HOROLOGY & HIGH SEAS
ROLEX’S commitment to supporting sailing excellence, and ensuring future generations are mentored by the masters, underscores founder Hans Wilsdorf ’s ongoing quest for perpetual excellence
ROLEX FOUNDER HANS Wilsdorf always recognised the importance of nurturing future generations in all fields of endeavour. With respect to sports, he was acutely aware that the transmission of knowledge from experts to novices was essential, especially when it came to something as challenging as competitive sailing.
As a brand, Rolex’s ongoing partnership with the world of sailing dates back more than 60 years, beginning in 1958 with the New York Yacht Club. Since that time, many of the sport’s most towering figures have become Rolex Testimonees, and to this day the tradition of passing on valuable expertise from generation to generation remains intact.
One of those towering figures is British-born Sir Ben Ainslie, a Rolex Testimonee who began sailing at the age of eight and went on to become the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, winning medals in five successive Olympic Games (including four golds). He’s also a four-time Rolex World Sailor of the Year, and currently leads Ineos Team UK, competing for the America’s Cup and Sailgp, two of the sport’s most coveted trophies.
Sir Ben’s father, Roddy Ainslie, was part of the first ever, crewed round-the-world race in 1973, so it’s easy to see where he picked up the tricks of the trade. But two of
his other inspirations – both Rolextestimonees – were the late Paul Elvstrøm, whose Olympic record was surpassed by Sir Ben at the 2012 Olympic Games, and Paul Cayard, a seven-time world champion, seventime America’s Cup campaigner, and the first US sailor to win the Whitbread Round the World Race.
“Paul Cayard helped me greatly when I started to transition my career into the America’s Cup,” recalls Sir Ben. “I know that Paul, in turn, was helped himself by the likes of Durward Knowles [a sailing gold medallist in 1964] and Raul Gardini [head of the Il Moro di Venezia Cup syndicate].”
These threads of influence are as intricate and intertwined as the system of ropes, cables and chains that support a sailboat’s mast and rigging. And this collected wisdom, in turn, plays an important role in the continuation and evolution of the sport. Most sailors will tell you that theirs is a sport for life – not a passing fancy – and that some of the best opportunities to help the younger generations come through family connections. A case in point would be last year’s 40th Rolex Middle Sea Race which was won by Elusive 2, co-skippered by Maya, Aaron, and Christoph Podesta, from Malta. Their love of the sport was instilled in them by their late father, Arthur Podesta, a veteran of 35 Middle Sea Races.
“We used to think it was all about the race,” said Christoph, “but now we know that our father’s purpose was to bring the family together to share adventures and experience. It continues to be special.”
As the sport itself evolves, more championship competitions have emerged. Sailgp, which many agree is redefining sailing, is one of the latest additions to the Rolex yachting portfolio. It’s a series that demands precision, dedication, and performance, which is why the brand is proud to be the race’s official timepiece, but it also exemplifies the watchmaker’s quest for “perpetual excellence”. The Sailgp Inspire programme, meanwhile, provides life-changing opportunities to aspiring sailors, regardless of their background, including hands-on lessons, mentorship, and team-building.
Offshore racing, in particular the Rolex Fastnet Race and the aforementioned Rolex Middle Sea Race, have also increased in popularity. However, these demanding competitions require yachts that meet stringent qualification requirements, and that includes the experience of their crews. Thankfully, veteran participants regularly ensure young, inexperienced sailors are included in their team, thus passing on their expertise, but also their passion and a sense of camaraderie.
This “passing of the torch” is perfectly illustrated by Matt Allen, winner of the 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in 2019. In 1980, when he was just 17, he competed in his first race, and in 1983 was a crew member on the victorious Challenge II, under the tutelage of Lou Abrahams. As for Abrahams, he took part in 44 Rolex Sydney Hobarts (winning twice) as well as seven Rolex Fastnets.
“Over the years, I’ve seen amazing boats participate, but it’s actually the people that make this race,” commented Abrahams, who retired from offshore sailing in 2007 at the age of 80. “The sailors, the friendships, the competition – they are what make ocean racing what it is.”
For Rolex, the goal of creating a timepiece that would be as robust, precise and reliable as a marine chronometer is just one example of their forwardlooking philosophy, establishing them as a benchmark of excellence in the watchmaking world. Similarly, the achievements of Rolex Testimonees – including such yachting legends Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox Johnston, and Bernard Moitessier – have set benchmarks in sailing to which future generations will aspire.