timepieces.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 2 3
AC II
AC II CASE BACK
2 4 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
ORACLE I Movement
Calibre 11 ½’’’ BE-36AE automatic chronometer, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800 bph, 38 hour power reserve, Bremont moulded and skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute/second, date at 3H. Case
Stainless steel case with sapphire uni-directional rotating bezel and Super-LumiNova® luminous coating. Inner soft iron anti-magnetic Faraday cage to protect movement. Protective patented anti-shock movement mount. Automatic helium escape valve and crown protector. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm. Stainless steel ORACLE TEAM USA screw-in and decorated case back. Dial
Metal dial with applied indexes and ORACLE TEAM USA mark. Super-LumiNova® coated indexes and hands. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
50 ATM, 500 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Integrated red rubber strap and black kevlar style strap with stainless steel pin buckle. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification. AVAILABILITY
Limited to 535 timepieces.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 2 5
ORACLE I
ORACLE I CASE BACK
2 6 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
ORACLE II Movement
Calibre 11 ½’’’ BE-93-2AE automatic chronometer, 21 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800 bph, 42 hour power reserve, Bremont moulded and skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute/second, date at 3H. 24H GMT hand. Case
Satin and polished titanium with uni-directional rotating bezel with Super-LumiNova®. Inner soft iron anti-magnetic Faraday cage and protective patented anti-shock movement mount. Automatic helium escape valve and crown protector. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm. Titanium screw-in and ORACLE TEAM USA decorated case back. Dial
Metal dial with applied indexes. Super-LumiNova® coated indexes and hands. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
50 ATM, 500 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Integrated red rubber strap and black kevlar style strap with titanium pin buckle. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification. AVAILABILITY
Limited to 535 timepieces.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 2 7
ORACLE II
ORACLE II CASE BACK
2 8 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 2 9
THE BREMONT AMERICA’S CUP REGATTA SERIES Specially designed to be used by sailors, the Bremont America’s Cup Regatta Series incorporates two unique countdown Regatta chronograph movements. The Regatta OTUSA watch movements have been designed to show a numerical 15 minute display countdown with a 5 minute start time and have a 12 hour counter and a date function. In addition, this line bears historical significance because high-grade carbon fibre from the winning 2013 ORACLE TEAM USA AC72 yacht will be incorporated into each crown. The Regatta AC timepieces, available in rose gold and hardened polished steel, boast more classical styling and an adapted movement to make the countdown timer better suited to the more refined dial design.
3 0 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
REGATTA AC STAINLESS STEEL Movement
Custom Bremont automatic movement, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800bph, 42 hour power reserve. America’s Cup decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute with chronograph centre seconds. Running seconds at 9H. Date and 12 hour counter at 6H, 5 minute countdown at 12H. Case
Polished hardened stainless steel Bremont Trip-Tick® construction with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm, case thickness 16mm. Polished stainless steel case back with integrated flat crystal, 5 screws with polished heads. Dial
White metal dial. Treated blue steel hands with Super-LumiNova® coating. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Temple Island rubber strap with polished steel pin buckle. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification. AVAILABILITY
Limited to 235 timepieces.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 3 1
AC-R/SS
AC-R/SS CASE BACK
3 2 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
REGATTA AC ROSE GOLD Movement
Custom Bremont automatic movement, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800bph, 42 hour power reserve. America’s Cup decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute with chronograph centre seconds. Running seconds at 9H. Date and 12 hour counter at 6H, 5 minute countdown at 12H. Case
18 carat rose gold Bremont Trip-Tick® construction with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm, case thickness 16mm. 18 carat rose gold case back with integrated flat crystal, 5 screws with polished heads. Dial
White metal dial. Treated blue steel hands with Super-LumiNova® coating. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Alligator leather strap with 18 carat rose gold pin buckle. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification. AVAILABILITY
Limited to 135 timepieces.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 3 3
AC-R/RG
AC-R/RG CASE BACK
3 4 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
REGATTA OTUSA Movement
Custom Bremont automatic movement, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800bph, 42 hour power reserve. America’s Cup decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute with chronograph centre seconds. Running seconds at 9H. Date and 12 hour counter at 6H, 15 minute Regatta timer and 5 minute countdown at 12H. Case
Satin titanium case with bi-directional rotating bezel with Super-LumiNova®. Bremont TripTick® construction with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. OTUSA AC72 foil material integrated into crown. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm. OTUSA engraved satin titanium open case back with integrated flat crystal. Dial
Black or White metal dial with Super-LumiNova® coated indexes and hands. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Temple Island rubber strap and titanium pin buckle. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification. AVAILABILITY
Limited to 235 of each model.
B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P | 3 5
OTUSA-R/BK
OTUSA-R CASE BACK
OTUSA-R/WH
3 6 | B R E M O N T A M E R I C A’ S C U P
Bremont Watch Company, PO BOX 4741, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England RG9 9BZ Tel: +44 (0) 845 0940 690 Email: info@bremont.com Visit: www.bremont.com/americascup BremontTimingAmericasCup @BremontTimingAC @BremontTimingAC Photography Acknowledgements ACEA 2015-2016/Ricardo Pinto, ACEA 2015-2016/Gilles Martin-Raget, Gishani Ratnayake.