Last week, Richard Mille served as the principal partner of Les Voiles de Saint Barth, the annual sailing regatta in Saint Barth, French West Indies. Mr. Mille presented the grand prize winner of the maxi yacht category with the trophy, and an RM 028 Voiles de Saint Barth limited edition dive watch.
The third edition of Les Voiles de Saint Barth event came to a close on Saturday, 7th April. Confirming its ever-growing popularity, the competition featured over 65 yachts and more than 800 crews, including a large number of world-renowned skippers. As Principal Partner of Les Voiles de Saint Barth since its inaugural edition, Richard Mille was delighted with the success of these four days of racing, which is directly linked to the excellent courses – all spectacular, technically challenging and perfectly suited to weather conditions, wind strength and direction – and to the atmosphere created by the Organizing Committee.
RM 028 Voiles de Saint Barth limited edition dive watch
Suspense was in the air on Saturday, 7th April during the final showdown between the big names in each category. Previously victorious in 2010, Rambler 90 triumphed in the Maxi-Yachts group ahead of the giant (34.5 m) Nilaya designed by Reichel Pugh and the impressive Swan Selene. In the Multihulls category, the American Peter Aschenbrenner took first place thanks to victory in the final leg, ahead of the 60-foot catamaran Phaedo. There was a tough battle in the new IRC 52 class, but in the end it was Mayhem, skippered by Canadian Ashley Wolfe, who finished top of the overall rankings with just a one-point lead. There was also great drama in the Spinnackers class, with a nautical tussle between the Marten 49 Defiance steered by American Clay Deutsch and Stephen Murray’s Carkeen 40 Decision, with the former coming out victorious. Finally, among the Spinnacker 1, Bus Frits and his Coors Light snatched victory at the expense of the 44.7 Lazy Dog, despite a dominant start to the week by the latter.
As Principal Partner of Les Voiles de Saint Barth, Richard Mille is thrilled with the pace at which the regatta has developed after just three editions. The event combines strong technical skills with a competitive spirit and a convivial, fraternal atmosphere. These are values that are dear to the brand, which has been present in the nautical sector for several years thanks to its emblematic RM 025 Tourbillon Chronograph, RM 028 Automatic and RM 032 Automatic Chronograph diver’s watches, all of which are technically sophisticated. Not forgetting, of course, the RM 028 Voiles de Saint Barth Automatic, released in a limited edition of 100 timepieces in tribute to the regatta itself. At the event’s closing ceremony, which took place in the port of Gustavia on Saturday, 7th April, Richard Mille presented an RM 028 Voiles de Saint Barth to George David, overall winner of the Maxi Yachts class sponsored by the brand.
The RM 028 Voiles de Saint Barth combines an exceptional case and skeletonized movement – which have become the hallmarks of Richard Mille watches – with the characteristic elements of a diver’s watch. The RM 028 meets the ISO 6425 standard for diver’s watches, offering water-resistance to 300 meters (30 ATM) and a unidirectional rotating bezel. The deceptively simple case design, featuring a diameter of 47 mm, conceals a wealth of technical expertise. Perfect water-resistance is achieved thanks to a unique tripartite case construction. The three-part bezel is assembled using 22 screws to ensure perfect adjustment, while the mechanism is completed by lugs integrated into the case system. The skeletonized automatic movement of the RM 028 comes equipped with a variable geometry rotor, a concept exclusive to Richard Mille that adapts automatic winding to user activity via the setting of two white-gold arms. The RM 028 Voiles de Saint Barth can be distinguished by its numerous bright yellow details: the crown features a yellow rubber surround, while the same color decorates the bezel and rubber strap. Finally, Les Voiles de Saint Barth logo has been placed on the dial at 8 o’clock.
RM 028 Voiles de Saint Barth Automatic Diver’s Watch
- Functions: skeletonized automatic movement with variable geometry rotor, hours, minutes, seconds and date.
- Diameter: 47.00 mm x 14.60 mm (at its thickest point).
- Available in titanium with titanium lugs and a rubber strap.
