Sailing Watches

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Sailing Watches – Some Things to Look Out For

I’ve been through a few sailing watches in my time. I have a habit of dropping them off the side of my boat, leaving them in changing rooms, forgetting where I’ve left them over the winter, having other people drop them off pontoons, and so on. Thanks to all these reasons, I’ve a fair amount of experience of different types of sailing watches.

Here’s some things to look out for:

A sailing-specific countdown – Most countdowns beep when the countdown has finished, for obvious reasons. The good thing about having a sailing-specific countdown is that the beep as each minute passes, and then give you beeps as you move into the last few seconds before the start. This gives you an audible countdown for those hectic starts, freeing you up to keep your head out of the boat. It’s a very useful feature.

A Sync option – This is also a very useful feature. If you miss the five-minute gun you can simply start your timer anyway, and when the four-minute gun goes you hit the Sync button and the countdown will start counting down from 4 minutes. You can also synchronise to the one-minute gun if you mess that up.

Battery life – I don’t think I’ve ever managed to keep a sailing watch long enough to run through the battery, so this isn’t really a consideration for me. And anyway, you can generally find somewhere that will change the battery cheaply enough if it does become an issue. But from my research, battery life is an issue for some sailors – if it is for you, then it is worth checking the reviews of a watch before you buy. I’ve listed it in the “Negatives” section of each watch where I’ve come across some anecdotal evidence that it is an issue.

Large number display – This can be very useful, especially if you’re long sighted. Definitely worth looking for – and lots of these sailing- specific watches now have this feature – but not necessarily a deal breaker.

Vibration alert – I’ve never had a watch with a vibration alert as part of the countdown function, but I like the idea. I’d be interested to find out whether it can be felt on a windy day, but if it can then it is an excellent feature.

Velcro strap – Velcro straps are a matter of taste. I wouldn’t buy a watch on the strength of the fact that it had a velcro strap – they’re easy enough to buy and fit if they are your strap of preference. That said, I find them quite useful – they’re easier to do up and undo than a traditional strap.

Scratch resistant glass – This is worth looking out for. I’ve had a watch or too (especially ones with domed glass) that can get scratched and more difficult to read.

GPS – To get this feature you\’re going to have to pay bigger bucks. If you think you’ll use it, then it is a pretty great feature, but it is hardly an essential.

 

 

My Top 3 Sailing Watches

Like I say, I’ve had a few watches in my time. Some I’ve been bought as presents, some I’ve panic-bought, and (occasionally) I’ve even researched them and bought the one I actually wanted. Here’s my favourite 3, in no particular order:

The Optimum Time OS Series 12

I liked this watch a lot. It is simple, and very much a sailing watch. If you need a digital watch to do other things for you, then this may not be your best choice. But if, like me, you take your watch off after sailing and leave it in your bag until the next time you race, then you can do a lot worse than this.

The pre-programmed countdown works well, and the Sync button was designed for someone like me – not least because you can make sure at the 4-minute gun that your timing will be perfect.

The Gill Race Watch

If I hadn’t left this in a changing room, I think I’d probably still be using this watch now. I like to think that wherever it is now, it is still helping someone get good starts.

It doesn’t look that great, but it isn’t horribly ugly either. And, much more importantly, it is very reliable. Tough and reliable. And lost.

The Casio G-Shock

This isn’t just a sailing watch, which is both good and not so good. The numbers are smaller than on the other two in my Top 3, making it slightly harder to read. But it has loads of good features, is virtually indestructible, and does every thing it says it will.

And a bonus watch:

The Garmin Quatix

I have no idea if this watch is any good. I will probably never buy one. But…

…If I was a different person, someone that didn’t always lose their watch, or that could afford to buy a Garmin Quatrix whenever I lost one, then this is probably the watch I’d get.

But I’m not.

List of the Most Commonly Used Sailing Watches

 

Optimum Time Series 3

Positives

  • A sailing-specific watch
  • Large number display – easy to read at a glance
  • 5-4-1-Go countdown with sound alerts
  • Countdown has repeat option (good for multiple sequential starts) or countdown and then elapsed time option (good for handicap racing)
  • Countdown has Sync button for those times when you miss the first gun.
  • Velcro strap makes putting the watch on or taking it off easy – even with gloves. the strap will also fit over clothing.

Negatives

  • Well, it’s not exactly beautiful, is it?
  • Possible short-lived battery

Where to Buy

Other Information

Optimum Time Series 11 Sailing Watch

Positives

  • A sailing-specific watch
  • Large number display – easy to read at a glance
  • 5-4-1-Go countdown with sound alerts
  • Countdown has repeat option (good for multiple sequential starts) or countdown and then elapsed time option (good for handicap racing)
  • Countdown has Sync button for those times when you miss

Where to Buy

  • UK & Ireland
  • United States -not sure about current availability. Try here or contact your local sailing chandlers.

Optimum Time Series 12

Positives

  • A sailing-specific watch
  • Large number display – easy to read at a glance, including extra large digits for last 59 seconds
  • 5-4-1-Go countdown with sound alerts
  • Countdown has repeat option (good for multiple sequential starts) or countdown and then elapsed time option (good for handicap racing)
  • Comfortable silicone strap

Where to Buy

  • UK & Ireland
  • United States – not sure about current availability. Try here or contact your local sailing chandlers.

Garmin Quatix 6

Positives

  • Sailing-specific watch
  • High-sensitivity, GPS-enabled marine watch with altimeter, barometer and 3-axis compass
  • Waterproof to 50 meters – with Full-featured GPS navigation
  • Sail racing features: – Virtual starting line – Distance to Start Line – Tack assist
  • Sailing countdown timer with large, easy to read digits
  • Tide charts display detailed tide data – Preloaded worldwide base map

Negatives

  • Expensive

Where to Buy

Other Information

Gill Regatta Race Timer

Positives

  • Large, easy-to-read display
  • Key lock function (so you don’t accidentally stop it during the start sequence!)
  • Very flexible – easy to use on the wrist, mast, or bulkhead

Negatives

  • Looks a little old skool
  • May have some reliability issues

Where to Buy

  • UK & Ireland
  • United States – not sure about current availability. Try here or contact your local sailing chandlers.

Gill Race Watch

Positives

  • A sailing-specific watch
  • 5-4-1-Go countdown with sound alerts
  • Large number display – easy to read at a glance
  • Countdown has Sync button for those times when you miss the first gun.
  • Has a sleep mode to preserve battery life
  • Very tough watch – hard to break

Negatives

  • Hard to fault for the price

Where to Buy

Gill Regatta Master Watch

Positives

  • A sailing-specific watch
  • 5-4-1-Go countdown with sound alerts
  • Numbers go to full-screen mode for the final minute – a really nice feature.
  • Countdown has Sync button for those times when you miss the first gun.
  • Has a sleep mode to preserve battery life
  • Very tough watch – hard to break

Negatives

  • Can\’t change the strap to a velcro strap (hardly a deal breaker)

Where to Buy

Other Information

Ronstan Clearstart

Positives

  • A sailing-specific watch
  • Large number display – easy to read at a glance
  • 5-4-1-Go countdown with sound alerts
  • Countdown has repeat option (good for multiple sequential starts) or countdown and then elapsed time option (good for handicap racing)
  • Countdown has Sync button for those times when you miss the first gun.
  • Long lasting

Negatives

  • Apparently, the strap can be uncomfortable on the skin. Probably not true for everyone – be worth trying it on first before you buy.

Where to Buy

Also Available:

Ronstan ClearStart Junior / Ladies Sailing Watch

Casio G Shock Quartz Resin Sports Watch

Positives

  • Incredibly tough, durable watch
  • Tide data
  • Easy-read lighting – automatically adjust light to make it easy to read

Negatives

  • Numbers are smaller than on other sailing watches

Where to Buy

Suunto Core

Positives

  • Stylish
  • Tough and hard-wearing
  • Storm Alarm, Altimeter, Barometer and compass
  • Range of timing options

Negatives

  • Not sailing-specific

Where to Buy


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Other Sailing Watches:

Windesign Regatta Timer