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I N T E R N AT I O N A L R O L E X YA C H T I N G P O R T F O L I O 2 0 12
The Crown in Sailing Driven by a passion for excellence and an appreciation for yachting, Rolex is proud to be a major force at play behind the sport’s finest events, competitors and organisations. Its primary associations are with the classic offshore races, select championships and the Maxi class of yachts, where the world’s top sailors race aboard today’s most competitive craft. Off the water, Rolex participates in the development of yachting through its support of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the sport’s governing body, and the annual ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, which recognise male and female sailors who have distinguished themselves over the course of a year. Rolex has also cultivated close relationships with the most prestigious yacht clubs around the world, and, as part of its Testimonee programme, counts among its ranks a number of exemplary sailors admired by all for their contagious enthusiasm and dedication to the sport. As the crown in sailing for over fifty years, Rolex is committed to furthering the strong ties that bind these two prestigious worlds in their shared pursuit of greatness.
Introduction The Crown in Sailing showcases the dynamic calendar of global sailing events that form the Rolex Yachting Portfolio. Events which are rich in history and always innovative. Intended as a taster of the portfolio, The Crown in Sailing is rich in imagery and lists "The Essentials" for the major events. A complete calendar is set out at the end of the publication, and the information that precedes it will enable owners, crews and media to grasp the character of each competition. Included are contact details for the organising authorities, who can provide additional information regarding the rules dictating eligible yachts and the format of the regattas and races. Throughout the year, the multilingual regattanews.com PR platform provides up-to-theminute news, video, audio and photography. These multimedia elements develop, capture and deliver the spirit, passion and prestige of the Rolex Yachting Portfolio and form the ultimate reference tool.
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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Sydney – Hobart, Australia Rolex Fastnet Race Cowes – Plymouth, UK Rolex Farr 40 World Championship Chicago, Illinois, USA Rolex Swan Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy Rolex Middle Sea Race Valletta, Malta Giraglia Rolex Cup Saint-Tropez, France – Genoa or San Remo, Italy Rolex Volcano Race Gaeta – Capri, Italy Rolex China Sea Race Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines Portofino Rolex Trophy Portofino, Italy Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Saint-Tropez, France ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Dun Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland
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Rolex Testimonees
Yacht Club profiles New York Yacht Club Royal Yacht Squadron Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Royal Ocean Racing Club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Yacht Club Italiano Royal Malta Yacht Club Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club St. Francis Yacht Club Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
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Media & Rolex Yachting
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regattanews.com Virtual Media Centre
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International Media Contacts
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Calendar of Rolex Yachting Events
• September 2012
• Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship
• Location: Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
• Probable classes include Mini Maxi, Maxi, Wally and Supermaxi
• Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi Association • Open to IMA yachts of all categories & IRC rated yachts with an LOA >18.29 metres
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2011 - logo
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• A week of inshore and coastal races Yacht Club Costa Smeralda +39 0789 902200 secretariat@yccs.it www.yccs.it
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
14.09.2010
A&F/Evenements/2011/Voile/MaxiYachtCup11/Logo/MaxiYacht11_sans logo_sans txt.eps
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The Essentials
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Cutting-edge elegance Refinement. Class. Elegance. Prestige. Drama. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is unique in its total embodiment of both intense competition and luxurious lifestyle. Top yachts from all corners of the globe will arrive in the clear turquoise waters off Sardinia to showcase cutting-edge technology and compete on courses that marry idyllic sailing conditions with picture-perfect scenery.
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Eye-catching in every sense
As the pinnacle event of the Mediterranean sailing season, the allure of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is clear. For one week in September, along the Sardinian "Emerald" coast, the world’s most graceful and powerful yachts cut through the Mediterranean with agility, grace and ease. These technologically advanced and stylish craft deserve star-studded attention, and it is no surprise that the cream of world sailing talent is regularly in attendance.
Against a backdrop of raw, windblown granite and secluded beaches, imperious Maxi yachts go head to head in pursuit of one of the biggest prizes in sailing. The week is eyecatching in every sense. The changing conditions and intense competition test the crews’ nerve, skill and speed to the utmost. The first-rate contest on the water is always complimented by an equally impressive onshore social calendar, where the host club’s spectacular home exemplifies the class of the event.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup stems from the Maxi World Championship, which was masterminded by the YCCS and first held in Sardinia in 1980. Rolex’s association with the event dates back to 1985.
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• Location: Sydney Harbour – Derwent River, Hobart, Australia
• Yachting Australia Special Regulations: Category 1 • Classes include IRC, PHS and ORCi Handicap, plus a Cruising division
• Course: 628-nautical mile offshore race • Organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania • Open to monohull yachts between 30 and 100 feet in length
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia +61 2 8292 7800 sailingoffice@cyca.com.au www.cyca.com.au www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
The Essentials
• December 2011 – January 2012
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Examine the limits of endurance With 65 years of tradition, nine degrees of latitude and an estimated 45,000 participants since it began in 1945, the Rolex Sydney Hobart is more than just a yacht race; it is an icon among sporting challenges. It is the singlemost watched and recognised sailing event the world over.
The race is famous for its often brutal test of human endeavour. Why would anyone sail south from Sydney in summer when better weather and beaches lie to the north? December is prime holiday season in Sydney, the waterways and beaches crowded, bathed in searing sun. It is the height of summer in Hobart too, but at 42 degrees south, it can be cold, windy and wet at any time of the year.
Why sail south from Sydney in summer?
One of the toughest tests of seamanship in the sport of sailing, the 628-nautical mile course almost always encounters heavy weather conditions somewhere along the way. The fleet skirts the eastern edge of Bass Strait between the mainland and Tasmania; “The Paddock” might be dead calm or spectacularly rough. The seabed rises rapidly at this point from thousands of metres to mere tens of metres, and at this latitude the winds circle the globe relatively unobstructed often driving steep seas before them. When all these elements combine dramatically, a “Bass Strait Bomb” can explode, as in 1998 when tragedy struck. From the professional sailor to the adventurous Corinthian, from local crews to international teams prepared to travel halfway around the world at Christmas, enthusiasts of all kinds are lured by the challenge and enchanted by the folklore and legend surrounding one of the key races in the annual offshore racing calendar.
12 13 • Open to monohull and multihull yachts between 30 and 100 feet in length
• Location: Cowes, United Kingdom – Fastnet Rock, Republic of Ireland – Plymouth, United Kingdom
• ISAF Offshore Special Regulations: Category 2 with RORC prescriptions
• Course: 608-nautical mile offshore race
• Classes include IRC Handicap for monohull and MOCRA for multihulls
• Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Western Yacht Club
Royal Ocean Racing Club +44 20 7493 2248 info@rorc.org.uk www.rorc.org – www.fastnet.rorc.org
Rolex Fastnet Race
The Essentials
• August 2013
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A compelling rite of passage With a course that starts from the birthplace of competitive yachting, passes the "teardrop of Ireland", and finishes at the departure point of the Mayflower, the Rolex Fastnet Race touches the nautical history of the British Isles, and arguably the world, like few other sailing events. An institution since 1925, every racing yachtsman worth his salt cherishes this 608-nautical mile race on his sailing résumé.
A complete trial of commitment and aptitude
The course is demanding both mentally and physically. Starting from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, it heads out of The Solent through the Needles Channel, passing the headlands of the English south coast, with their complex tidal gates, before crossing the open waters of the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland, and finishing with a leg to Plymouth via the Scillies: a complete trial of each crew’s commitment and aptitude. August’s frequent westerly winds are driven by a series of depressions that ride east across the Atlantic. The Rolex Fastnet almost always offers up at least one bout of serious weather, the severity and timing of which, combined with the preparedness of each crew, will usually determine the eventual outcome of the race. With all yachts handicapped fairly, the Rolex Fastnet does not immediately favour larger or smaller yachts. A crew’s ability to
get the best from their boat is as important as its length. The nature of offshore racing is such that wind conditions will differ over the course throughout the duration of the competition and may prove more helpful to a particular size of yacht – a hazard accepted with equanimity by all participants. Since Rolex first became involved in 2001, the title of overall winner has been claimed by two 70-footers, two 50-footers and a 30-footer.
• September 2012
• Up to ten windward/leeward races over four days
• Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA • Organised by the Farr 40 Class Association • Open to all Farr 40 yachts
Farr 40 One Design Class Association +1 410 268 1001 farr40@staggyachts.com www.farr40.org
Rolex Farr 40 World Championship
The Essentials
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Turning the tables on convention The Farr 40 strode into the yacht-racing arena in 1997, an active period in the search for the ultimate grand-prix type yacht. Its timeless, modern design has risen above the norm, outlived expectation, and significantly outlasted its competition. The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship is the pinnacle of the Class’ worldwide racing season.
Success and failure easily measured
The Farr 40 is a high-performance one design that is fast, user-friendly and benefits from a strong class association. A great deal of thought and experience went into the development of the 40-foot yacht, built to a strict set of measurements and regulations; its continuing longevity proves the worth of that effort. The Class attracts highly competitive amateur owners and consummate professionals who savour the tactical challenge
of close-quarter on-the-water combat between evenly-matched boats. The Rolex Farr 40 Worlds throws corporate titans and accomplished sailors into an intense contest, successfully challenging the perception that the two sides of the sport are unable to mix harmoniously. The event is held in a different venue each year and attracts an international array of keen commercial minds willing to stand at the helm of a 40-foot racing yacht and test their skill against their peers. Racecourse losses and gains are immediately apparent; success and failure easily measured by whether one returns home empty-handed or not. Advised, encouraged and cajoled by a professional tactician, the amateur owner has to listen to a moreexperienced teammate in order to triumph. The races are short, fast and furious. Ten races in four days is a bruising schedule, but it is much more exciting than your average boardroom meeting. Rolex first supported the event in 2001.
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• Location: Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy • Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with Nautor’s Swan • Open to all Swan yachts • Incorporates the Swan 45 World Championship • ISAF Offshore Special Regulations: Category 3 with amendments
• Classes include Maxi, Grand Prix, Classic, Swan 45 One Design and Club Swan 42
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda +39 0789 902200 secretariat@yccs.it www.yccs.it Nautor’s Swan +39 055 240382 info@nautorswan.com www.nautorswan.com
Rolex Swan Cup
The Essentials
• September 2012
A lasting legacy Nautor’s Swan first came to prominence in the late 1960s, with the launch of the first series produced fibreclass yacht. Every two years, since 1984, the Swan fleet has gathered at its spiritual home at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Sardinia where owners, crews and guests meet for a week of frenetic activity on and off the water.
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Swans have been the vanguard of haute couture production yacht design for over 40 years. While the world has changed dramatically since the first of its kind emerged from a shipyard in Finland, 250miles south of the Arctic Circle, two things remain the same: the commitment of the Finnish workforce, proud to be the driving force behind the legend, and the spirit of the yachts’ owners
The vanguard of haute couture production yacht design
and crew, honoured to be part of the ongoing legacy. Over the years, Nautor’s Swan has harnessed the talents of some of the world’s top designers – Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers – together with Finnish boat-building skills, to create a distinctive brand of yacht, recognised the world over for both its aesthetic and seagoing qualities. The bird from which the marque takes its name displays classic elegance in flight. Closer to the water, the model of deportment remains visible above the surface. Similarly, a Swan yacht takes everything in its stride, whether on the racecourse or at anchor. Life for them is effortless. Very few types of yacht secure sufficient status and popularity to maintain a dominant position at the forefront of the ever-evolving sailing world. Nautor’s Swan has done just that, and the Rolex Swan Cup is an exhibition series that demonstrates exactly what it takes to create a lasting legacy. Rolex first supported the event in 1984.
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• Location: Valletta, Malta – Aeolian Islands (Stromboli) – Egadi Islands – Pantelleria – Lampedusa – Valletta, Malta
• ISAF Offshore Special Regulations: Category 2 • Classes include IRC and ORC/ORC Club Handicap for monohull and MOCRA for multihull
• Course: 606-nautical mile offshore race • One inshore warm-up race off Malta • Organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club in conjunction with the Royal Ocean Racing Club • Open to monohull and multihull yachts between 30 and 100 feet in length
Royal Malta Yacht Club +356 2133 3109 info@rmyc.org www.rmyc.org www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
Rolex Middle Sea Race
The Essentials
• October 2012
A mesmerising mosaic If ever there was a racecourse that linked the past with the present, myth with historical fact, natural beauty with man-made wonders, it is the Rolex Middle Sea Race. This 606-nautical mile adventure begins and ends in Malta, a monumental and captivating island, lying halfway between Africa and Europe, Gibraltar and Jerusalem, rightly known as "The Crossroads of Europe".
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The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a course that challenges and enthuses a vast array of sailors from the Corinthian adventurer to the hardened professional. This adventure of the seas is not only one of the hardest races to win; it is one of the most trying simply to finish. The course is a mosaic of the Mediterranean, encompassing imperious landscapes, and historical seas used by every great trading nation, across a unique loop that returns to an archipelago with ruins dating back 7,000 years. The many corners introduce fresh and often unwelcome surprises, a constant challenge for the competitors. Progress is hard to measure given the pitfalls and difficulties provided at every turning point. Participants may not rest on their laurels when trying to master this challenge. The slightest mistake can be harshly punished. Like all great ocean races, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has its own iconic symbol – the island of Stromboli, home to one of three active volcanoes in Italy. Forming
part of the UNESCO-protected Aeolian Islands, this "geological lighthouse" has been in almost constant eruption for some 20,000 years. Crews are regularly transfixed by the spectacular night-time eruptions. Stromboli’s temperamental nature is a rather poignant microcosm of the race. Rolex first supported the event in 2002.
The slightest mistake can be harshly punished
Giraglia Rolex Cup 243-nautical miles, two countries, one race The mesmerising combination of the oldest offshore sailing event in the Mediterranean and the captivating beauty of the French and Italian Riviera has ensured that the Giraglia Rolex Cup has left an indelible mark on yachting and the imagination of sailors throughout the world. From humble beginnings in 1953, "the Giraglia" has evolved into a mammoth competition. 2012 marks the 60th edition.
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• Location: Saint-Tropez, France – La Fourmigue – La Giraglia – Genoa or San Remo, Italy
• Three days inshore racing in the Bay of Saint-Tropez
• Course: 243-nautical mile offshore race • Organised by the Yacht Club Italiano in conjunction with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and the Yacht Club de France • Open to all monohull yachts over 30 feet in length
Yacht Club Italiano +39 010 2461206 info@yci.it www.yci.it www.giragliarolexcup.com
From humble beginnings, to a mammoth competition
The Giraglia Rolex Cup runs for a full week every June, comprising three days of inshore racing before the start of the famed offshore
classic – a 243-nautical mile battle for supremacy on a compelling course. The offshore race departs from the quaint harbour of SaintTropez, passes the Giraglia Rock, one of sailing’s most distinguishable turning points, and ends with the more unpredictable segment of the adventure – the leg into the Ligurian coast. The Rock, the course’s iconic landmark, is treated with affection and trepidation in equal measure. Like the sea around it, it is an exposed and often desolate place. Due to its navigational importance, many attempts were made to illuminate it and make it safe for unsuspecting navigators. Today, the rock’s powerful, automated lighthouse stands as a testament to the men involved. Once a year, this beacon of the sea has the pleasure of observing elite sailing talent passing by to pay homage. Rolex first supported the Giraglia Rolex Cup in 1997.
The Essentials
• June 2012
• May 2012 • Location: Leg 1: Gaeta – Capri, Italy Leg 2: Capri – Aeolian Islands – Capri, Italy
• Open to IMA yachts of all categories & IRC rated yachts with an LOA >18.29 metres
• Course: 400-nautical mile offshore race with stopover • Organised by the International Maxi Association in conjunction with the Yacht Club Capri and the Yacht Club Gaeta EVS
International Maxi Association +39 347 4413194 info@internationalmaxiassociation.com www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
Rolex Volcano Race Part of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week
Volcanic passions In 2011, a new offshore sailing event was created: the Rolex Volcano Race. This 400-nautical mile offshore race for monohull Maxi yachts forms part of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week. The two-legged race starts in Gaeta, just north of Naples, and following an overnight stopover in Capri, takes the fleet around two magnificent archipelagos in the central and southern Tyrrhenian Sea – the Pontine Islands and the Aeolian Islands, including the active volcano of Stromboli – before returning to Capri.
The course is fascinating. Set against the region’s imposing volcanoes, the backdrop menaces and mesmerises, offering a poignant reminder of nature’s might. The Aeolian Islands, named after the Greek demigod Aeolus, the "Keeper of the Winds" in The Odyssey, are listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A unique sailing environment with spectacular views
Sailors from all over the world have long been drawn to the captivating island of Capri. An historic Italian outpost, it rises nearly 600 metres from cobalt blue waters and exhibits its own microclimate, creating a unique sailing environment with spectacular views. More than just a race, the Rolex Volcano Race is designed to take the Maxi crews on a journey, a quest to keep the lead in a setting that has been shared and loved for centuries, not only by sailors, but emperors, politicians, thespians and glitterati.
The Essentials
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• Location: Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines • Course: 565-nautical mile offshore race • Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in conjunction with the Manila Yacht Club and the Subic Bay Yacht Club • Open to monohull and multihull yachts over 10 metres in length (LOA)
• Classes include IRC Handicap and Cruising for monohull yachts, and a Multihull division
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club +852 2832 2817 info@rhkyc.org.hk www.rhkyc.org.hk
Rolex China Sea Race Sailing an ever-changing landscape Hong Kong: this international capital of cultural fusion is big, busy and alive. Skyscraper after skyscraper line the horizon, an ever-changing landscape that reflects the pace of life in this modern metropolis. And while sailing may be considered a developing sport in the Far East, maritime influences have long infiltrated life in Hong Kong.
The Rolex China Sea Race, a biennial calendar highlight on the Asian sailing circuit, capitalises on Hong Kong’s distinctive energy. The race start is in Victoria Harbour, Causeway Bay, surrounded by the city’s impressive high-rise panorama. From there, the course heads 565-nautical miles offshore to Subic Bay, in the Philippines, through the South China Sea.
The ultimate Asian blue-water sailing event
The Essentials
• ISAF Offshore Special Regulations: Category 1
• April 2012
First run in 1962, the Rolex China Sea Race today is considered by many to be the ultimate Asian blue-water sailing event. The race is tactically challenging throughout and navigators and crews do their best to determine the optimum route. The lumpy seas and stiff breeze often encountered the first night out of Hong Kong are not for the fainthearted. Approaching the Philippines, the unpredictable coastal wind typically tries to ensnare competitors with inconvenient "holes" on their way into the finish. From the ultra-big city to a quiet beach town, this is a race where overall victory may be won or lost at any point on the course.
The Essentials
• May 2012 • Location: Portofino, Italy • Organised by the Yacht Club Italiano in collaboration with the Circolo Velico of Santa Margherita Ligure • Open to wooden yachts from the following classes: J Class, 12-Metre, 8-Metre, 6-Metre, 5.50-Metre • Three days of inshore racing Yacht Club Italiano +39 0102461206 info@yci.it – www.yci.it
Portofino Rolex Trophy Vintage excellence Considered to be one of the most beautiful Mediterranean ports, Portofino is a small fishing village that is known, along with its charming colours and cobblestone piazzetta, as a place of elegance, fine Italian dining and majestic sea views. Once a year, this picturesque port hosts the Portofino Rolex Trophy, a series of races dedicated to the barca d’epoca (classic yachts), which have played an essential role in the history of sailing. This regatta unites a number of the world’s classic yachts in one of Italy’s most iconic locations for some vintage racing. The action primarily takes place in the Marconi Gulf, part of the Ligurian coastline, famous as a popular yachting destination and protected natural park. The event also hosts a series of onshore activities, including
an exhibition of historic wooden Olympic classes in the main square of Portofino and, the highlight of the social calendar, the Rolex Dinner Party held at La Cervara, an historic Benedictine abbey situated in the hills between Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure. This is an event where yacht racing and history fuse within a convivial setting, forming the perfect weekend escape with a reminder of decades past. Rolex has supported the event since its founding in 2009.
• September – October 2012 • Location: Saint-Tropez, France • Organised by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez • Classes include: Modern, Spirit of Tradition and Tradition • Six days of inshore racing Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez +33 4 94 97 30 54 snsttropez@aol.com www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez One last round of warm-weather racing Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is an event of mixed emotions, as the magnificence of the past comes face to face with the cutting-edge of the present. The town of Saint-Tropez has a strong connection to the sea, perpetuated by the artists and yachtsmen that fill the Vieux Port. In late autumn, this chic harbour goes back in time with Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, an annual regatta that welcomes over 300 vessels for one last round of warm-weather sailing. Both modern and classic boats are welcome. As summer slowly ends, the fleet takes to the Mediterranean waters, displaying a spectacular contrast of varnished wood and carbon-fibre. During this classic, traditional refinement and modern functionality feature on the bay of Saint-Tropez, united by a common passion: the sea and sailing.
This regatta is an opportunity to travel through sailing history. Enthusiast or not, one cannot help but admire the lovingly-maintained classic vessels and those who work to keep them racing in the modern world. When the fleet sets sail the bay is awash with a display of vintage and modern-day craft, both part of the story that is brought to life in Saint-Tropez. Rolex has supported the event since 2006.
The Essentials
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ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing and celebrated its centenary year in 2007. Made up of over 130 Member National Authorities (MNAs), ISAF is collectively responsible for the decision-making that governs the sailing world. There are currently more than 95 ISAF International, Recognised and Classic Yacht Classes, ranging from small dinghy classes up to 60 foot ocean racers.
Every November, ISAF holds its Annual Conference, during which time the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards also take place. The Awards are recognised as the highest honour a sailor may achieve in recognition of outstanding achievement in the world of sailing. Launched in 1994, they are presented following a worldwide selection process that begins with an open invitation for nominations, followed by a vote among the MNAs. Two awards, one for a female sailor/crew and one for a male sailor/crew, are presented to the individuals who have distinguished themselves over the course of a year.
The recipients of the Awards are drawn from the diverse disciplines of the sport: Olympic dinghy and keelboats, single-handed ocean racing, transatlantic record breaking, match-racing, America’s Cup and windsurfing are all represented. Rolex has sponsored the Awards since 2001 and, in addition to the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Trophy, each winner is presented with a prestigious Rolex timepiece.
• November 2012 • Dun Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland • Open invitation for nominations • Shortlist of nominations voted on by the 137 member nations of ISAF
• The criterion for nomination: "outstanding achievement" in the period of 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012 International Sailing Federation +44 2380 635111 worldsailorawards@isaf.co.uk www.sailing.org/worldsailor
The Essentials
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Recognition of outstanding achievement
Past Winners
Male Female
2010
Tom Slingsby (AUS)
Blanca Manchón (ESP)
2009
Torben Grael (BRA)
Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
2008
Ben Ainslie (GBR)
Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
2007
Ed Baird (USA)
Claire Leroy (FRA)
2006
Mike Sanderson (NZL)
Paige Railey (USA)
2005
Fernando Echavarri & Antón Paz (ESP)
Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
2004
Robert Scheidt (BRA)
Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
2003
Russell Coutts (SUI)
Siren Sundby (NOR)
2002
Ben Ainslie (GBR)
Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
2001
Robert Scheidt (BRA)
Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
2000
Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl (USA)
Shirley Robertson (GBR)
1999
Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL)
Margriet Matthijsse (NED)
1998
Ben Ainslie (GBR)
Carolijn Brouwer (NED)
1997
Pete Goss (GBR)
Ruslana Taran & Elena Pakholchik (UKR)
1996
Jochen Schümann (GER)
Lee Lai Shan (HKG)
1995
Russell Coutts (NZL)
Isabelle Autissier (FRA)
1994
Peter Blake (NZL) & Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR)
Theresa Zabell (ESP)
Rolex Sailing Testimonees The name Rolex is synonymous with performance and pioneering spirit. Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, had the brilliant idea to equip Mercedes Gleitze with a Rolex Oyster when she swam the English Channel in 1927. Her Rolex survived the ten-hour swim in perfect working condition and Ms. Gleitze became the brand’s first Testimonee – a witness to the watch’s uncompromised performance.
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An image of
excellence
From then on, the advances of the Oyster would be inextricably linked to sportsmen and women excelling in disciplines that were new at the time, like aviation, automobile racing or mountaineering. In 1933 Stewart Blacker flew over Everest; in 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the land speed record in his bolide Bluebird; in 1947, pilot Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier; and in 1953, in an expedition led by Brigadier John Hunt, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay became the first to conquer Everest. Today Rolex counts a number of exemplary sailors as part of its Testimonee programme, supporting individuals who practise the sport in a spirit and manner admired by all.
They include: • Denmark’s Paul Elvström, the legendary regatta winner with four Olympic gold medals and nineteen medals in world championships. Elvström is today considered an icon; • American Paul Cayard who has participated six times in the America’s Cup, twice in the Olympic Games and has won seven world titles in sailing. He has also participated in two Round the World Races, winning in 1998; • Brazil’s Robert Scheidt, a four-time Olympic medallist with two golds and two silvers accumulated over four consecutive games since 1996, who is also a two-time winner of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor Award; • American sailor Gary Jobson, Ted Turner’s tactician when Courageous won the America’s Cup in 1977, who is now a highly respected sports journalist. He was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 2003.
EvEry rolEx is madE for grEatnEss. thE submarinEr, introducEd i n 19 53 , wa s t h E f i r s t watc h to b E wat E r r E s i s ta n t up to 10 0 mE tr E s . it wa s l atEr strEng thEnEd by its patEntEd tr iplE-sE al triplock winding crown, making it capablE of withstanding dEpths of up to 300 mE trE s.
t he submariner
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Yacht Club profiles A crucial part of Rolex’s involvement in sailing is its privileged alliance with the best-known yacht clubs around the world. This close collaboration, forged through shared values and mutual respect, has encouraged the development, organisation and promotion of today’s leading offshore races and regattas worldwide.
New York Yacht Club The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) was founded in 1844 when nine New York yachtsmen met aboard John Cox Stevens’s yacht. Three days later the group cruised to Newport, Rhode Island, and the Annual Cruise has been a fixture ever since. A year later what would become the NYYC Annual Regatta was first sailed. The NYYC has grown significantly from its early days, to a membership of some 3,200. The first clubhouse opened in 1845 in Hoboken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River. In 1898, J. Pierpont Morgan donated land on West 44th Street to enable construction of new premises. The building, designed in the beaux-arts style by Whitney Warren, opened in 1901 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The NYYC has played a significant part in the history of world yacht racing, both inshore with its Annual Regatta, its Race Week and the recently-initiated Invitational
Cup, all currently supported by Rolex, as well as with its offshore programme. The club hosted the first transatlantic race in 1866, started the most famous edition in 1905, and co-hosted the most recent version in 2011. From 1851 until 1983, the NYYC held the longest winning streak in sport as holder of the America’s Cup, but it was not until 1987 that the NYYC acquired its second clubhouse, Harbour Court, on-thewater in Newport. It is a magnificent edifice that has cemented the NYYC’s prominence in the global constellation of yacht clubs.
New York Yacht Club New York, NY, USA +1 212 3821000 secretary@nyyc.org www.nyyc.org
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Royal Yacht Squadron The Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) was founded in St James’s, London, in 1815. For a gentleman to become a member, the requirement was "ownership of a vessel not under 10 tons". Today this is interpreted as a gentleman "actively interested in yachting". The RYS clubhouse at The Castle in Cowes is a familiar sight for any approaching yachtsman. It has been the club’s headquarters since 1858, shortly after The Castle was decommissioned as a military establishment. An association with British royalty began with George IV, and, in 1833, the Club became the Royal Yacht Squadron under William IV’s command. The association is continued today by HM The Queen as patron and HRH Prince Philip, the Squadron's Admiral, a former Commodore and a keen yachtsman. The RYS’s history is a long one: in 1826, regular racing commenced, the 1830s saw the first ocean race,
and, in the 1840s, the first American member was admitted. In 1851, a race around the Isle of Wight for a 100 sovereign (£100) cup was opened to foreign yachts, won by America and has since become one of the most sought after prizes in sport. Today, The Castle and the red and the white striped roof of its Platform, are known throughout the world, and the club's start line has seen the beginning and end of many of the world's greatest yacht races, including the Rolex Fastnet.
Royal Yacht Squadron Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK +44 1983 292191 mail@rys.org.uk www.rys.org.uk
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is regarded as one of Australia’s premier yacht clubs. Located in Rushcutters Bay on Sydney Harbour since 1951, the CYCA was established in 1944 following a meeting at a photography studio belonging to one of the founder’s fathers. Originally an association of cruising enthusiasts, the CYCA initially had no clubhouse, but members still met regularly to discuss nautical matters and organise short cruises and races along the New South Wales Coast. Over the subsequent 67 years, the CYCA developed into Australia’s leading exponent of ocean racing and now has 2,700 members. The CYCA established its position of authority early on when, in 1945, a group of members were discussing the possibility of a cruise to Hobart over Christmas. When
asked to join, British Royal Navy Officer John Illingworth, a highly regarded offshore yachtsman, supposedly replied: "I will, if you make a race of it." This response helped found the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Australia’s most famous offshore race, quickly captivating the public’s imagination and setting the CYCA on its current course. While the CYCA is most widely known for its annual race south, members also enjoy being part of an active club with state-of-the-art facilities, an extensive year-round sailing programme, a remarkable Youth Sailing Academy and an international reputation.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Sydney, New South Wales, Australia +61 282927800 sailingoffice@cyca.com.au www.cyca.com.au
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Royal Ocean Racing Club The Ocean Racing Club was formed immediately following the completion of the first Fastnet Race in 1925. Its brief was "to encourage long distance yacht racing and the design, building and navigation in which speed and seaworthiness are combined", something that it has done with alacrity ever since. The now biennial Rolex Fastnet Race has become an institution and treasured fixture in the sporting calendar. From the seven yachts that completed the first edition, to the 300 boats and over 2,500 competitors that regularly take part in this exhilarating and challenging 608-nautical mile race from Cowes to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock, the race is a genuine master class in sporting endeavour. The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) – King George V, an active yachtsman, granted the "Royal" application in 1931 – has been a pioneer in the sport, not only organising and promoting offshore
racing activities, but also in developing standards of excellence, particularly in regard to safety issues. The RORC’s span of activities has a global scope – it is at the forefront of race management and in the development and administration of rating rules for racing yachts around the world. The RORC’s principal clubhouse is in St James’s Place, London, which it moved into in 1942, after its previous premises had been destroyed during the Second World War. With over 85 years of proud history, the RORC is a truly international yacht club comprising approximately 3,300 members from 54 different countries.
Royal Ocean Racing Club London, UK +44 (0)20 7493 2248 info@rorc.org.uk www.rorc.org
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Originally founded in 1967 by three sailing enthusiasts and H.H. the Aga Khan, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) is one of the most beautiful yacht clubs in the world. Nautical influence is felt throughout the clubhouse, following an extensive renovation in 2003 led by New York architect Peter Marino. Long, teak interior floorboards remind one of looking down the deck of a yacht. The view from the main bar’s balcony gives a feeling of floating out to sea. The YCCS clubhouse stands like a command ship guarding the harbour in which it lies. Nestled on Sardinia’s northeastern "Emerald Coast", across the water from the small village of Porto Cervo, the YCCS has fewer than 500 members and visitors regularly include kings, queens, sports stars and celebrities. The club will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2012, and, although relatively young in comparison to many other
sporting organisations, is one of the primary promoters of competitive offshore sailing in Italy and the Mediterranean. The YCCS is a compelling place to spend time. Porto Cervo’s marinas are built to accommodate grand vessels and berth some of the world’s most luxurious yachts during regattas such as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup or the Rolex Swan Cup. To complete the picture, the surrounding sea and La Maddalena archipelago, peppered with rocky outcrops, islets and islands are regarded amongst the yachting fraternity as some of the most entertaining and challenging waters in the world.
Yacht Club Cost Smeralda Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy +39 0789 902200 secretariat@yccs.it www.yccs.com
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Yacht Club Italiano Founded in 1879, the Yacht Club Italiano (YCI) is a veritable institution in Mediterranean sailing. Its prestigious reputation is the result of its eminent role in organising national and international regattas, promoting the education of young sailors and founding the Federazione Italiana Vela (Italian Sailing Federation). The incredible efforts of the late Beppe Croce helped the club and Italy ascend to the permanent committee of the IYRU (now known as ISAF – sailing’s international sports federation – of which the same Croce was President for 17 years). Members of the YCI have enjoyed success on the world stage, with the club having competed at the Olympic Games, the America’s Cup and the like. Today the yacht club has 1,200 members and there are nearly 300 yachts that fly its colours. The YCI is largely responsible for the inception and running of what
is now the Giraglia Rolex Cup. The event came to life when Beppe Croce, René Levainville, Fernand Rouff and Miguel Sans Mora, members of the Yacht Club Italiano and the Yacht Club de France, met in a Paris bistro in January 1953. The joint aim of this rendezvous was to create an occasion that would dually aid the reparation of French and Italian relations after the Second World War, and raise the level of sailing competition in the Mediterranean. Five months later, "the Giraglia" was born.
Yacht Club Italiano Genoa, Italy +39 010 2461206 info@yci.it www.yci.it
Royal Malta Yacht Club The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) is one of Europe’s oldest yacht clubs and a founding member of the Malta Sailing Federation. Rumours suggest the origins of club date back to 1835. Records show that the British Admiralty formally acknowledged an iteration in 1873 and in 1921 the Malta Yacht Club name appeared for the first time. Fourteen years later, this club was permanently granted the "Royal" affix. The story of Malta is reflected in the RMYC’s varied premises. In 2009, it acquired a permanent base in Ta’Xbiex, with views over Marsamxett Harbour, Fort Manoel and Valletta. The membership of 550 is currently developing a world-class facility worthy of this historic organisation. It is only fitting that the Rolex Middle Sea Race, one of the most acclaimed offshore races in the sailing calendar, is organised by the RMYC. The two are intrinsically linked, as the founders of the event were all members of the club. Two Englishmen residing in Malta –
Jimmy White and Alan Green – and two Maltese – brothers Paul and John Ripard – sought to turn their passion for the sea into a more concrete, competitive challenge. The four intrepid sailors mapped a challenging offshore course similar in length to the famed Rolex Fastnet and, although the race is now run anti-clockwise, the resulting course was the same shape as the one used today. It is no coincidence that the Rolex Middle Sea Race was formed by a mix of British and Maltese sailors. The desire to promote harmonious integration between the island’s two communities has always been an intrinsic part of the RMYC.
Royal Malta Yacht Club Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, Malta +356 2133 3109 info@rmyc.com www.rmyc.com
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Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club The first recorded yacht racing in Hong Kong was organised by the Victoria Regatta Club which held its first meeting in October 1849. The club hosted regattas and other races sporadically until 1890. A few years later, the Hong Kong Corinthian Sailing Club was formed by yachtsmen searching for better management of local racing and in 1894, this new club was granted a warrant and blue ensign by the British Admiralty, becoming the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC). Now established as one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Hong Kong, the RHKYC has evolved into a multi-faceted and cosmopolitan organisation and its membership enjoys a comprehensive range of facilities, both afloat and ashore. Kellett Island, in Causeway Bay, is the club's principal base and the premises have been the site of huge changes over the years. Once a simple clubhouse with moorings, the site now boasts lavish facilities
and the Clubhouse exudes elegance and comfort throughout. This, together with its impressive sailing and rowing calendar, fits the club's vision of being a "premier international yachting and rowing club". The RHKYC’s sailing season runs from September to May and includes weekly racing at one or more of its clubhouses, as well as several larger local and offshore races and regattas. Rolex began its association with the RHKYC and its flagship event, the Rolex China Sea Race, in 2007. This classic Asian blue-water race celebrates its 26th edition in 2012.
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Kellett Island, Causeway Bay Hong Kong +852 2832 2817 info@rhkyc.org.hk www.rhkyc.org.hk
St. Francis Yacht Club With over 40 sailing events on its annual calendar, and home to the West Coast's premier regatta, the Rolex Big Boat Series, the St. Francis Yacht Club is widely regarded as having one of the best racing programmes and race management in North America. Furthermore, few yacht clubs around the world can boast a location as majestic, given the club's picture-postcard view of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The club was founded in 1927 and the original St. Francis clubhouse was completed just ahead of the Depression. Today, hardly anything remains of the original building, fire and earthquake saw to that, but the existing structure befits this prestigious organisation. The club inaugurated its Perpetual Trophy Regatta in 1963, and this annual September gathering has
grown into its signature event – the Big Boat Series. This grand-prix racing regatta, now in its 47th year, attracts top competitors and boats from across the US and abroad. In 2005, Rolex became title sponsor of this prestigious event, which comprises extremely competitive one-design and handicap racing. Members of the club come from all walks of life and include top professionals, club racers and family cruisers. One of St. Francis Yacht Club's most famous sons is sailing icon, and Rolex Testimonee, Paul Cayard.
St. Francis Yacht Club San Francisco, CA, USA +1 415 563-6363 frontdesk@StFYC.com www.stfyc.com
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Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez The Société Nautique de SaintTropez is one of the most active clubs in the Mediterranean, involved in the organisation of more than 15 sailing events throughout the year, most notably Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. The history of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez dates back to April 1866, when the participation of the "Regatta Society" was mentioned in the social programme for the inauguration of the statue of Bailli de Suffren, a famous Tropezian patriot whose monument stands in the port. The President, Martin de Roquebrune, lodged the articles of association for the club in 1894 at the Saint-Tropez town hall and, in 1899, the newspaper Le Yacht officially announced the creation of the Société Nautique et Sportive de Saint-Tropez. Today the main activities of the club, which has over 500 members, involve a
range of nautical sporting pursuits, from regattas to fishing. Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is the last major rendezvous of the Mediterranean sailing season, and was first run thirty years ago as La Nioulargue. This regatta gathers together extraordinary modern sailing boats alongside beautiful traditional yachts. A host of racers and sailing enthusiasts come from all the corners of the globe to do battle in the bay of Saint-Tropez.
Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez Saint-Tropez, France +33 4 94 97 30 54 snsttropez@aol.com www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr
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regattanews.com Virtual Media Centre regattanews.com is the comprehensive media source for the events that form the Rolex Yachting Portfolio. Incorporating media-driven features, regattanews.com is the reference point. The regattanews.com Virtual Media Centre includes: • Image galleries containing top-quality photography. Subscribed and approved media may download these high-resolution images copyright-free for editorial use • Video highlights plus feature-based content • Press releases, delivered in numerous languages • Exclusive scene-setting side stories • Pre- and post-race audio interviews with competitors • Broadcast-quality video news releases • Direct access to the regattanews.com social media platforms – and • regattanews.com iPhone and iPad applications offering access to all online content • regattanews.com RSS feed • A keyword and tag search facility • The complete event calendar, enabling rapid access to the desired competition • Registration page where media may subscribe to regattanews.com and customise the service according to their unique needs
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Calendar of Rolex yachting events 2012 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Sydney – Hobart, Australia | December 2011 – January 2012 An annual 628-nautical mile offshore race for monohull yachts from Sydney Harbour to Hobart, Tasmania. Cruising Yacht Club of Australia – T. +61 2 8292 7800 – sailingoffice@cyca.com.au – www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex Cup Buenos Aires, Argentina – Punta del Este, Uruguay | January 2012 An annual weeklong regatta for monohull yachts. The event includes a 165-nautical mile offshore race. Yacht Club Argentino – T. +54 11 4314 0505 – yca@yca.org.ar – www.yca.org.ar
Rolex Miami OCR Miami, FL, USA | January 2012 An annual weeklong regatta for Olympic class boats that forms part of the annual ISAF Sailing World Cup. US Sailing – +1 401 683 0800 – rolexmiamiocr@ussailing.org – rmocr.ussailing.org
International Rolex Regatta St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands | March 2012 An annual three-day regatta for One Design and handicap monohull and multihull classes. St. Thomas Yacht Club – T. +1 340 775 6320 – john.n.sweeney@gmail.com – www.rolexcupregatta.com
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Rolex China Sea Race Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines | April 2012 A biennial 565-nautical mile race for monohull and multihull yachts from Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, through the South China Sea to the finish in Subic Bay. Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club – T. +852 2832 2817 – info@rhkyc.org.hk – www.rhkyc.org.hk
Portofino Rolex Trophy Portofino, Italy | May 2012 An annual three-day regatta for wooden examples of the classic Metre classes. Yacht Club Italiano – T. +39 010 2461206 – info@yci.it – www.yci.it
Rolex Volcano Race Gaeta – Capri, Italy | May 2012 The Rolex Volcano Race is an annual 400-nautical mile offshore race for Maxi yachts. The first leg is from Gaeta to Capri. The second leg is from Capri around the Aeolian Islands and back to Capri. IMA – T. +39 347 4413194 – info@internationalmaxiassociation.com – www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
Giraglia Rolex Cup Saint-Tropez, France – Genoa or San Remo, Italy | June 2012 An annual weeklong competition that comprises three days of inshore races in the Bay of Saint-Tropez and a 243-nautical mile offshore race to the Ligurian coast via La Fourmigue and La Giraglia. Yacht Club Italiano – T. +39 010 2461206 – info@yci.it – www.yci.it
Rolex Baltic Week Kiel, Germany | June –July 2012 An annual weeklong regatta for classic yachts. In 2012 the event will be organised by the Kieler Yacht Club. Kieler Yacht Club – T. +49 431 85021 – regatta@kyc.de – www.kyc.de
Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week Ilhabela, São Paulo, Brazil | July 2012 An annual weeklong regatta for monohull yachts competing in One Design and ORCi handicap classes. Yacht Club Ihlabela – T. +55 11 3884 5313 – sec@svilhabela.com.br – www.risw.com.br
New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex Newport, RI, USA | July 2012 A biennial race week with One Design, Classic, and PHRF handicap classes during the first half, and IRC handicap racing during the second half. New York Yacht Club – T. +1 212 382 1000 – sailingoffice@nyyc.org – www.nyyc.org
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy | September 2012 An annual weeklong regatta for Maxi yachts over 60 feet/18.29 metres and which includes the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship 2012. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda – T. +39 0789 902200 – secretariat@yccs.it – www.yccs.it
Rolex Big Boat Series San Francisco, CA, USA | September 2012 An annual four-day regatta for monohull yachts of 35 feet and above. Participation is by invitation and entrants are divided into One Design and IRC Handicap classes. St. Francis Yacht Club – T. +1 415 563 6363 – raceoffice@stfyc.com – www.stfyc.com
Rolex Farr 40 World Championship Chicago, IL, USA | September 2012 An annual four-day championship for the Farr 40 One Design class. The venue changes each year. Farr 40 Class Association – T. +1 410 268 1001 – Farr40@staggyachts.com – www.farr40.org
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Rolex Swan Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy | September 2012 A biennial weeklong regatta for yachts built by Nautor’s Swan. The 2012 Swan 45 World Championship will take place within the event. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda – T. +39 0789 902200 – secretariat@yccs.it – www.yccs.it
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Saint-Tropez, France | September – October 2012 An annual weeklong regatta for Modern, Sprit of Tradition and Tradition yachts. The Rolex Trophy is awarded to the best performing yacht over 16 metres in the Tradition class. Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez – T. +33 4 94 97 30 54 – snsttropez@aol.com – www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr
Rolex Middle Sea Race Valletta, Malta | October 2012 An annual 606-nautical mile offshore race for monohulls and multihulls from Malta, anti-clockwise around Sicily, Pantelleria and Lampedusa, finishing in Malta. Royal Malta Yacht Club – T. +356 2133 3109 – info@rmyc.org – www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Dun Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland | November 2012 These annual awards recognise the top male and female sailor in the world. The winners are selected by the 137 ISAF Member National Authorities from a field of nominees. The venue for the Awards ceremony changes each year. International Sailing Federation – T. + 44 2380 635111 – worldsailorawards@isaf.co.uk – www.sailing.org/worldsailor
For the complete Rolex yachting calendar please visit www.regattanews.com
2013
Biennial events
Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex Block Island, RI, USA | June 2013 A biennial weeklong regatta for monohull yachts of greater than 24 feet competing in One Design, and IRC and PHRF handicap classes. Storm Trysail Club – T. +1 914 834 8857 – stormtry@aol.com – www.blockislandraceweek.com
Rolex Fastnet Race Cowes – Plymouth, UK | August 2013 A biennial 608-nautical mile offshore race for monohull and multihull yachts from Cowes across the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock and back to the finish in Plymouth. Royal Ocean Racing Club – T. +44 207 493 2248 – info@rorc.org – www.rorc.org
New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex Newport, RI, USA | September 2013 A biennial four-day regatta, where entry is by invitation only to a number of the world's pre-eminent yacht clubs. The regatta format is fleet racing in Swan 42 Class yachts. New York Yacht Club – T. +1 212 382 1000 – sailingoffice@nyyc.org – www.nyyc.org
IMPRESSUM Publisher: Rolex SA, Geneva, Switzerland Conception and coordination: Key Partners Marketing Services Sàrl, Neuchâtel, Switzerland Design and art direction: Key Partners Marketing Services Sàrl, Patrick Bachmann Engraving and production: Courvoisier-Attinger, Biel, Switzerland Photographs: Carlo Borlenghi/Daniel Forster/Kurt Arrigo © Rolex SA, Geneva, Switzerland
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