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Best Sailing Watches in 2022 (From Budget to Luxury)

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Best Sailing Watches

Garmin quatix 6 multisport – premium sailing smartwatch.

Read Amazon Reviews | See on Garmin

Tissot “Sailing Touch” Watch – Swiss-Made  

Casio Tide Watch (WS-1100H-4AVCF)

Optimum Time Sailing Watch: Simple Budget Pick

Garmin Quatix 5 

See the  quatix® 5 on Garmin.com | Read Amazon Reviews that mention “Sailing “

If you’re looking for a watch with multisport functions, this should be at the top of your list. Garmin is a trusted brand when it comes to smartwatches for sports, so you’re sure that you’ll have some of today’s best technology. The Garmin Quatix 5 is built on the powerful Fenix 5 platform, a smartwatch designed for use in the water. This is a good option if you want a more affordable version of the Quantix since the price has dropped since the release of the newers version 6.  There really are too many features to name here. If you want a closer look at what’s changed to see which is a better fit – check out this comparison of the Quatix 5 and 6 on Garmin. This powerful GPS marine smartwatch has a heart rate monitor (it’s wrist-based, so you don’t need to use a chest strap). Aside from the boat features, this model also has functions for a wide array of sports (i.e. running, hiking , biking , swimming, etc.) Garmin has dozens of models for different sports and fitness activities, but the reason why the Quantix model made our list is that it has Garmin SailAssist™ Capabilities that allow the user to have a virtual starting line. There is also a tack assist and a race countdown timer. This one is excellent on water, but it’s equally efficient on dry land too. Its simple design is also perfect for daily wear.

SUUNTO Core – All around value

The brand’s sailor-specific watch, the Suunto Elementum Ventus , was one of our top picks in the past but this one is not made anymore, but you may still find second-hand models on the market today. Occasionally one will pop up on eBay . The Suunto Elementum Ventus is a smartwatch with a sleek and sophisticated design, sapphire crystal glass, stainless steel case, and leather strap. The sailing features include a sailing timer, chronograph, compass, and weather predictions.

Garmin MARQ Captain (010-02006-06)

Read Reviews | See on Garmin.com

The Garmin MARQ Captain is an impressive luxury smartwatch filled to the brim with fantastic features for various activities. Along with Garmin’s staple features such as GPS, activity tracker, smart notifications, and Garmin Pay support – the MARQ Captain also provides Driver, Aviator, Expedition, Athlete, and Captain modes. This smartwatch is undoubtedly a masterclass in what these devices can achieve. Design-wise the Garmin MARQ is more oversized than your typical smartwatch. However, this bulkier appearance makes sense considering the MARQ’s build quality and feature-packed design. Also, despite the larger build of the Garmin MARQ, it is surprisingly lighter than you would think, at only 94 grams. In terms of features, the Garmin MARQ offers similar functionalities to the Garmin Fenix 6, and I would even dare say that the MARQ is simply a flashier version of the Fenix 6. However, one of the most notable features in the Garmin MARQ is undoubtedly the Athlete mode. This feature comes with layers of functionality that cover a vast selection of sports such as running, swimming, cycling, skiing, and golf. Besides the variety of sports features, MARQ also offers nifty functions such as a heart-rate sensor, stress tracking, and incident detection that sends notifications to your emergency contacts about your location. I also want to highlight the Recovery feature, which helps you keep track of your rest which can significantly help if you are nursing an injury. For sailing, I have to say that Garmin MARQ provides an unbeatable collection of features for sailors. The MARQ comes with a Regatta feature that helps you formulate the optimum route. The Tack feature also gives you real-time updates on wind shifts. In addition, the Garmin MARQ comes with a Man Overboard function that enables you to track a person who accidentally fell off the boat, which is one of its unique features. Garmin MARQ is undoubtedly one of the top options available in the market as a sailing watch. The Garmin Fenix 6 is a solid sailing watch, but the MARQ Captain is undoubtedly the more stylish of the two.

Ronstan ClearStart Sailing Watch – Budget

Corum Admiral AC One 45 Tides

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II

Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta

Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta

Bremont Regatta AC

[instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BDRRISat_Ld/ hidecaption=true width=320] The Bremont Regatta AC (America’s Cup) is a limited edition model (the company only produced 235 pieces) and is no longer in production. However, you can still try your luck searching for sellers on eBay. It was priced at around $6,800 when it was still available, this is relatively more affordable than the two luxury brands above. This series and a partnership with Oracle Team USA (OTUSA) were released in Baselworld 2016 with much acclaim. A Blog to Watch quoted Oracle Team USA Skipper Jimmy Spithill as saying (about both AC and OTUSA):

“Naturally, we have a central digital clock on the boat but every sailor still likes to have the time on his wrist, and before a race the countdown to the start is critical. It’s a really tough sport both mentally and physically, and not only does the team need to make decisions under immense pressure but we need to have equipment that allows us to do so,” Spithill said. “With the countdown function being so crucial when racing out on the water, we are really delighted that Bremont has invested in this for us and it’s incredibly special for me that the watches also incorporate some of our winning AC72 which I skippered in 2013.”

Some of the main features of the AC include a titanium case material, automatic movement, sapphire glass, and a rubber bracelet. This chronograph timepiece’s sleek, classic design exudes elegance without being flashy.

TNG Classic Tornado Sailing Chronograph

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Citizen Men's Promaster Sailhawk Eco-Drive Watch, Yacht Racing Timer, Chronograph, Polyurethane Strap, Dual-Time, Analog/ Digital Times, Luminous Hands and Markers

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About this item.

• This Promaster Sailhawk timepiece isn’t just stylish, however — it is packed with features like the ability to give the time in 30 cities worldwide, a yacht racing timer, split lap time, a 99-minute countdown timer, and two different alarms.
• Sustainably powered by any light, with our Eco-Drive technology this watch never needs a battery.
• Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Case with Blue Polyurethane Strap
• Retractable Hands and Mineral Crystal
• 200 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty

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Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Sailhawk JR4068-01E

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AN ASPIRATIONAL ADVENTURE

Promaster sea.

Embodying the spirit of adventure in the air, on land or at sea, Promaster watches live up to the values of functionality, durability, and safety while respecting the planet it’s designed to explore.

24-Hour Hand

Switches Location; Shows World Time in 30 Cities

Dual Time (Second Time Zone)

2 Digital Displays Show Multiple Features

A Yacht Racing Timer, A 99-minute Countdown Timer, Two Separate Alarms, Split Lap TImes

Luminous Hands and Markers

Water Resistacne to 200 Meters

1/100 Second Chronograph Measures up to 24 Hours

THE DETAILS

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How long is the coverage on my Citizen Watch?

Your Citizen Watch comes with a five-year, limited coverage. When you register your watch online or through our My Citizen App, you will receive an additional coverage year free, for a total of six years coverage.

How do I set my watch?

If you know your model number, go to our brand website and search or browse for your model. When you're on the product page, the setting instructions are listed at the bottom of the "features" section.

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Setting instructions can be accessed through our website and our My Citizen App (available for iOS and Android). To obtain the instructions specific to your watch, you will need to provide the Movement Caliber Number on your watch's caseback.

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Straps, bracelets and links may be available for certain Citizen watch models. To find out if a replacement strap or part is available for your Citizen Watch, please visit our new self-service portal.

Product details

• Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.22 x 5.2 x 4.17 inches; 1.15 Pounds
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ JR4068-01E
• Department ‏ : ‎ mens
• Batteries ‏ : ‎ 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included)
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2023
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Citizen Watches
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0837P72XQ
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Japan
• #4,896 in Men's Wrist Watches

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 64% 14% 8% 5% 10% 64%
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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 64% 14% 8% 5% 10% 5%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 64% 14% 8% 5% 10% 10%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

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Customers say

Customers like the appearance, quality, and comfort of the watch. They mention it looks and feels good, is an excellent sporty watch, and is resistant up to 200 meters. Some are also happy with the features and comfort. However, some customers have reported that the watch is very difficult to set up and the time setting is difficult. They also dislike the size and differ on the value for money.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the appearance of the watch. They mention it looks and feels good.

"...Would recommend this watch for all of your everyday needs and is very sharp looking ...." Read more

"I love the looks of the watch . I’m glad it’s an Eco drive.It was very difficult to set up, however...." Read more

"...Had to return but refund was very fast!!! The watch itself was very nice looking . Would have kept if we had a users manual and could get it set up." Read more

"This is a really good looking watch packed with a nice feature set, hence, the busy face.Set up is arduous requiring time and patience...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the watch quality. They mention it's an excellent sporty watch for running errands around town or going to the gym. Customers also appreciate the watch's resistance to 200 meters and that it'd be great for water sports.

" Excellent sporty watch for running errands around town or going to the gym." Read more

" Good watch . Good price." Read more

"This is a nice watch with lots of features. The watch is very accurate over time...." Read more

"The watch is fine and, thanks to various videos (not Citizen's), was fairly easy to set up. The watch looks great...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the watch's features. They mention it has great functionality and nice styling.

"This is a really good looking watch packed with a nice feature set , hence, the busy face.Set up is arduous requiring time and patience...." Read more

"This is a nice watch with lots of features . The watch is very accurate over time...." Read more

"This watch has a lot of great features all bundled up into one watch...." Read more

"...Other than that., it keeps perfect time. The features in the watch are nice .I have waited along to own Citizen watch...." Read more

Customers like the comfort of the watch. They say it has a great fit and is comfortable to wear.

"This watch is very accurate and is comfortable to wear not as heavy as some of my other watches...." Read more

"...Great for traveling across time zones, comfortable to wear ...." Read more

"Great watch for the price, very confortable " Read more

"Great fit and comfortable to wear . Glad that I choose the orange over the blue" Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the value for money of the watch. Some mention it's a great value in a quality watch, while others say it looks like a very cheap watch and comes in shabby packaging.

"Good watch. Good price ." Read more

" Came in a cheap cardboard box , looked used. Very hard to set time!" Read more

"...Feature set = robust for the price (4)Subjective overall rating = (3)" Read more

" Horrible watch ...." Read more

Customers find the watch difficult to set up. They mention there are virtually no instructions, and the watch is complicated to operate.

"...I’m glad it’s an Eco drive.It was very difficult to set up , however. And the watchto.com with a manual on how to set up to watch." Read more

"...with it and looked up videos on how to set date/time but never could get it set properly . Had to return but refund was very fast!!!..." Read more

"... Set up is arduous requiring time and patience. You can't just turn the crown to set the time...." Read more

"... Not hard at all to set up the master reset works well when first getting watch to start on. After that very easy to do." Read more

Customers have negative opinions about the time setting of the watch. They mention it's very difficult to set the time, cluttered, and hard to read the digital screens.

"...Watch arrived with all hands spinning, date and time wrong ...." Read more

"...The LCD screens are near impossible to read practically ...." Read more

"...The watch also has a countdown timer , chronograph, two alarms, etc...." Read more

"...the dial is complex and cluttered, and often you can't read the time at your first attempt." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the size of the watch. They mention the display features are too small and the strap is too short.

"Looks and feels good! I just wish the strap in longer , too short for me other than that great timepiece , I get a lot of compliments about it ." Read more

"...in color, design and aesthetics were there-just the size was so disappointing . I had to return the watch as I thought I'd never really wear it...." Read more

"...this watch, could not even figure out how to set the time, display features are too small , had to use a magnifying glass and even then, could not..." Read more

" Strap was too short ." Read more

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The Best Watches For Sailing

A sport as old as sailing, which went unaltered for decades, is currently seeing a technological renaissance thanks to innovation in the sport.

So when it comes to the best sailing watches, it’ll depend on if you are a purist (mechanical) or a modernist (digital/smart sailing watches).

In my 10-year career working in the yachting industry, I have personally used multiple Garmin marine smartwatches, but they aren’t your only option.

This article will take you through the best mechanical sailing watches and digital sailing watches on the market today.

Now, let’s get into it!

🏆 Best Sailing Watch Overall: Garmin quatix® 7 Standard Edition

Key Specs 🗝️ 🗝️ Corning® Gorilla® Glass lens 🗝️ Silicone strap 🗝️ Total weight of 79g 🗝️ Battery life of up to 18 days (smartwatch mode)

If you are unfamiliar with Garmin watches, then here is your introduction to their quatix® marine series. In the world of smart marine watches, these are the holy grail regarding functionality. There is simply no equal to what Garmin produces.

The watch is made to integrate with your Garmin system on board your boat seamlessly. Everything from the chart plotter to the Fusion sound system can be controlled from your quatix® smartwatch.

In terms of design, you get five tactile buttons that each perform various functions and dull color touchscreen capability. And the AMOLED display means you can still read the watch face even in the brightest sunlight conditions.

The watch face/touchscreen is bulky at 1.3 inches, which I’m not a fan of in watches. However, it makes sense in this case because you need to view the outputs. The screen is made with a sapphire scratch-resistant lens.

While the standard edition of the quatix® 7 is a few hundred dollars cheaper, the Solar Edition can harness the power of the sun to increase the battery life up to 37 days (in smartwatch mode). So charging the quatix® 7 Solar is one less thing to remember if you are doing ocean crossings.

A nice feature of the quatix® 7 is the built-in flashlight with four brightness levels. And this doubles as a distress strobe light which is excellent for sailing use cases.

The quatix® 7 will give you alarms like anchor drag and tidal changes. These alarms are relayed from your navigation system. You can also use the quatix® 7 as a remote to manipulate your fixed Garmin boat systems.

Safety & tracking features come standard in the quatix® 7. If an incident is detected, the watch will automatically trigger a notification with your location to your preset emergency contacts. And lastly, the quatix® 7 will even tell the time!

• Alarms for anchor drag and tidal changes
• Integrates with your Garmin system on board
• Good battery life
• Difficult for some users to navigate

🏁 Best Sailing Race Watch/Regatta Timer: Optimum Time Series 3

Key Features: 🗝️ Large 90 o rotating display 🗝️ Adjustable elasticated strap 🗝️ Hard install capability 🗝️ Countdown timer (5;3; and multiples of 1 minute)

There are two schools of thought when it comes to sailing race watches. Some purists will champion a Rolex Yachtmaster. And there are practicalists (is that a word?) that want a stopwatch on their wrist, nothing more.

The Optimum Time Series 3 is just that. It’s large enough to read without glasses and known affectionately around the sailing fraternity as the Big Yellow Watch, among other names.

The Optimum is a firm industry favorite from sailing clubs to Olympic competitors. It’s large enough to be strapped to the boom, so the entire crew knows the start timing.

The elastic strap has enough room to fit a boom, so there is plenty of space for your wrist. The plastic clasp buckle locks the strap securely in place. The watch face will rotate to face the right way if you strap it to your mast.

As for features, you have the bare essentials for regatta sailing. It tells the time (shocker). And there is a countdown start timer in the 5;4;1 sequence. World Sailing standard. Added to that standard, you can set the watch to various countdown increment combinations.

• Designed specifically for use in sailing
• Simple and intuitive interface
• Durable choice for sailors
• Lacks more advanced features

📍 Best GPS Watch For Sailing: Garmin Instinct® 2 Solar

Key Specifications: 🗝️40mm/45mm 🗝️Power Glass™ lens 🗝️Monochrome sunlight-visible display 🗝️1.87oz (53gr) 🗝️Smartwatch mode: Up to 28 days/Unlimited with solar*

The Garmin Instinct® 2 Solar is the best GPS sailing watch on this list and is supported by the GLONASS and Galileo satellite constellations.

But before we get deep into the watch’s technical features, it’s worth pointing out some of the styling options available.

The standard and the camo are the same in every way except for the coloring. The tactical and surf editions are different colors and have additional features. All four models come in 40mm or 45mm diameters, which I like.

The Solar is ideal for boating and features plenty of bells and whistles to aid your time on the water. With a built-in compass to help you navigate as a backup system. Or make it even easier with the trackback function or point-to-point navigation from your wrist.

This digital breadcrumb trail that gets laid down in real-time is an incredibly useful tool for M.O.B. situations when you need to locate a casualty.

The Garmin Instinct® is a multi-disciplinary watch that will track a whole host of other activities you do outside of your time on the water. For the days when you are on the boat, be sure to use the safety & tracking features that come standard.

If an incident is detected, the watch will automatically trigger a notification with your location to your preset emergency contacts.

Lastly, let’s talk about the battery life, which is fantastic on this model. At the lower end (the 40mm), you can expect a minimum of 22hrs when the GPS is engaged and an amazing 21 days in smartwatch mode.

• Different face size options
• Trackback feature
• Multi-disciplinary smartwatch
• Wide range of functions = complexity

🫰 Best Entry-Level Sailing Watch: Gill Stealth Racer Watch

Key Specs: 🗝️ 3.5oz (100grams) 🗝️ Black or orange 🗝️ Buckle/Mount: Nylon 🗝️ Battery Door: PC & 10% GFB

Gill makes some top-quality sailing apparel, and they have introduced their latest watch to the market. It’s a hit for entry-level buyers or beginner sailors needing something capable on the water and sleek enough on the street.

The Gill Stealth Racer watch is made with paddlesports, sailing, and dinghy sailing in mind and will suit anyone participating in those fields.

It’s made with carbon-reinforced ABS plastic front and a stainless steel case back. It is water resistant up to 50m and is shock/impact proof. The primary features include; four countdown modes (such as vibrate mode for a ‘silent countdown’), an audible alarm and alerts, and a backlight.

You can clearly distinguish the functions and modes on the face, and I’m a fan of the larger red button to start/stop the race countdown timer. Additionally, you have a key lock feature to prevent any bumps or knocks from muddling up the race start timer.

The sync timer is a glaring feature that is hard to find on this sailing watch. So if you miss any of the countdown guns, you’ll not be able to sync at the touch of a button.

This would be a deal breaker for serious racers. However, the Gill Stealth Timer does have the sync feature on the face.

Lastly, let’s talk about the modes. And in the Regatta mode is where you will find the SYNC options.

Although you need to press the lap and reset buttons together to match the official countdown. A dedicated button would have been better. You also have a compass mode to aid in navigation.

• The price is attractive
• Can clearly distinguish functions and modes
• No dedicated sync button
• Hard to read in sunlight

🧠 Best Sailing Smartwatch: Garmin quatix® 6 Marine Edition

Key Specs: 🗝️ 47mm and 51mm sizes 🗝️ Corning® Gorilla® Glass DX lens 🗝️ 2.9oz (83 grams) 🗝️ Battery life of up to 14 days (smartwatch mode) 🗝️ 10ATM water-resistant rating

While there is a newer quatix® series on the market (which we spoke about earlier), the 6 is still the leading digital smartwatch for sailing.

The quatix® 6 will give you the exact location of the start line so that you can time your start to perfection every time. Additionally, you have real-time boat data to ensure that you are sailing efficiently from the start line.

The Marine Edition is jam-packed with dedicated features for boaters with unparalleled boat connectivity. It’s compatible with Garmin chart plotters and other devices and will show you data such as current barometric pressure and hourly history.

You can also fully manage the vessel with the auto-pilot control to hold your heading while not helming physically.

The quatix® 6 will enable you to stream a plethora of data on its sizeable colorful display—everything from tidal information to wind speed and much more.

And for racers, there is the option to use the Garmin SailAssist capabilities, which use real-time data to suggest adjustments to your racing strategy on the fly.

Also compatible with Bluechart G3 Coastal Charts and Lakevu G3 Inland Maps, you can set Chartplotter location points with remote waypoint marking.

There is a considerable learning curve attached to this smartwatch when it comes to using all the functions. And it’s easier to use if you have other Garmin products in their ecosystem already on board.

However, it’s worth the effort to learn how to operate the functions, which are definitely helpful and not gimmicky.

• The exact location of the start line
• Compatible with Garmin chart plotters
• Auto-pilot control
• Considerable learning curve

⚙️ Best Mechanical Sailing Watch: TNG Classic Tornado

Key Specs: 🗝️ 42-hour power reserve 🗝️ Dedicated race countdown timer 🗝️ 4.7oz (134 grams) 🗝️ Stainless steel case 44mm Ø

TNG (Tack & Gybe) are Swiss-made mechanical watches made with discerning regatta sailors in mind. There is a considerable price jump when you move into the world of mechanical watches.

You won’t get close to the functionality of what the latest Garmin smartwatch will do. But you will get a superior build quality chronograph in every way.

Tack & Gybe have only been around since 1998, which is nothing in the lineage of Swiss watchmakers, but they have been making quality mechanical watches for sailors since inception.

The face features five dots representing one 1-minute by default and can be adjusted to a 10-minute countdown timer. It makes for a beautiful design suitable for serious racing and meeting sponsors/clients when required.

The Classic Tornado has a power reserve of 42 hours and a water rating of 10ATM

🤑 Best Luxury Sailing Watch: Rolex Yacht-Master II

Key Specs: 🗝️ Oyster Steel case 44mm Ø 🗝️ Rolex 4161 movement with 72-hour power reserve 🗝️ Count down timer 10-minutes 🗝️ 4.7oz (262 grams)

To round out the list, I’ve gone for one of the world’s most celebrated watches (at least amongst watch connoisseurs) ever produced. It’s an all-time classic Rolex in the same breath as the Daytona.

Granted, most of us will never have a spare $18k (give or take) to buy one of these, but it’s still fun to include this magnificent timepiece as the best luxury sailing watch. Although you wouldn’t expect to see this on the wrist of the professional at the America’s Cup , you might see one on the owner of Team USA 17 (Larry Ellison, Oracle).

The Yachtmaster II features a perpetual winding movement known for precision accuracy. In addition, it boasts a 10-minute timer for any regatta race captains to monitor.

A timepiece of this nature is a once-off lifetime purchase, so it’s made to be ultra-durable thanks to its oyster steel construction.

The RYM2 has a power reserve of 72 hours, a 10 ATM water rating, and scratch-proof sapphire crystal glass covering the dial.

Prices begin at around $18,000 and can rapidly increase. Use the button below to try different configurations and see how high you can inflate that price bracket.

🎖️ Our recommendation process

Between the editorial team at Sailing Savvy, we have nearly 20 years’ worth of experience within the yachting industry. We have used gadgets and watches while on the water.

The recommendations we share are 100% impartial and bias-free. We only offer genuine advice on what we have come to know as the best and most reliable sailing watches. And we also strongly advocate that Garmin makes the best watches for sailing and boating.

🧾 Sailors Buyer’s Guide To Sailing Watches

When shopping for a sailing watch or regatta timer, you should take into consideration a few vital elements:

Water Resistance

It’s important to choose a watch or timer that is water-resistant. So look for a sailing watch or timer with a high water resistance rating, such as 100 meters or more. This will help ensure that the watch or timer remains functional.

Sailing and boating, in general, can be rough on your gear and apparel, so it’s important to choose a watch or timer that can withstand the rigors of being on the water. Look for a watch or timer with robust construction and good reviews on its durability.

Functionality

Do you need a watch with a built-in chart plotter or a timer with multiple start/stop functions? Make sure to choose a watch or timer with the features you need, not those you don’t.

The market is saturated with overly gimmicky products claiming to make your sailing experience as smooth and efficient as possible.

What Watch Do Sailors Use?

Sailors can use various watches depending on their specific needs and preferences. Some sailors may prefer a mechanical sailing watch, a type specifically designed for use in sailing regattas. 

Other sailors may prefer a more general-purpose watch, such as a sports watch or dive watch, which can also be suitable for use on the water. Digital watches have other features, such as a built-in GPS, weather information, and even chart plotters, which can be helpful for sailors navigating.

Ultimately, the best watch for a sailor will depend on their individual needs and preferences and may vary based on the type of sailing they do and the specific features they require.

Is The Apple Watch Good For Sailing?

The Apple Watch can be a good option for sailors who are looking for a smartwatch with a range of useful features. It has a built-in GPS and compass, which can be helpful for navigation and tracking your location on the water. The Apple Watch also has a water resistance rating of up to 50 meters, making it suitable for use in wet conditions.

What Do Nautical Watches Do?

Nautical watches, also known as sailing watches, are specialized watches designed for water use. They typically have features such as a built-in GPS, tide information, and other marine information fed in to help sailors navigate. 

They may also have water resistance, countdown timers, and anchor alarms. Nautical watches provide sailors with the information and tools they need to navigate safely and stay on course while sailing.

🗣️ Final Words On Sailing Watches

Ultimately your buying choice will depend on what functionality you need. If you are regularly racing in regattas, then you can’t go wrong with the Optimum Time Series 3, a classic racing timekeeper.

Optimum Time Series 3 Sailing Watch

But if you are more of a general cruiser and you already have Garmin systems, such as Fusion speakers, then the Garmin quatix® 7 Standard Edition is what I would recommend.

Garmin quatix 7 Standard Edition Marine GPS Smartwatch

Written by:

I’m the founder and chief editor here at Sailing Savvy. I spent a decade working as a professional mariner and currently, I mix those experiences with digital publishing. Welcome, and I hope that we can be the hub you need for safe passage.

12 Best Sailing Watches (+4 Luxury Watches)

Sporting a nice-looking sailing watch that also brings massive value can be one of those personal items that you end up keeping for years and years.

Over time, it’s not uncommon to become accustomed to a particular watch of ours that serves one function or another and ends up growing on us. Like that old-school t-shirt, hat, or wallet we’ve kept for years, a watch can stay with us for quite some time.

For a sailor, wearing a sailing watch that has multiple sensors and other functionalities we use by the minute can be extremely useful.

This is especially true if you’re in a situation that demands your attention immediately. Whether your watch has an altimeter, barometer, tide chart, temperature meter, or GPS, it’s good to know we can be in the know with a quick flip of the wrist.

The Best Sailing Watches That Are Actually Affordable

There are some sailing watches out there that can cost an arm and a leg, but I’m less interested in prestige and more interested in the functionality.

Obviously, we want our sailing watches to look good too, so I put together a list of the best sailing watches that not only look great but give a sailor just the right information they need when they need it.

1. Garmin Quatix 6 Multisport Marine Smartwatch

Easily one of the best sailing watches out there is the Garmin Quatix 6 Multisport Marine Smartwatch .

If you’re looking for a digital sailing watch that’s stylish and smart, you’ve certainly found your next one. There are so many useful features built into this watch it’s difficult to summarize!

Apart from the Garmin Quatix 6 having a nice design, it comes with a number of useful features for sailing (and watersports in general).

For one, it has a built-in GPS, altimeter, barometer, and compass that allows you to more easily navigate the waters.

You can also connect it to any of your other Garmin devices via Bluetooth so you can stream any sailboat data instantly across your wrist. It also monitors your heart rate and has a number of sailing apps that can be installed on it!

2. Casio Men’s Pathfinder Triple-Sensor Watch

If you’re looking for an affordable sailing watch that’ll last you a very long time, definitely check out the Casio PRG270 Multi-Sensor Sports Watch .

I’ve owned this watch for many years and have not regretted that purchase for a second. It’s a tough watch that can take some hits and provides all the necessary functionality you’ll need on the water.

One of the best features about this men’s nautical watch is that it’s 100% solar-powered, so I’ve never had to worry about replacing the battery.

Apparently, the battery life can last up to 6 months without a charge! It also has an easy-to-use digital compass, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, backlight, world time, daily alarms, stopwatch, full calendar, and much more. I actually wear my watch literally all the time and it serves many functions in my daily routine.

3. Casio Pro Trek Men’s Stainless Steel Watch

I’d say Casio is one of the better affordable watch brands for sailing out there based on all of the watches I’ve researched.

This stainless steel Casio watch is almost exactly like the Pathfinder, but instead of having a resin strap it has a strap that’s made of titanium.

The price of this nautical men’s watch is a tab bit higher than the Pathfinder, but it probably has a heavier feel to it and it’s potentially more durable. Also, it looks more stylish than the Pathfinder, so you can probably wear it in many different settings.

4. Suunto Core Wrist-Top Computer Multi-Sensor Watch

The Suunto sailing watch brand is quite extensive and they make some really high-quality digital sailing watches for a reasonable price.

One of the coolest smart sailing watches is the Suunto Core Wrist-Top Computer Multi-Sensor Watch . This watch looks very nice and comes in a multitude of colors and strap designs.

This Suunto sailing watch is a bargain for what you get out of it. Not only does it have an altimeter, barometer, and digital compass, but it has a very intuitive and well-designed display that just makes sense.

It’s also water resistant, which is a big plus. The display is so well built that you can even display weather charts along with the other sensor inputs! Truly amazing.

5. Casio G-Shock Men’s Black Resin Sports Watch

As you’ve already probably figured out, I’m a sucker for Casio watches because they’re just so affordable and functional to the core. With that in mind, another fantastic digital sailing watch to check out is the G-Shock Men’s Black Resin Sports Watch by Casio .

As one of the most affordable sailing watches on this list, you’ll get just what you need to stay on top of the basic metrics while sailing.

From measuring the current tide and the moon phases via an intuitive graph to having a world clock at the flick of the wrist, you’ll be in the know.

It’s even water resistant down to 200 meters (600 feet), so a great watch for scuba diving as well.

6. Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer Watch

The look and feel of this nautical watch are very unique and serve as a benchmark for how a sailing watch should be presented.

Apart from the amazing design, this Timex watch is the first one on this list that’s 100% analog. Keeping it simple by never having to worry about battery life can be very handy.

It also has a Perfect Date feature that has the world date and time preprogrammed so you’ll never have to set the date and time again. Very cool!

7. Tissot Sailing-Touch Men’s Multi-Function Watch

Some of the oldest, most trusted watch brands today are Swiss-made, and the Tissot Sailing-Touch Men’s Multi-Function Watch  is a tribute to that reputation.

As an affordable, well-crafted Swiss sailing watch, it’s hard to pass up this great sailing watch for any other.

We’re all aware of the quality that comes with owning a Swiss watch. This Tissot sailing watch comes with a hybrid analog-digital display that delivers information regarding tide, speed, direction, pressure, countdown timer, and more.

Through a clear digital display, you’re able to recall this past data via a chart as well. If you’re looking for quality and functionality, you’ve found the right watch.

8. Casio Pro Trek Tough Solar Digital Watch

Yet again, the Casio watches enter the arena of best sailing watches. This one is great if you can find it in stock: the Casio Pro Trek Tough Solar Digital Watch .

While it’s a tad bit more expensive compared to the previous digital sailing watches we looked at, the reasons will become evident very soon.

Apart from being solar-powered and having all the necessary metrics you want to follow when having a sailing watch, like direction, elevation, pressure, and temperature, you also have an awesome looking display on the watch’s face.

A tide and moon graph can quickly be displayed on the screen and even has an atomic timekeeping feature. This will probably be my next sailing watch.

9. Timex Intelligent Quartz Watch

The look and functionality of this sailing watch are hard to beat and surely provide a lot of value when having it on while out sailing. It’s especially durable as well thanks to its stainless steel body.

This watch by Timex looks amazing and has the basic features that you expect with a good quality sailing watch. While having the standard digital watch features, it also comes with its patented INDIGLO night light for those low light conditions, has a racing chronograph, and is of course water resistant.

10. Nautica Men’s Quartz Resin Silicone Watch

The Nautica watch brand has a lot of really nice-looking watches and one of the more popular ones I’ve seen among those sailing is the Nautica Men’s Quartz Resin Silicone Watch .

This watch has a classic design that’s sturdy and reliable exactly as you’d expect.

While this Nautica watch doesn’t have the same fancy features that the other sailing watches do, I have to bring it up because it’s one of the more popular sailing watches out there.

It does come with a variety of designs and even comes with either a resin, leather, or metal strap.

11. Nautica Men’s Triple-Sensor Watch

This is another one that’s often out of stock. The last Nautica watch we looked at was more of a classic watch, but the Nautica Men’s Triple-Sensor Watch  is in a league of its own.

This watch is specifically tailored to sailors and comes with a sleek design that rivals many other sailing watches.

This Nautica watch comes with multiple sensors, including a compass, a tide tracker, and a thermometer. This combined with its rubber strap makes it a functionally beautiful sailing watch that can handle even the toughest of beatings.

12. Casio Men’s G-Shock Gulfmaster Watch

I promise you this will be the very last Casio watch I show you in this list of the best sailing watches.

One of the coolest Casio digital sailing watches has to got to be the Casio Men’s G-Shock Gulfmaster Watch due to its cool design and extremely useful functionality.

This Casio sets itself apart from the rest of the sailing watches on here because it’s the only one that has the ability to predict weather changes.

With its advanced sensor technology, they’re not only able to measure the standard metrics most sailing watches can measure, but it attempts to predict the future and alert you when necessary. This is a super smartwatch that can absolutely last a lifetime!

4 Luxury Sailing Watches for Superyachters

Now, I’m not in any place to afford any of the following luxury sailing watches, but there’s no doubt that they’re functional pieces of art that would look good on anyone and each can easily fit the category of the best sailing watch. For those superyachters out there, this next list’s for you.

1. Citizen Eco-Drive Men’s Promaster Aqualand Analog Watch

There are few watch brands out there that command immediate respect and awe.

Citizen is one of such brands and it demonstrates that quite effectively with the Citizen Eco-Drive Men’s Promaster Aqualand Analog Watch .

While certainly not the cheapest watch, it’s the most affordable in our superyachters edition.

This Citizen watch is a sight to see. Along with its elegant design, it has the Eco-Drive technology that allows it to quickly charge via the sun and can last a very long time.

It’s also water resistant for up to 200 meters (600 feet) and has the ability to keep track of and record the depth when out diving.

2. Tag Heuer Aquaracer Men’s Watch

We enter the sailing watch space of yet another well-known Swiss watch brand; Tag Heuer. Among the many fancy and expensive yachting watches offered by Tag Heuer, their Aquaracer Men’s Watch  is one of the most beautiful watches on the market today.

The Aquaracer Men’s Watch by Tag Heuer comes with an amazing blue Bezel display illuminated by the luminescent hands and markers on the watch’s face.

This watch requires no charging, solar power, winding, or battery replacement since it’s designed to mechanically self-wind based on your movement.

On top of that, it’s capable of going all the way down 500 meters (1650 feet) so deep scuba sessions are more than welcome.

3. Omega Men’s Seamaster Aqua Terra Stainless Steel Watch

A fantastic watch brand that has a long reputation for quality has to go to Omega, which has come out with the attractive Omega Men’s Seamaster Aqua Terra Stainless Steel Watch  for water dwellers all over the world.

If you’re looking to splurge on a superyachters watch, surely this one won’t disappoint.

This Omega Seamaster yachting watch has an elegant design that’s fitting for any occasion, whether you’re out sailing or dining out.

Its classic stainless steel, silver design gives off a familiar look and is accompanied by a Swiss-certified chronometer to boot. It’s also powered automatically via self-winding, so there’s no need to worry about battery life ever again.

4. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Seadweller Deepsea

This list of luxury sailing watches would not be complete without mentioning the most famous yachting watch brand in the world; Rolex.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Seadweller Deepsea Watch  is the epitome of a high-quality sailing watch with a price tag to match.

The amazing thing about Rolexes is that they don’t really need to be explained in terms of how good they are.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Seadweller Deepsea is one of the most famous luxury sailing watches on the market and comes with a Swiss-certified chronometer that’s self-winding.

On top of that, it’s capable of going down 3900 meters (12,800 feet) underwater! Now that’s deep.

Which Sailing Watch Is Right for You

Sailing watches (or yachting watches) have proven to be a tremendous help out on the water in navigating and planning.

When it comes to a good sailing watch, it’s up to what is best for the individual and how they plan on using it .

Each sailing watch can have its own unique features and intricate designs that set it apart from other watches. So which sailing watch is considered the best based on usefulness and quality?

Most Important Features of a Sailing Watch

Not just any watch is going to cut it when you’re out on the water. You need a timepiece that is going to stand up to the rough conditions that you’ll face, as well as provide important information when you need it.

These include durability, resistance to water, GPS capabilities, and tracking the tide, which most sailing watches have.

All are important for how you plan to sail, so you need a high-quality sailing watch that can handle any situation.

Excellent Durability

Sailing has its moments where it can be tough in the heaviest conditions. A watch that can withstand wear and tear is going to be crucial if you’re spending thousands of dollars on one.

You should consider getting a watch that’s made out of stainless steel and titanium, in particular with a stainless steel case.

The glass also needs to be somewhat shatterproof, as you will need something to handle scrapes and dings.

Superior Water Resistance

You want your watch to be protected from the elements, especially if you’re constantly getting wet while sailing. Each watch will have a different rating on its water-resistant capabilities, which can be confusing since it is measured in meters, atmospheres, or feet.

At a minimum, you need five atmospheres (ATM) or 50 meters of protection. This is equivalent to 160 feet, which is somewhat waterproof and meant for coastal cruising or brief moments in the water.

These are generally less expensive sailing watches, so it is understandable if you’re on a budget and want something to compliment your sailing experience.

If you can afford a step up in quality, you can check out sailing watches that have at least 10 ATMs, which is the same as 100 meters or 300 feet deep of water.

These are the best bang for your buck, as they cover decent depths of water and spray from the ocean.

The best water-resistant watches are 20 ATMs, which are 200 meters or 660 feet.

These are dive-worthy and are the beginning stages of the best sailing watches with high water resistance. Some go even higher to 30 ATMs or 1,000 feet, making them a part of the dive watches family.

Informative GPS

Not only do you want a fashionable and functional sailing watch, but one that has GPS capabilities. You don’t want to rely on old maps that have not been updated for years.

These watches include up-to-date marine information to travel safely along designated routes.

These sail tools alone are worth their weight in gold, especially if you have an older method of navigating the ocean. Some are well advanced to help provide tack assistance to ensure you’re sailing at optimal speeds.

Accurate Tide Tracking

Tide tracking is another useful feature to have in a good sailing watch. A tide tracker can be relatively precise to match the true state of a tide.

While some are very accurate, it is important to know that they are not always 100% correct. Some tide-tracking watches are better than others.

You want one that will give you proper information based on your location to provide the closest possible scenarios.

Types of Sailing Watches

There are a few variations of sailing watches that prove to be useful, with some that sailors absolutely cannot live without.

Each one has its own benefits, so find out what works best for you and how to utilize them in your own sailing goals.

Mechanical Sailing Watches

Mechanical sailing watches are just as they sound, as they don’t have a battery and have a classic look to them.

Some have solar-powered capabilities so you don’t have to worry about changing batteries. They have wind-up or self-winding features to operate and often time are accompanied by a countdown timer.

The best mechanical sailing watches come from Sweden and are manufactured by the top names in the business.

In addition, they have some of the best waterproof capabilities for divers that want to go around 1,000 feet down.

Digital Sailing Watches

Digital sailing watches operate on battery life, while typically having a display to read. They vary considerably depending on how much they cost and the features they provide.

A digital sailing watch is generally affordable for any budget, but only if they are simple in its functionality.

They usually have an LCD screen in the form of a digital display showing the date, time, and temperature. They can even have a countdown timer, multiple time zones, a dual time display, a date window, and much more

One of the best sailing watches is the Garmin Quatix 6  which has an altimeter, barometer, and compass.

It also has Bluetooth, which you could argue makes it a sailing smartwatch too. Definitely one of the more popular sailing watches out there.

Sailing Smartwatches

Sailing smartwatches are very similar to digital sailing watches. They typically have an LCD screen displaying basic information, but their waterproof capabilities are slightly higher.

They have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options to connect to charts, GPS, and other crucial data.

They are even used in competitive sailing races to offer sail racing assistance to track important data for the team or the individual racer.

The Suunto Core Wrist-Top Computer Watch  is one of the best sailing smartwatches out on the water.

It allows you to save navigation data, track boat speed and heading through GPS, and offers multiple pages of information through Wi-Fi. This is a sailing smartwatch powerhouse.

Final Thoughts

Sailing watches are an innovative tool that offers sailors the ability to process information in real-time.

Each sailor can find their own unique function in a sailing watch, whether it be mechanical, smartwatch, or digital.

Since they offer GPS, tide tracking, or a stylish stainless-steel watch that will last for years, a great sailing watch is worth the investment.

There are plenty of affordable sailing watches to fit any budget, so finding one should be simple if you narrow down your criteria.

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15 Best Sailing Watches in 2023, from Affordable to Luxury

Unlike dive watches, most of which share many common technical and aesthetic elements geared toward their intended underwater use, sailing watches and yachting watches are harder to define. Sailing watches range from a simple three-hander with a nautical design influence, one to wear while chilling on the deck of a cruise ship or at the yacht club, to a tool-oriented timepiece geared toward competitive regatta racing, with countdown functions, tides indicators, and other utilitarian features. In this feature, just in time for the closing weeks of summer sailing season, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites in every style, listed from eminently affordable and functional to luxurious and exclusive. 

Timex Intelligent Quartz Tides Watch

Price: $136, Case Size: 45mm, Thickness: 13mm, Lug Width: 16mm, Crystal: Mineral, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Timex Intelligent Quartz Caliber

What mass-market Timex may lack in horological prestige, it makes up for in clever utility with its Intelligent Quartz Tide Temp Compass. What makes this watch’s quartz movement “smart?” Basically, it’s an open-ended tech platform that uses onboard sensors and microprocessors in the movement to drive individual functions on analog displays, providing an array of information from perpetual calendar to world clock to flyback chronograph to an array of nautical-navigation features, which include a tide tracker, compass, and thermometer. The compass incorporates an adjustable declination angle for superior accuracy, and thanks to the steel case’s 100-meter water resistance, the thermometer can be used to measure both air and water temperatures on an analog scale. Another scale counts down from high tide to low tide, while Timex’s proprietary IndiGlo night-light feature, which uses an electroluminescent panel to backlight the entire dial at the push of a button, makes nighttime navigation a breeze.

Bulova Marine Star Series A

Price: $650, Case Size: 45mm, Lug Width: 24mm, Crystal: Mineral, Water Resistance: 200 meters, Movement: Automatic Miyota Caliber 82S5 

Bulova refers to its sporty Marine Star series as “nautically inspired,” and the latest version of its Series A automatic watch would look right at home on the deck of a ship on a summertime cruise. The watch’s hefty, strikingly angular stainless-steel case has brushed finishing with polished accents and secures its water resistance with a screw-down crown. The deep blue bezel is punctuated by six visible screws and frames an eye-catching, sunray-textured dial in the same color. The dial’s unconventional layout includes large, luminescent hands for the hour and minute, off-center seconds on an orange-accented subdial at 4 o’clock, and an “open heart” dial aperture that allows a glimpse of the watch’s inner workings, courtesy of the Japanese-made Miyota caliber, with 21 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve. The Marine Star is mounted on a matching silver-tone stainless steel bracelet with a push-button deployant clasp.

Frederique Constant Runabout

Price: $1,895, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 11.5mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Crystal: Mineral, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber FC 303 (Sellita SW200 base)

Taking inspiration from the classical wooden “Runabout” motorboats built by Milanese boat designer Carlo Riva in the 1920s, Frederique Constant launched its Runabout collection of timepieces in 2009. The Genevan affordable-luxury watch brand began an ongoing partnership with Milan’s Riva Historical Society (RHS), whose mission is to preserve as many of the vintage Runabout boats as possible, and also became a sponsor of the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance, one of the world’s most prestigious showcases of vintage wooden boats, in 2013. Released annually, the limited-edition timepieces in the Frederique Constant Runabout collection feature aesthetic details inspired by their namesake boats and a sapphire exhibition caseback etched with the RHS flag. Each Runabout is part of a collectible ensemble for sailing enthusiasts, packaged in a special gift box alongside a meticulously crafted replica boat. 

Rado Captain Cook Automatic Chronograph Bronze

Price: $4,750, Case Size: 43mm, Thickness: 14.8mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 300 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber R801 (ETA A31.211 base)

Named for a historical sea captain and boasting a crowd-pleasing, 1960s-vintage design language, Rado’s Captain Cook series of divers’ watches has become one of the Swiss brand’s leading collections. The family welcomed its first chronograph models in 2022, and while the classic dive-watch elements are still present in this well-received line extension, this model, with its navy blue dial, matching blue ceramic bezel, and 43mm case made of bronze (a metal historically used in shipbuilding), would find itself very much at home on the wrist of a yachtsman. The chronograph function of the watch’s movement, the ETA-based Rado Caliber R801, can even be pressed into service to help in the timing of a regatta race. The bronze case has a box-shaped sapphire crystal over the bicompax dial and fastens to a blue NATO strap with golden stripes that echo the case and the bronze-colored elements on the dial and bezel.

Corum Admiral 42 Automatic

Price: $4,700, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 10.3mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Corum Caliber CO 395 (ETA 2894-2 base)

The first Admiral’s Cup regatta was run in 1957, and Corum — then a relatively young watch brand, founded in 1955 — supplied the official timepiece of the biennial yacht race three years later. The aptly named Admiral’s Cup watch became an iconic watch for sailing enthusiasts, cleverly deploying colorful nautical pennants, used for signaling during races, at the hour markers. The last Admiral’s Cup took place in 2003, but Corum has continued to update its 1960s classic and has since expanded the original model into a full-fledged collection simply called Admiral. Channeling the spirit of the original Admiral’s Cup most directly is this 42mm Automatic with the 12 pennant hour markers in full color, with openworked dauphine hands, three subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, and a tilted date window at 4:30. The screwed crown, nestled inside protective shoulders, helps ensure a seaworthy water resistance of 100 meters. The automatic movement inside, Caliber CO 395, is an ETA base caliber modified by Corum and offering a respectable 42-hour power reserve.

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Co-Axial Master Chronometer 41mm

Price: $6,300, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 13.2mm, Lug to Lug: 47.9mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 150 meters, Movement: Automatic Omega Caliber 8900

A more understated sibling to Omega’s robust, over-engineered Seamaster Diver and Planet Ocean models, and to some extent harkening back to the original 1948 Seamaster gents’ watch, the Aqua Terra collection eschews the core models’ rotating divers’ bezels and other tool-watch accouterments for a more streamlined style — more suitable for steering a ship than for diving deep beneath one. The Aqua Terra dials are characterized by simple wedge-shaped hour markers inspired by the silhouette of a sailboat, a triangular hour hand paired with an arrow-tipped minute hand, and — as of the most recent revamp of the collection in 2017 — a textured line pattern on the dial that echoes the teakwood deck of a boat. This green-dialed timepiece’s 41mm stainless steel case houses Omega’s Master Chronometer Caliber 8900, which offers chronometric precision, a 60-hour power reserve, and a high degree of antimagnetic protection as it beats behind a clear sapphire caseback.

TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper

Price: $6,750, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 13.9mm, Lug to Lug: 46mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber TH20-06

TAG Heuer (then known only as Heuer) used its popular auto racing watch, the Carrera, as the base for the original Skipper, the company’s first modern sailor’s watch, in 1967. The newly released TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper adopts the vintage-look, bezel-less “glassbox” design of recent Carrera models for its modest, period-appropriate 39mm steel case. The circular-brushed blue dial hosts two sharply contrasting subdials, one at 9 o’clock — in a teal color inspired by the deck of the Intrepid, the yacht once sponsored by Heuer in the America’s Cup — to record 12 elapsed hours; the other at 3 o’clock for the all-important 15-minute countdown to the start of a regatta. The latter subdial is subdivided into three colorful sectors for each five-minute interval — Intrepid Teal, Lagoon Green, and vivid Regatta Orange for the final five minutes. The running seconds and a date window share the 6 o’clock position, both elements that were not present on the historical Skipper. The movement inside is TAG Heuer’s automatic TH20-06, a slightly modified version of the chronograph caliber inside the Carrera, and the navy-blue strap is made of water-resistant textile.

Breitling Exospace B55 Yachting

Price: $7,350, Case Size: 46mm, Thickness: 15.2mm, Lug to Lug: 55.6mm, Lug Width: 24mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 150 meters, Movement: Breitling SuperQuartz Caliber B55

While it is best known for its pilot’s watches, Breitling has broadened its collection to encompass “land, sea, and air” in recent years, and the brand’s most high-tech, utilitarian models for the sea is the Exospace B55 Yachting, a Bluetooth-enabled, device-connected watch for sailors. Powered by Breitling’s thermocompensated, ultra-accurate SuperQuartz movement, the analog-digital watch is chock full of built-in tools for regatta competitors and other nautical professionals, including a chronograph with split times, countdown timers that can be easily reset and re-synched, and alarms with both audible and visible notifications. Racing data and other info can be stored in the model’s memory and displayed on both the digital screen and on that of a connected smartphone. The notched, unidirectional compass bezel on the 46mm titanium case can be used to calculate useful nautical indicators like wind directions, sailing angles, and optimal starting-line positioning.

Panerai Luminor Due Luna Rossa

Price: $7,800, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 10.5mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber P.900

Panerai became the official sponsor of Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team in 2019, and has been making specially branded timepieces in collaboration with the America’s Cup contender ever since, the latest launching in 2023 at Watches & Wonders Geneva. Highlighting the most recent Luna Rossa series is this 42mm model from Panerai’s Luminor Due collection, whose cushion-shaped cases are designed to be thinner and more wearable than the original, bulkier Luminor cases made back in the 1950s for Italian naval commandos.  Its white sandwich-style dial (a Panerai signature) features the Panerai logo at 12 and a Luna Rossa inscription at 6 o’clock, along with numerals and indexes in gray Super-LumiNova, a red-detailed small seconds sundial at 9 o’clock and date display at 3 o’clock. The bimaterial strap in “Luna Rossa gray” combines rubber and textile and features a red stripe with a Luna Rossa logo. The case has the patented crown-protection bridge on the right side and contains the in-house automatic Caliber P.900, endowed with a three-day power reserve.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master Titanium

Price: $14,050, Case Size: 42mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Rolex Caliber 3235

After seducing scuba divers with its robust Submariner dive watch in 1953, Rolex released the more luxurious Yacht-Master in 1992 as a timepiece for sailors and pleasure cruisers, and has been building it as a distinct collection of its own ever since. The newest Yacht-Master, launched in 2023, is the first version of Rolex’s nautical icon with a case made of RLX titanium, a strong, corrosion-resistant, and very lightweight alloy, with a technical satin finish that lends it an intriguing, grained texture. The case, milled from a monobloc, also boasts high-sheen and polished finishing on its other facets. The dial is in Rolex’s “intense” black and sports its own intriguing grained texture. The bracelet is made of titanium as well, with ceramic inserts, and is fitted with Rolex’s Easylink extension system for wearing comfort. Inside the watch is an in-house movement with COSC chronometer certification, Rolex Caliber 3235, packing a 72-hour power reserve and all the patented technology that Rolex fans have come to expect and demand.

Ulysse Nardin Ocean Race Diver Chronograph

Price: $15,700, Case Size: 44mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 300 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber UN-150

A watch maison whose very name conjures up romantic images of seagoing adventure and oceanic exploration, Ulysse Nardin, founded in 1846, carved out its place in Swiss watch history as a revered maker of marine chronometers for many of the world’s navies in the 19th and 20th centuries. Long regarded as the “standard bearer of nautical timekeeping,” Ulysse Nardin is today the timekeeping partner of the Ocean Race, a grueling, worldwide sailing race established in 1973, as well as the Newport, Rhode Island-based 11th Hour racing team that competes in the race. In honor of the event’s 50th anniversary in 2023, Ulysse Nardin released this 100-piece limited edition of its sporty Diver Chronograph in a 44mm case made of sandblasted black DLC titanium and a ratcheting bezel made of Carbonium, UN’s proprietary carbon-based material with a distinctive wavy pattern. Oceanic blue details such as the chronograph hands and hour markers drive home the theme, the same blue used in the Ocean Race logo on the black ceramic element connecting the water-resistant rubber strap to the case. The special 50th-anniversary logo also appears on the caseback, whose sapphire exhibition window offers a view of the self-winding UN-150 caliber, boasting a 48-hour power reserve.

Breguet Marine 5517  

Price: $18,300, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 11.5mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Breguet Caliber 777A

Breguet’s Marine collection, which was revamped in a big way in 2018, pays tribute to the marine chronometers made for the Royal French Navy by the watchmaking manufacture’s founder and namesake, Abraham-Louis Breguet. Combining a sporty aesthetic with Breguet’s legendary luxurious detailing, the three-handed Marine 5517 is one of the few models in a meticulously finished titanium case, with a bracelet designed to continue its smooth lines and caress the curves of the wrist. The 40mm case, with its fluted sides, sculpted lugs, and fluted flanks is enhanced with alternating polished and satin-glossed facets, a luxurious motif continued on the titanium bracelet. The watch’s engine-turned dial sports a crested-wave pattern that adds a hint of nautical flair and features applied Roman hour numerals with luminous five-minute markers. The moon-tipped hands are faceted and polished. Even the movement, Breguet’s automatic Caliber 777A, boasts seafaring visual motifs, like the côtes de Genève texture on the bridges inspired by a ship’s wooden deck, and the rotor shaped like a ship’s steering wheel. 

IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon and Tides

Price: $34,100, Case Size: 44.6mm, Thickness: 13.4mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 60 meters, Movement: Automatic IWC Caliber 82835

IWC’s elegant Portugieser collection was originally created at the behest of a Portuguese client (hence the name) in 1939, and the Schaffhausen brand launched the sportier, maritime-focused Yacht Club models in 1967. In 2010, the Yacht Club was revamped as part of the Portugieser family, and the recently released Moon and Tides edition, one of the few Yacht Club models in a gold case, speaks directly to yachting enthusiasts and racers with its on-theme tides display function, powered by the   in-house, automatic Caliber 82835. Its utilitarian features include the subdial at 6 o’clock on the bright navy-blue dial, which indicates the expected times for the next high and low tides, and a double moon-phase display at 12 o’clock, which shows spring and neap tides as well as information about the strength of the current tides. The movement, with its specially developed tides module, beats behind a sapphire caseback and incorporates IWC’s Pellaton winding system, which uses high-tech ceramic components and stores a 68-hour power reserve. The watch is mounted on a blue textile strap that echoes the maritime colors of the dial.

Vacheron Constantin Overseas

Price: $54,500, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 11mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 150 meters, Movement: Automatic Vacheron Constantin Caliber 5100

Tracing its aesthetic roots to a fondly remembered sport-luxury watch that Vacheron Constantin released in the 1970s — the 222, recently resurrected in a Historiques Edition — the sailing-inspired Overseas has become a versatile and popular cornerstone of the brand’s current lineup. The most recent revamp in 2016 brought the core Self-Winding model’s overall dimensions to a slightly more restrained level — 41 mm, down from 42 mm, and a relatively slender 11mm thick. The watch’s six-sided bezel takes its cues from Vacheron’s Maltese cross emblem, as does the 18k rose-gold bracelet, and in keeping with the modern identity of the Overseas, the bracelet can be easily interchanged with a blue alligator leather or blue textured rubber strap also provided by the brand. Beating behind the sapphire exhibition caseback is the movement, the in-house automatic Caliber 5100, whose visual signature is the 22k gold rotor which is decorated with a nautical instrument called a wind rose.

Harry Winston Ocean Collection Project Z15

Jeweler/watchmaker Harry Winston tends to aim for the very high-end consumer in even its sportiest timepieces, most of which reside within the sailing-inspired Ocean collection. The signature feature of the Project Z15 model, unveiled in 2021, is its regulator-style dial, with separate hands and scales for the hours and minutes. Its design is based on that of 18th-century pendulum clocks that regulated portable timepieces like the chronometers and pocket watches worn on seafaring missions, The “Z” in the model name is for Zalium, the proprietary zirconium-based material that Harry Winston uses for the 42.2mm satin-brushed case. The crown guard takes its cues from the arches of the famous Harry Winston boutique in New York City; the shapes on the openworked dials reference the silhouettes of New York skyscrapers and suspension bridges; and the blue used in the dial details, and the stripe on the textile-effect black rubber strap, has a dual aesthetic symbolism, calling to mind both the oceans of the watch’s name and the legendary blue Hope Diamond that made Winston’s name as a jeweler. The self-winding haute horlogerie Caliber HW3207 beats behind the sapphire caseback of this 300-piece limited edition.  

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Buyer's Guide: The Best Sailing Watches For Every Yachtie's Collection

Whether you're speeding around a regatta course or just checking the time until dinner, no superyacht owner's wardrobe is complete without a sailing or dive watch . But with so many great yachting timepieces to choose from, how do you pick? We've rounded up the classics that every yacht lover should know about. We've also rounded up a selection of the best modern sailing watches here .

What is a sailing watch?

Varied in style, sailing watches are predominantly racing watches, used to calculate speed and distance when racing boats. Traditionally, they featured chronographs and countdown timers to measure said speed and distance, encased in a durable, water resistant case to withstand harsher elements. Sometimes sailing, or yachting watches feature compasses, barometers and tachymeters.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II

Designed specifically for professional sailors, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II is an icon of regatta racing. Incorporating the Oyster’s classic steel and rose gold bracelet, the world’s first programmable countdown for that crucial race starting sequence and a marine-themed Ring Command bezel which works in conjunction with the internal mechanism, this is the quintessential nautical timepiece.

Case:  Steel, 44mm Bracelet:  Steel and 18ct Everose gold Movement:  Self-winding calibre 4161 Complications:  Regatta chronograph with programmable countdown, synchronisation and stop-seconds dial at 6 o’clock Waterproof:  100 metres

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph

Perhaps best known as one of the  best James Bond watches,  the Omega Seamaster Diver has been relied upon by divers for accurate timing both above and below the water for decades. First launched in 1948 for the French Navy Seals, the current models have been upgraded with Co-Axial calibres, bold colours and new functions to create timepieces that offer both style and substance.

Case:  Steel, 44mm Bracelet:  Steel Movement:  Self-winding calibre Omega 3330 Complications:  30 minute recorder, 12 hour recorder, small seconds dial, date Waterproof:  300 metres

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique

Released before either of its Rolex or Omega rivals, the  Blancpain Fifty Fathoms  is one of the oldest diving watches still available. It is now offered in no fewer than 30 models – including one of the  best women's diving watches  – but it is the Automatique version with its black barrenia strap reminiscent of the early 1950s models that remains a classic.

Case:  18ct red gold, 45mm Strap:  Sail canvas Movement:  Self-winding calibre 1315 Complications:  Date Waterproof:  300 metres

Tag Heuer Aquaracer 300M Chronograph

Launched in 1982, the Tag Heuer Aquaracer may not boast the extensive heritage of other classic sailing watches but, thanks to its slightly less daunting price tag, is still one of the most popular timepieces on the regatta circuit. An understated aesthetic with either black or navy dials, and a no nonsense approach to functions that work effectively without unnecessary complication, make the Aquaracer ideal for the yacht owner who’s all business when on board.

Case:  Steel, 43mm Bracelet:  Steel Movement:  Quartz Complications:  Date, small seconds dials, counters for split seconds, minutes and hours Waterproof:  300 metres

**Breitling Superocean **Heritage Chronometer 44mm

Better known as a maker of pilot’s watches, the Superocean may be the only sailing watch in Breitling’s stable but that does not mean it should be overlooked. Water-resistant up to a seriously impressive 500 metres, the latest additions to the line include models with smaller 36mm case sizes, brightly coloured dials and bold retro-styling - the Automatic 36 is one of the best.

Case:  Steel, 44mm Strap:  NATO Movement:  Breitling 13 automatic chronograph movement Complications:  Date Waterproof:  200 metres

Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback

At 44mm, the Panerai Luminor 1950 is certainly one of the largest classic diving watches around. Sporting the retro shape and design of its mid-century ancestors, this timepiece may only be water resistant to 100 metre but what it lacks in air tightness it certainly makes up for in style. The large dial means room for oversized numerals with impressive luminosity as well as small seconds and chronograph hour counter sub dials.

Case:  Titanium, 44mm Strap:  Black leather Movement:  P.9100 calibre Complications:  Small seconds, chronograph flyback, seconds reset Waterproof:  100 metres

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The Best Watches for Sailors: A Guide to Choosing the Right Timepiece for Your Next Sailing Adventure

• The Best Watches for Sailors: A Guide to Choosing the Right Timepiece for Your Next Sailing Adventur

Sailing is a thrilling and rewarding activity that requires skill, experience, and the right equipment. Whether you are a beginner skipper or a seasoned sailor, you need a reliable watch that can help you navigate, monitor the weather, and keep track of time. But what makes a good sailing watch? And how do you choose the best one for your needs?

In this blog post, we will explore some of the features and benefits of different types of sailing watches, from simple analog models to advanced digital ones. We will also give you some tips on how to find the best sailing watch for your budget and style.

What to Look for in a Sailing Watch

A sailing watch is not just a fashion accessory. It is a functional tool that can enhance your sailing performance and safety. Here are some of the key features to look for in a sailing watch:

Water resistance : This is a must-have feature for any sailing watch. You want a watch that can withstand splashes, rain, and even immersion in water. The water resistance rating of a watch is measured in atmospheres (ATM) or meters (m). A watch with 10 ATM or 100 m water resistance can handle swimming and snorkeling, while a watch with 20 ATM or 200 m water resistance can handle diving and scuba diving. For sailing, we recommend a watch with at least 10 ATM or 100 m water resistance.

Durability : A sailing watch should be able to withstand shocks, scratches, and corrosion. You want a watch that has a sturdy case, a scratch-resistant crystal, and a durable strap or bracelet. Some materials that are suitable for sailing watches are stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, rubber, silicone, and nylon.

Visibility : A sailing watch should be easy to read in any lighting condition. You want a watch that has a large face, clear numerals or markers, and luminous hands or backlighting. Some watches also have anti-reflective coating on the crystal to reduce glare.

Accuracy : A sailing watch should keep accurate time and date. You want a watch that has a quartz movement or a GPS synchronization feature. Quartz watches are powered by batteries and have very low deviation from the actual time. GPS watches are connected to satellites and automatically adjust to the correct time zone.

Functionality : A sailing watch should have some useful functions that can help you with sailing tasks. Some of the common functions that sailing watches have are:

• Chronograph : This is a stopwatch function that can measure elapsed time, lap time, and split time. You can use it to time your maneuvers, races, or drills.
• Countdown timer : This is a function that can count down from a preset time to zero. You can use it to start your races, synchronize with other boats, or plan your route.
• Regatta timer : This is a special type of countdown timer that has multiple stages. It can help you prepare for the start of a race by giving you audible or visual signals at different intervals.
• Compass : This is a function that can show you the direction of north or your heading. You can use it to navigate, orient yourself, or follow a course.
• Barometer : This is a function that can measure the atmospheric pressure. You can use it to predict the weather changes and plan accordingly.
• Altimeter : This is a function that can measure the altitude above sea level. You can use it to estimate your position or avoid obstacles.
• Thermometer : This is a function that can measure the temperature of the air or water. You can use it to monitor the weather conditions or your comfort level.
• Tide graph : This is a function that can show you the tide levels and phases at different locations and times. You can use it to plan your sailing activities according to the tide cycles.
• Moon phase : This is a function that can show you the moon phases and illumination at different times. You can use it to plan your sailing activities according to the moonlight.

Read our top notch articles on topics such as sailing, sailing tips and destinations in our  Magazine .

The Best Sailing Watches for Different Types of Sailors

Depending on your level of experience, preference, and budget, you may want different types of sailing watches. Here are some of the best sailing watches for different types of sailors:

• For beginner skippers : If you are new to sailing and want a simple and affordable watch that can help you learn the basics, you may want an analog sailing watch with water resistance, durability, visibility, accuracy, and a chronograph function. A good example of this type of watch is the Timex Yacht Racer Pro (https://www.timex.com/yacht-racer-pro/TW2U01400.html), which has a 10 ATM water resistance, a stainless steel case, a mineral crystal, a silicone strap, a quartz movement, and a chronograph function with a yacht racing mode.
• For experienced sailors : If you are an experienced sailor and want a versatile and reliable watch that can help you with various sailing tasks, you may want a digital sailing watch with water resistance, durability, visibility, accuracy, and multiple functions. A good example of this type of watch is the Garmin Quatix 6 (https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/669467), which has a 10 ATM water resistance, a fiber-reinforced polymer case, a sapphire crystal, a silicone strap, a GPS movement, and multiple functions such as compass, barometer, altimeter, thermometer, tide graph, moon phase, and more.
• For adventurous sailors : If you are an adventurous sailor and want a sophisticated and advanced watch that can help you with challenging sailing scenarios, you may want a smart sailing watch with water resistance, durability, visibility, accuracy, and connectivity. A good example of this type of watch is the Suunto 9 Baro Titanium (https://www.suunto.com/en-us/Products/sports-watches/Suunto-9-Baro/Suunto-9-Baro-Titanium/), which has a 10 ATM water resistance, a titanium case, a sapphire crystal, a textile strap, a GPS movement, and connectivity features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and mobile app.

A sailing watch is an essential accessory for any sailor who wants to improve their sailing skills and enjoy their sailing adventures. By choosing the right sailing watch for your needs, you can benefit from its features and functions that can help you navigate, monitor the weather, and keep track of time. Whether you are looking for a simple analog watch or a sophisticated smart watch, there is a sailing watch for you.

We hope this guide has helped you understand what to look for in a sailing watch and how to choose the best one for your needs. If you are interested in renting a sailboat for your next sailing vacation, visit www.yachting.com to find the best deals and offers. Happy sailing! 

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our  range of charter boats  and head to some of our favourite sailing  destinations .

FAQ Choosing the best watches for sailing

What are the main features to look for in a sailing watch?

A sailing watch should have water resistance, durability, visibility, accuracy, and functionality. These features can help you with sailing tasks such as navigation, weather monitoring, and timekeeping.

What are the different types of sailing watches?

There are analog sailing watches, digital sailing watches, and smart sailing watches. Analog watches are simple and affordable, digital watches are versatile and reliable, and smart watches are sophisticated and advanced.

How do I choose the best sailing watch for my needs?

To choose the best sailing watch, you need to consider your level of experience, sailing activities, style, and budget. For example, if you are new to sailing, you may want an analog watch. If you are experienced, you may want a digital watch. If you are adventurous, you may want a smart watch.

What are some of the best sailing watches for different types of sailors?

Some of the best sailing watches are:

• For beginner skippers: Timex Yacht Racer Pro, which has a chronograph function with a yacht racing mode.
• For experienced sailors: Garmin Quatix 6, which has multiple functions such as compass, barometer, altimeter, thermometer, tide graph, moon phase, and more.
• For adventurous sailors: Suunto 9 Baro Titanium, which has connectivity features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and mobile app.

The 13 Best Sailing Watches For Serious Sailors 2024

Looking for the best sailing watches.

The best watches for sailing have to tick a lot of different boxes in this day and age. Gone are the days when you just wanted a sailing watch that could tell the time accurately.

Sailing watches these days are PACKED with different features and will do a whole lot more than let you know when it’s time to drop the anchor for lunch.

If you’re shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect sailing gift for someone else, then we have a range of great options that cater to both style and function.

Let’s have a look at what the best watches for sailing can do for you.

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Table of Contents

• Garmin Quatix 6
• Suunto Core
• Garmin Instinct
• Timex Intelligent Quartz Watch
• Ronston Clear Start
• Tissot Sailing-Touch Watch
• Omega Speedmaster Racing Automatic Chronograph
• MARQ™ Captain Modern Tool Watch
• Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Automatic Chronometer
• Panerai Luminor Marina
• Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra
• Bulova Marine Star Chronograph
• Frederique Constant Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown
• What makes a great sailing watch?

The Best Watches For Sailing

We’ve found the best watches for sailing in the market. These make the perfect present, or why not treat yourself? They all come with great features that will make sailing even more fun and enjoyable.

#1 Garmin Quatix 6

Although being one of the most expensive sailing watches on our list at nearly $600, we had to include the Garmin Quatix 6 , as it really is one of the best currently on the market.

This really is a whole lot more than just a watch, with features for every type of sport on the water including diving.

Bluetooth functionality means you can connect it to a Garmin chartplotter using the free Garmin Connect app. You can also connect it to other makes of plotter using the Garmin transceiver for $150 extra. This allows all the features of your chartplotter to be displayed on the watch, including charts and even autopilot control if that’s connected to your chartplotter.

It comes with p reloaded apps for boating tides and many features for race sailors including a race countdown timer. It even includes preloaded topographic maps, including ski maps ! We told you this watch really does have it all.

The Quatix 6 has a choice of displays to you can customise your sailing watch, and can also be switched between analogue and digital. You can get it with a plastic strap or stainless steel, but we prefer the plastic as it’s a lot lighter!

It receives e-mail and texts just as any smartwatch, can be used to control music on board, is waterproof to 100 meters, is sunlight-readable, and comes with night light. The Quatix 6 even monitors your heart rate (great for showing your other half just how stressed you get when mooring the boat!)

The battery version lasts around 14 days between charges or you can get a solar-powered version for double the price. This is a do-anything watch perfect for anyone serious about sailing and adventure sports.

✅ Buy Now from Amazon

#2 Suunto Core Watch

While not quite as fancy as the Garmin sailing watch above, the Suunto Core is still packed with a wide range of features that make it a practical and useful tool for days out on the water (and with a much softer price tag of around $150!) If you’re looking for a more affordable watch for sailing then this is a great choice.

It comes with a compass, barometer, and weather forecasting features like a storm alarm to keep you in the know of current conditions in your area. It has duel times for long-distance sailing and useful extra features like predicted sunrise and sunset times. This watch is suitable for freediving, recording depths accurately to 30 feet.

Suunto watches have a great reputation among adventure lovers. These Scandanavian designs are made to last even in tough conditions. It’s not a small watch but this actually makes it a lot easier to use, and we like the fact it isn’t too heavy. For a sailing watch on the cheaper end of the spectrum, you can’t go wrong with the Suunto Core.

#3 Garmin Instinct

Garmin’s more affordable product to make our best watches for sailing list is the Garmin Instinct watch. Garmin call this their outdoor watch, and although it doesn’t have as many fancy features as their Quatix 6, it’s still a fantastic sailing watch.

It’s co nstructed to U.S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock, and water resistance (rated to 100 meters) so it will withstand being thrown around at sea. It has a built in 3 axis compass and barometric altimeter, plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, Glonass, and Galileo).

It also has smartphone connectivity so can receive e-mails and texts, and can control smartphone music. It has a thermometer and a heart-rate monitor.

#4 Timex Intelligent Quartz Watch

This might not be up there with the smart sailing watches but for anyone wanting a bit of old-fashioned class from their sailing watch the Timex Intelligent Quartz is one of your best (affordable) choices. This watch will look good both on and off the water and comes with some useful sailing features too!

The tide tracker counts down to high or low tide, it has a thermometer to measure air & water temperature and an analog compass. The dial lights up for night sailing and it’s water resistant to 100m (though note that they recommend it for snorkelling and swimming rather than diving).

✅ Buy Now on Amazon

#5 Ronstan Clear Start Sailing Watch

The Ronstan Clear Start Sailing Watch is designed with race sailors in mind and is a popular choice for those wanting something reliable and purpose-built.

The textured buttons are easy to locate and the numbers are big enough to see at a glance. The multi-line display enables you to see the time and timer together and there’s a backlight option, which is useful in bad lighting or adverse weather conditions.

The SYNC feature quickly synchronises the timer if it’s missed the count-down sequence by a few seconds and the pre-programmed race audible sequence provides a count-down signal so you don’t have to look down.

✅ Buy Now from West Marine

#6 Tissot Sailing-Touch Watch

The Tissot Sailing-Touch is designed with sailors in mind. Its stainless steel case and rubber strap make it rugged and it’s water-resistant to 200 meters.

You can choose 2 time zones for long-distance sails, it has a tide tracker, temperature, and compass.

For race sailors, the REGATTA function consists of a countdown that can be set from 0 to 10 minutes and is used as a timer for the departure procedure of a regatta. When the countdown reaches zero, it transforms into a racing chronograph.

#7 Omega Speedmaster Racing Automatic Chronograph

This is one classy watch by Omega, who make some of the best on the market.

In a stainless steel case with a fixed black aluminum-filled bezel showing tachymeter markings, and a black dial with luminous silver-tone hands, you’ll certainly get compliments on this new addition to your wardrobe.

But what about sailing features? This chronograph watch has three sub-dials displaying 60 seconds, 30 minutes, and 12 hours. It is water resistant to 100 meters, so it will cope with all the salt water you can spray at it, and the scratch resistance is a great feature too.

✅ Buy now from Amazon

#8 MARQ™ Captain Modern Tool Watch

This watch has all the gadgets, but still looks great.

You’ll find a revolutionary regatta timer enhanced with GPS technology which pinpoints the start accurately. There is a tack assist and a man overboard button for the helmsman and it’s water resistant to 100 meters.

It has preloaded marine mapping with GPS navigation, maritime profiles and weather forecasts, including storm alerts and home port conditions.

If the gadgets don’t win you over then the exquisite nautical details will. With navy ceramic bezel and jacquard-weave strap made by artisans in the south of France you’re going to look the part no matter where you are.

✅ Buy now from West Marine

#9 Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Automatic Chronometer

We love the look of this watch, it’s so classic and timeless. With a stainless steel case and a blue (alligator) leather strap, fixed coin edge stainless steel bezel and blue dial with silver-tone spade-shape hands and Roman numeral hour markers, this watch really looks the part both on and off the water.

It’s water resistant to 50 meters, scratch resistant and has roughly 60 hours power reserve. This watch is pure luxury, and perfect for sailors who want to look the part.

✅ Buy now on Amazon

#10 Panerai Luminor Marina

The Panerai Luminor Marina is a classic sailing watch with modern features. It looks great whether you’re wearing it out sailing or to work, as it doesn’t have the sporty look of some of the other modern sailing watches.

It has an oversized crown that’s easy to grip, even with wet fingers. It’s water resistant to 100 meters.

#11 Omega Seamaster Aqua Terre

Omega really do make incredible watches, and the seamaster Aqua Terre is no exception. You don’t need to see this watch close up to know it’s a step above the rest.

The finishes are impeccable and this stylish watch lands somewhere between sporty and classic, so it goes with every outfit.

This watch has a 150-meter depth rating, a 60-hour power reserve, and a resistance to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 Gauss.

If you’re looking for the perfect watch for days out sailing and every day wear then look no further.

#12 Bulova Marine Star Chronograph

The Bulova Marine Star Chronograph Watch is designed with a gold-tone stainless steel case with rotating dial ring to measure elapsed time. It has some beautiful details, like the red stitching on the blue leather and silicone strap, and the three-piece buckle closure.

It features a six-hand chronograph and is water resistant to 100 meters, so is perfect for days on or in the water.

#13 Frederique Constant Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown

The  Frederique Constant Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown  is one of the more simple and elegant watches on this list. It has a simple sophistication that goes perfectly from yacht to dinner to business.

Featuring a rose gold-plated polished stainless steel case with navy blue dial with guilloché decoration and applied rose gold-plated luminous indexes, and hand polished rose gold-plated hour, minute, orange second hands, this watch looks good on anyone.

It has an automatic FC-380 caliber with a 48-hour power reserve and a 100-meter depth rating.  

What Makes The Best Watches For Sailing?

Rugged Watches For Sailing

A watch used on the water is often exposed to harsh elements for long periods of time. The number one requirement of a watch for sailing is that it can stand up to any weather condition thrown at it.

Look for waterproof and shockproof watches that will withstand the various knocks it’s bound to get out at sea!

Features Of A Sailing Watch

Depending on what you plan on using your sailing watch for (day sailing, cruising, racing), you may not see some of these features as necessary. But here are a range of different tools you can look for in a sailing watch to help you find the perfect one for you.

• Chronometers – For ultimate accuracy. 
• Countdown Timers  – especially useful for race sailors to help them countdown to the start of a race.
• Compass  – an essential item on any boat, a compass remains a reliable navigation tool in case your electronic system malfunctions. 
• Barometer  – this tool shows the variations in air pressure and can help with predicting upcoming weather conditions and storms. 
• Tide information  – a tool that can help you keep track of the ebb-and-flow of the ocean. 
• Multiple time zones  – for longer expeditions when the vessel is crossing into different time zones.  

Sailing Watch Strap

This might seem like a strange thing to include, but a decent strap could make the difference between a watch that stays on your wrist, or one that falls overboard! If you’re going to invest in a decent watch for sailing then you’ll want to be sure it will stay on you at all times!

Most watches have soft, rubber, synthetic wristbands, which are considered more sustainable than either leather or stainless steel in the sailing environment. Rubber straps are also lighter than stainless and easier to adjust.

You’ll find that the most expensive sailing watches tend to feature a mixture of leather and synthetic wristbands, to add class for a watch that can be worn both on and off the boat.

Conclusion: The Best Sailing Watches

The best watches for sailing don’t have to have all the modern fancy features and there are plenty of affordable options out there that will provide you with the basic tools you need for a safe and enjoyable day out on the water.

For those among you that spend a little more time out at sea, there are some very advanced watches for sailing out there that should make your life on the water a whole lot easier!

If you’re looking for a more detailed review of sailing gear must haves then we’ve got you covered!

We really hope you found what you were looking for in this article. If you found this post useful then please do share and check out some more of our sailing articles below.

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Why Tudor’s First Carbon Watches Are Perfect for Professional Yacht Racing

We spent two days embedded with the Alinghi Red Bull team as Tudor dropped two new Pelagos models in the ultralight material.

By Allen Farmelo

Ultra-light carbon fiber and titanium encasing high-precision machinery ready to perform in the most demanding scenarios using only human power — these words can describe both the Alinghi Red Bull Racing America’s Cup sailboat and the new Tudor Pelagos FXD watches created to celebrate the Swiss sailing team’s attempt to reclaim the world’s oldest international racing title. Tudor is now a sponsor of the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team, marking a new chapter for the storied Swiss watch brand.

The physical similarities between the high-tech boats and these new Tudor Pelagos FXDs in carbon lend the partnership a tangible edge over the mere sharing of brand logos, which can feel spurious to us watch enthusiasts. After spending two days watching the Alinghi Red Bull racing boats in action as well as studying the boats up close, I came to view the new Pelagos FXDs as small horological versions of these fascinating sailing machines.

Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Watches

The two sporty, feather-light, high-precision chronometers (rated to the COSC spec of -4 / +6 secs/day but Tudor regulates to -2/+4 secs per day) seem to float on the wrist. These watches feel physically connected to the enterprise of pushing technology and knowledge in the service of the highest performance possible, which is exactly what the America’s Cup is all about. But, as a watch enthusiast first and a sailing fan second, I can also say that these carbon Pelagos FXD models are super cool watches even if we ignore the sailing connection, and they extend Tudor’s Pelagos range in daring new ways.

These are the first carbon fiber watches from either Tudor or its parent company Rolex, and the 43mm chronograph is the first Pelagos to feature the stopwatch complication. Impressively, the chronograph measures just 13.6mm thick, which is quite thin for a chronograph with 200m of water resistance. The 42mm time-only model is just 12.75mm thick, foregoes the date complication, and feels on wrist like a lighter version of the original Pelagos Titanium FXD of 2022, which Tudor created for the French Navy’s combat divers.

FXD is short for “fixed,” which refers to the fact that the case has slots for the pass-through strap, rather than holes for mounting flimsy spring bars. Watches configured this way date back to WWI military units with welded lugs in order to stay put in the most demanding conditions. Further distinguishing the Pelagos FXD models is the countdown timing scale on the bi-directional rotating bezel. (To be clear, though the Pelagos is conceived for diving, these are not technically dive watches , which require unidirectional bezels that count up, not down.)

Where the previous titanium FXD for the French Navy was focused on timing legs of an underwater navigation route set with a compass, the countdown bezel of the new Alinghi Red Bull carbon Pelagos FXD can be used for various timing tasks when sailing, most notably the start of the race, a notoriously tense 10 minutes. Some may wonder why Tudor didn’t include a “yacht timer” 10-minute countdown complication, and the answer is that the sailing team maintains no pretenses of using a mechanical watch to time the start of the America’s Cup.

To get a sense of how off-base such a pretense would be, consider that these sailors are tucked into tiny cockpits while wearing helmets equipped with noise-canceling radio headsets for all communications while racing. In other words, these sailors are long past the days of start guns, stopwatches and yelling times out across the deck.

As one Tudor representative told me, the Alinghi Red Bull team asked for an excellent watch that could withstand the daily abuses of working toward the goal of winning the America’s Cup. Those tasks range from actually sailing for a couple hours each day, to sanding down fins and blades, deconstructing and rebuilding the boats, stepping the carbon fiber mast, tensioning the rig and enduring rigorous daily physical training.

The larger boats that contend for the America’s Cup are powered only by humans and wind. What the wind does is obvious, but where human power formerly went directly into winching the sails, today’s teams use their legs to pedal power into elaborate hydraulic systems that not only trim the sails but also lift, lower and adjust the hydrofoils on which the boats rise out of the water and ride at over four times the speed of the wind. Like today’s watches, today’s sail boats have come a long way.

The boats are high-tech marvels that rival Formula 1 racing cars in terms of pushing the boundaries of speed through material science, computer-aided performance analysis, aero- and hydrodynamic design and more. The technology and know-how is so advanced that one of the racing team’s representatives told me: “Some people don’t even consider it sailing anymore.” But out on the water cruising alongside these boats with their impressive hulls, masts and sails, I find it difficult to call this anything other than sailing — however untraditional the boats may appear when skimming at remarkable speeds up on their foils.

This is why the watches seem so compellingly aligned with the boats: both are pushing material science and precision machining to the limits, and both are coming up with very modern versions of machines that have been a big part of human endeavors for centuries. The basic mechanical concepts remain the same, but the technical execution is downright avant-garde.

While much of Tudor’s catalog celebrates the brand’s heritage with retro-inspired models (most notably the Black Bay series ), the Pelagos has always seen Tudor looking forward. That’s not to say the Pelagos doesn’t incorporate essential elements of vintage Tudor – the snowflake hands and square markers are derived from 20th-century Tudors, for example – but there’s no question that the Pelagos is Tudor’s platform for pushing design and technology, and no Tudor has been as tech-forward as these two carbon Pelagos FXD models.

The two watch designers who I met with in Barcelona confirmed that the design brief for these new Pelagos models was to move beyond anything Tudor has done to date while still maintaining the core ethos of the brand. It’s not an easy design brief, especially when one factors the Alinghi Red Bull team into the equation.

I was curious how closely the watch designers work with the manufacturing team responsible for making the final technical drawings, and it turns out everyone works together closely in an open work space. The mechanical viability of an aesthetic idea can be checked in a moment by simply calling to a colleague across the room. Working closely in this way, the team took about eight months to get the design ready for production. Not bad for a first go with carbon fiber.

On the wrist, both models feel exceptionally light, and the excellent Velcro straps by Julien Faure, a famous French ribbon maker, are the perfect compliment to these ultra-light watches. I’ve often found carbon watches with rubber straps a bit unbalanced because the rubber is heavy. I’ve also found carbon and ceramic bracelets to rattle like plastic. The textile solution Tudor has extended across many of its watches is ideal. The watch stays put, and it looks just as good as it feels wrapped around the wrist. Very light and very sporty.

It’s worth noting that both the 43mm chronograph and the 42mm time-only models wear much smaller than their diameters might suggest. The relative thinness of both models is an obvious boon to comfort, as is the light weight, but the shape of the case, the flat crystal and the snug fit of the strap all combine to make the watches exceptionally easy to wear.

Some have complained about the chapter-ring timing scale being interrupted for the “Alinghi Red Bull Racing” text, but for me it’s a far better solution than, say, slapping a logo on the dial. This text is similar to many Rolex watches that feature text on the chapter ring, and I find it to be a sporty reminder of why this watch exists. Maybe we’ll get a standard-issue carbon FXD without that text one day, but until then this one serves its specific purpose excellently.

Some have also questioned the brand alignment between Tudor (a storied Swiss watch brand) and Red Bull (an energy drink company). This strikes me as a snap judgment based on tired notions of luxury, and this concern also overlooks the fact that Red Bull Advanced Technologies has become one of the most prestigious technical solutions companies on the planet, a company to no small degree responsible for the accelerated advancement of racing technology across various sports for over two decades.

My sense is that Red Bull Racing syncs quite naturally with both Tudor and Alinghi, the eponymous Swiss sail racing team with more than a few prestigious titles to its name already. Witnessing the technicians tweak these racing machines and then watching the boats whizz across the water on their foils, I kept glancing down at the machine on my wrist as an undeniable material confirmation of just how well aligned these enterprises are.

The Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull is available now. The time-only model (left) is priced at $3,675 and the chronograph (right) is priced at $5,075.

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Best Sailing Watches: Nautical Options For Sailors

Sailing watches are enormously helpful for navigation, planning, and numerous other tasks.

In this article, we'll cover why every sailboat owner should consider investing in a high-quality sailing watch. We'll also go over the qualities and features of the best sailing watches, along with a few of the best sailing watches on the market today.

Sailing watches fall into two categories: mechanical and electronic. The best mechanical sailing watches are the Rolex Yachtmaster and the Omega Seamaster. The best electronic sailing watches are the Garmin Instinct and the Garmin Quantix 6. The Vostok Komandirskie is the best budget sailing watch.

We based this article on information from sailing watchmakers along with the experience of expert sailors. We also source information from the owners of these watches, along with their opinions about the products.

Table of contents

Types of Sailing Watches

There are numerous kinds of sailing watches that range in style and functionality. Due to the proliferation of smartwatches, the market is now overflowing with feature-laden devices that are ideal for sailing. Traditional sailing watches are analog and waterproof, so they'll work in all conditions. Here are the most common kinds of sailing watches.

Mechanical Sailing Watches

Mechanical sailing watches are classic waterproof timepieces that don't have a battery. Instead, they rely on compact wind-up or automatic (self-winding) movements. The finest mechanical sailing watches are produced in Switzerland.

Fine mechanical sailing watches are produced by names you may recognize. These companies include Rolex, TCG, Breitling, and others. Many people use mechanical dive watches such as the Rolex Submariner for sailing, as it's highly accurate and waterproof to 1,000 ft.

Many sailing watches are mechanical chronometers. A chronometer is a marine clock or watch certified to be accurate within 0.1 seconds per day. The chronometer is often confused with the chronograph, which is a mechanical watch that also includes a stopwatch.

Chronographs are useful for timing sailing races and calculating your speed, and some chronographs are also chronometers. These watches command the highest prices in the industry.

Mechanical sailing watches are generally much more expensive than digital sailing watches. Prices for these premium watches start around the $2,000 mark, though most examples cost about $8,000 to $15,000.

Digital Sailing Watches

Digital sailing watches run on batteries and usually include a display. These watches vary widely in cost, design, and functionality. If you're looking for features, a digital sailing watch is definitely the way to go.

Today, many of these watches are highly affordable, considering what they do. The most basic digital sailing watches have a simple LCD display that shows the time, date, temperature, and possibly your heading. These watches aren't connected, which means they don't display much active real-time data. That said, they're robust and an excellent choice for pure functionality.

Features like temperature, heart rate monitoring and direction (compass) don't require any internet connectivity, which means they work everywhere in the world.

The more advanced members of the digital sailing watch family are connected, meaning they pull data from the internet and communicate with other devices. Examples of connected features include GPS mapping, live weather forecasts and data, messaging, and speed tracking.

Like mechanical sailing watches, digital sailing watches are waterproof and stand up well to harsh conditions. Standard smartwatches, while often used for similar purposes, are generally not up to the task. This is because many smartwatches are only marginally water-resistant (up to 50 feet), which is simply insufficient for offshore sailing and racing.

Understanding Water Resistance Ratings

Water-resistant watches are rated using either feet, meters, or atmospheres. However, these ratings can be deceptive, as a watch rated to 50 meters or less may not be waterproof enough to use as a sailing watch.

The lowest water resistance rating you'll find is 3 ATM or 30 meters. Technically, this watch is rated to submerge in up to 100 feet of water. But in reality, a 3 ATM watch is barely water-resistant enough to shower with. A 3 ATM watch is not well suited for sailing.

The next level of water resistance is 5 ATM or 50 meters. This watch is certified for 160 feet, and it is marginally waterproof. You can use a 5 ATM watch for brief periods underwater and in the shower, so it's suitable for coastal cruising and calm weather sailing.

Next up the scale is the 10 ATM watch, which is certified for depths up to 100 meters or 300 feet. These watches are much more reliable sailing watches, as they're waterproof enough for extended underwater use at shallow depths. That means that a 10 ATM watch will stand up very well to rain and ocean spray.

You may want to consider a 20 ATM watch if you intend to do any extended underwater activities such as snorkeling or if you anticipate an extended voyage. A 10 ATM watch is sufficient for many of these tasks, though a 20 ATM watch is a safer bet. These watches are water-resistant to 200 meters or 660 feet and are the most waterproof.

The most water-resistant watches in the 20 ATM category are dive watches such as the Zodiac Aerospace GMT automatic. Some watches are rated even higher and fall into the 30 ATM category or higher. One of the most well-known 30 ATM dive watches is the Omega Seamaster, which is water-resistant up to 300 meters or 1,000 feet.

Best Mechanical Watches for Sailing

Mechanical sailing watches are still extremely popular due to their reliability and intrinsic value. These watches can be passed down for generations and never become obsolete, and they've been used aboard boats in some form for hundreds of years. Here are two iconic and respected waterproof mechanical sailing watches.

1. Omega Seamaster Diver Chronometer

The Omega Seamaster  is one of those classic, quintessential yacht watches that's a fantastic combination of looks, quality, and functionality. This premium watch is a mechanical self-winding dive watch with a water resistance rating of 30 ATM or 300 meters. That means that it will withstand the roughest conditions encountered by sailors.

Omega watches use Swiss-made movements that are on par with other luxury brands such as Rolex. This watch has a bit of a cult following similar to other yachting watches like the Rolex Yachtmaster. A watch like this can be passed down for generations, and it’s also durable enough for hard use aboard a sailboat.

As far as quality is concerned, the Omega Seamaster is just about as good as it gets. But it's not just appearances and quality that make the Omega Seamaster an excellent sailing watch. The Omega Seamaster features a superbly accurate movement, complete water resistance, and a stopwatch chronometer feature.

The Omega Seamaster is a fantastic 'luxury' sailing watch that's robust enough to take out to sea. It's also great for wearing to business or formal events, as the Omega name carries quite a bit of weight.

2. Rolex Yachtmaster II

Here's another legendary mechanical watch with a unique history and practical functionality. This watch is on the high end of sailing watches, and it represents the top quality available. In other words, the Rolex Yachtmaster II  is one of the finest sailing watches you can buy.

The Rolex Yachtmaster series can cost more than twice the price of an Omega Seamaster. Mechanically, these watches aren't significantly different, at least according to some collectors and watchmakers. Both the Omega Seamaster and the Rolex Yachtmaster are extremely high-quality Swiss watches, so what's with the price difference? It comes down to branding, style, and features.

Rolex is one of the most well-known luxury watchmakers, and their products demand a premium. And when it comes to features, this classic Rolex watch has some of the most precise in its class.

The most noticeable feature of the Rolex Yachtmaster II is its bezel. The bezel features large-print numbers, and it rotates to help the wearer keep track of elapsed time. Some Yachtmasters feature a precision stopwatch and a separate second hand, allowing you to precisely time regattas and accurately measure speed.

The Yachtmaster II also features a programmable countdown feature, which is extremely rare on mechanical watches. Additionally, Rolex watches are some of the most accurate mechanical timepieces ever built. The company uses proprietary technology to ensure that each watch meets the superlative chronometer qualification.

Best Digital Sailing Watches

Digital sailing watches don't hold value like mechanical watches. That said, they're significantly more affordable. Digital sailing watches are 'smart' watches, and they pack an enormous amount of functionality in a small package. Here are two of the highest-rated and most popular digital watches used for sailing.

3. Garmin Instinct Marine Watch

Garmin is the industry leader for digital sailing watches. The Garmin Instinct  is their entry-level marine smartwatch, and it also functions well for other outdoor sports. Unlike many smartwatches, the Garmin Instinct is waterproof to 10 ATM (100 meters), which makes it suitable for almost all sailing activities. It's not for diving, but this watch stands up to rain and spray well.

The design is simple and functional. Garmin designed the display with readability in mind, as it features high-contrast letters, numbers, and dials. The watchband is made of durable rubber, and the case is rated to U.S. Military shock and thermal standard 810G. In other words, it's certified and durable enough to meet strict military standards.

For the price, the Garmin Instinct has a remarkable number of high-tech features. It's a GPS watch that can help you find your location and plot a course. It also features a precision compass for navigation and a backtrack map feature, which helps you retrace your location. The watch also allows you to check your heading with the touch of a button and plot your course along the way.

It has a 14-hour battery life while running GPS and other features, and you can connect it to a smartphone for notifications. For the price, it's tough to beat the durability and functionality of the Garmin Instinct. It's the perfect entry-level tech watch for sailing, and you can also take it along on other outdoor adventures.

4. Garmin Quatix 6 Multisport Marine Smartwatch

Fundamentally, the Garmin Quatix 6 Multisport  does to smartwatches what the Apple Watch did to watches. It's the ultimate sailing smartwatch, and unlike the Garmin Instinct, it's specifically designed with sailors in mind. This watch is available in multiple casings and trims, and it's loaded with features to make navigation safer and easier.

What makes the Garmin Quatrix 6 stand out is both its range of features and the seamless execution of them. This watch features the basics such as time, date, and outside temperature. The default screen resembles a traditional analog chronograph, but it's customizable to include data such as heading and the weather.

However, what really makes the Garmin Quatrix 6 stand out is its superb navigation features. The watch displays full-color marine charts through Bluechart, and it displays your live heading and course. The chart feature also includes waypoint marking, speed, depth, and navigational hazards. You can do virtually all of your daytime navigation with your wristwatch.

This watch also includes several sailing-specific features. It connects seamlessly with onboard autopilot systems to keep you on course and helps you achieve target speeds with real-time monitoring. This watch features Sailassist, which is useful for aligning and timing regattas.

Other features include sea temperature monitoring, live weather data, smartphone alerts, Garmin Chartplotter integration, and even boat audio controls. It's essentially an all-in-one marine technology command center for your wrist.

Overall, the Garmin Quatrix 6 easily earns the top spot for digital smart sailing watches. If you're looking for features, there's no better option on the market in this price category. And for less than $700 for the base models, it still costs about the same as a medium-tier standard smartwatch.

Best Bargain Sailing Watch: Vostok Komandirskie

The most bang-for-your-buck depends on what features you're after. But if you're looking for an accurate and reliable watch that's tough enough for bluewater sailing, it's tough to beat the value of the Vostok Komandirskie .

Vostok is a Russian watchmaker that has been producing watches for the Russian military for decades. The diver Komandirskie is an automatic (self-winding) mechanical watch that's water-resistant to 20 ATM (200 meters) thanks to an innovative seal. Unlike most dive watches, the Komandirski actually seals tighter the deeper you go.

The watch itself (along with the rest of the Vostok lineup) has remained almost completely unchanged for decades. The watch features a surprisingly accurate 32-jewel movement, a date function, along with a rotating bezel for timing regattas. It's shockproof and available in an enormous variety of band, face, and bezel options.

These watches are still used by the Russian military today due to their accuracy and durability. They've developed a significant following in the west for the same reasons. However, the most impressive aspect of the watch is its price. You can get your hands on a Vostok watch for between $70 and $120, with some less popular models available for as little as $40 brand new.

It is virtually impossible to find a sailing watch of this quality for anywhere near the price of a Vostok. But how can the price be so low for a quality watch? The reason why Vostok makes the most affordable sailing watch is that all of the development and tooling was complete and paid off by the 1960s. They never bothered making any changes, which allows them to sell these excellent mechanical dive watches for a fraction of the cost.

Other models to consider are the hand-wound Komandirski  which typically retails for around $50. This model is only suitable for very light-duty work, as it's rated to only 3 ATM. The Vostok Amphibia  is rated for 20 ATM, which makes it a slightly slimmer and more affordable option for serious sailing.

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Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The Best Garmin Watch for Sailing, Boating and more

• November 8, 2023

From luxury designs to smartwatch technology and boat interactivity, here's how we crowned the very best Garmin watch for sailors.

With a wide range of watches available from a variety of brands, differing price points and a list of unique specifications, it can be challenging for even the most technologically-minded sailors to keep up with the best on the market. That’s why I’ve made it our mission to bring you the best Garmin watch for any time you spend at sea.

If you’re not familiar with Garmin, the best way to describe the global company is that they bring wearable technology and GPS navigation to the marine world (as well as many other markets).

Dan Bartel, Garmin’s Vice President of Global Consumer Sales, commented on the  MARQ™ Collection in 2019 and said, “For the past 30 years, we’ve created products that have fueled people’s passions.

“And now, we have reimagined the tool watch with MARQ, a series of extraordinary connected instruments, authentic in every detail, an inspiration for new adventures.”

Best Garmin watches at a glance Best Garmin marine specific smart watch  –  Garmin Quatix 7 Best Garmin watch for premium luxury design – Garmin MARQ Captain Best Garmin watch for robust multi sport action – Garmin Instinct 2 Solar  

What makes a good Garmin watch for the open water?

Garmin watches are renowned in the fitness world for being top-of-the-line wearables. Many features that attract athletes to this brand, such as extensive tracking, duration and navigation, will also appeal to sailors and boaters alike.

Whether you leave port on a catamaran, cruiser or sailboat, here at Yachting World, we think that the best Garmin watch should have GPS functions, good battery life and health monitoring. While we’re all familiar with using a watch for directions, making calls and sending messages, the options selected take features beyond that and into the realm of having navigation technology on your wrist.

If you’re on the lookout for the  best sailing watch options for racing and cruising , you’re in luck because we found one timepiece with a multiple-start sequence option. 

Garmin Quatix 7

Best marine specific smart watch

Specifications: • Facia sizes: Size: 47mm / 51mm • Display: 1.4-inch sunlight-readable color AMOLED display with touchscreen and sapphire glass • Battery Life: Up to 16 days in smartwatch powersave mode and up to 36 hours in GPS mode. • Health and Fitness Tracking: Advanced health monitoring, heart rate monitoring, Pulse Ox, sleep tracking, and body battery. • Navigation: Marine features including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo support, barometer, altimeter, and compass. • Sports Modes: Preloaded with various sports profiles including rowing, paddleboarding, and swimming. • Smartphone Integration: Smart notifications, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and compatibility with both Android and iOS devices. • Marine Features: Boat data, sail racing assistance, anchor alarm, fishing calendar, tides, and more. • Water Resistance: Up to 100 meters.

Reasons to buy: It has a large easy-to-read face, incredible versatility for an array of lifestyle activity, health, wellbeing and boat interactivity as well as being customisable to suit individual needs. Includes a dedicated MOB button.

Reasons to avoid:  The battery life isn’t as good as the Quatix 6, it has bright facia which can be distracting, and the touchscreen is pointless without the additional kit it interfaces with.

Debating on upgrading to the Garmin Quatix 7? The next-gen sailing smartwatch includes improvements to strengthen integration with onboard electronics. For instance, the touchscreen model on this watch can be used to control MFD displays, Fusion audio systems and Garmin autopilots.

But if you’re a Quatix 6 user, here are the major changes for the Quatix 7 over the Quatix 6. The main difference is the display it’s bigger and brighter and touchscreen.

If you found darkness or difficulty seeing the Quatix 6 screen, this has been addressed with a much brighter lit-up option. Whilst this might appease a large number of wearers, it can be harsh for some especially if you’re a frequent night sailor like me.  The obvious compromise to this is that the battery life takes a hit if you want an always on display. To eek out the battery life, then you’ll need to switch the display to on demand motion controlled.

The Quatix 7 has integrated more functionality into the Garmin app on the phone, so it’s easier to make changes to the user functionality of various apps within the watch, rather than having to fiddle about doing them on screen as with the earlier Quatix watches.

The Quatix 7 is undoubtedly one of the best watches for sailors and boaters currently on the market . I love mine and feel undressed without it.

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Garmin marq captain.

Best Garmin watch for premium luxury design

Specifications: • Facia Size: 46mm • Display: 1.2-inch (30.4 mm) diameter, 240 x 240 pixels, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display. • Lens Material: Domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. • Case Material: Titanium with a ceramic or DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating. • Bezel Material: Titanium, ceramic, or DLC-coated titanium. • Water Resistance: Up to 100 meters (10 ATM). • Battery Life: Up to 12 days in smartwatch mode, up to 28 hours in GPS mode, and up to 48 hours in UltraTrac mode. • Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, barometric altimeter, and compass. • Health and Fitness Features: Heart rate monitoring, Pulse Ox, Body Battery, stress tracking, sleep tracking, and more. • Sailing Features: SailAssist, tack assist, virtual starting line, and race countdown timer. • Smart Notifications: Receive smart notifications from your connected smartphone. • Music: Store and play music on the watch, and sync playlists from music streaming services. • Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ANT+. • Strap Material: Interchangeable, compatible with QuickFit bands.

Reasons to buy:  The watch has weather and tidal data, good OB and GPS functions and streams boat data to your wrist.

Reasons to avoid :  The full extent of capabilities is governed by the onboard technology it’s connected to and it has a premium price.

The MARQ Captain sailing watch comes packed with marine-relevant features that are ideal for the open water.

Functions include weather and tidal data for your home port, a regatta timer to pinpoint starting times, a ‘tack assist’ function to determine whether you’re on the lift or a header, a man overboard button and GPS.

If you’re searching for a top-quality Garmin watch and value luxury quality, don’t let the price tag put you off. The full extent of its capabilities is governed by the onboard technology it’s connected to. Still, possibilities include streaming boat data directly to your wrist wherever you are on the boat and controlling products from the Garmin-owned Fusion range of audio systems.

Essentially this lovely smart time piece packs all of the premium features possibly available from Garmin and encased it in a beautifully presented box, with premium quality wrist straps and a really smart watch body. If I had the money I’d buy this as a gift for my dad as I know he would love it (and he’d be able to keep track of his fitness and health monitoring too).

Garmin Instinct 2S Solar

Best budget Garmin watch for robust multi sport action

Specifications: • Facia Size: 40mm / 45mm / 50mm • Display: 0.9 x 0.9 inches (23 x 23 mm), monochrome • Lens Material: Chemically strengthened glass. • Bezel Material: Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover. • Case Material: Fiber-reinforced polymer. • Water Resistance: Rated to 100 meters (10 ATM), making it suitable for swimming. • Battery Life: Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and up to an additional week with solar models

Reasons to buy:  The watch features GPS positioning on charts, barometric pressure and compass, smartphone connectivity, and an incredible amount of styles and colours. Plus, a single charge lasts 14 days.

Reasons to avoid: We’ve  classed as a budget option, but it might also been a bit pricey still for those on a tight budget.

Back in February 2022, Garmin’s all-round time piece which is known as their ‘outdoors watch’ was released. Since then, Instinct 2 has continued to be a top choice for sailors across the world thanks to features like GPS positioning on charts, barometric pressure and a compass.

It has smartphone connectivity, receives emails and texts, and can control music via a phone. This watch also has an inbuilt thermometer, heart rate monitor, and is available in no fewer than 20 different styles and colours.

If you’re a racing sailor, pay close attention to the multiple start sequence options.

Garmin Quatix 6 Multisport Marine Smartwatch

Specifications: • Facia sizes: Size: 47mm / 51mm • Display: 1.3-inch sunlight-readable color display. • Battery Life: Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and up to 36 hours in GPS mode. • Health and Fitness Tracking: Advanced health monitoring, heart rate monitoring, Pulse Ox, sleep tracking, and body battery. • Navigation: Marine features including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo support, barometer, altimeter, and compass. • Sports Modes: Preloaded with various sports profiles including rowing, paddleboarding, and swimming. • Smartphone Integration: Smart notifications, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and compatibility with both Android and iOS devices. • Marine Features: Boat data, sail racing assistance, anchor alarm, fishing calendar, tides, and more. • Water Resistance: Up to 100 meters.

Reasons to buy:  The watch suits a multitude of water activities, it’s highly customisable, creates an incredible amount of data available on your wrist and a single charge lasts 14 days.

Reasons to avoid:  The high level of functionality is not for anyone who finds it challenging to navigate technology.

Superceded by the Quatix 7, this watch model is still available and can be found offered at some great bargain deal prices if you shop around.

Tried and tested at length, the Garmin Quatix 6 Multisport Marine Smartwatch has what it takes to be the best Garmin watch for yachting or sailing. Along with its very comprehensive design, it stands out with functions for every type of pastime on the water, including diving. The Quatix 5,6 and 7 are all brilliant pieces of wearable tech and you’ll no doubt be happy with any of them.

Garmin is well known for superior boating instruments. This watch has squeezed all the data of a ten-inch chartplotter into a 1.3-inch round sailing watch. The Bluetooth functionality connects you to a Garmin chartplotter using the free Garmin Connect app.

Some of our other favourite features include that it’s waterproof to 100 metres, sunlight readable and has a night light mode. The watch has a soft synthetic wristband, available in various colours and can be switched between analogue and digital.

What makes this Garmin stand out from other watches is that a single charge will last 14 days with normal use and there is a solar-powered version for continuous self-charging (available at twice the price). I alternate between using a Quatix 6 and  Quatix 7, both are very very good smart watches with a focus on marine activities. 

Garmin Fenix 7

Specifications:

• Display: 1.4-inch sunlight-readable display. • Battery Life: Up to 12 days in smartwatch mode. • Health and Fitness Tracking: Comprehensive heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, Pulse Ox, and built-in GPS. • Sports Modes: Over 120 preloaded sports profiles. • Mapping: Full-color, preloaded topographic maps. • Music Playback: Store and play music directly from the watch. • Smartphone Integration: Smart notifications and Garmin Pay. • Water Resistance: Up to 100 meters. • Compatibility: Works with both Android and iOS devices.

Reasons to Buy:

Extensive Sports Tracking with a large selection of sports modes. Topographic Maps: Navigate with detailed maps Offline Music Storage: Store and listen to music without needing your phone.

Reasons to Avoid:

The premium features come at a premium cost. It might be overwhelming for those not needing advanced features.

The Garmin Fenix 7 is an absolute beast of a smartwatch, catering to adventurers, athletes, and those who demand the very best in terms of features, durability, and performance. If you’re willing to invest, it’s a top-tier choice. The Garmin Fenix 7 is a premium multisport GPS smartwatch that sets the bar high with its rugged build and a plethora of advanced features. Designed for outdoor enthusiasts and fitness fanatics, this smartwatch is a true powerhouse, though it comes at a premium price. Though it isn’t marketed as a sailing watch, it will do the job almost as a well as the Quatix 7 but handle other sports really well too. So if you are into your fitness you might consider this over the Quatix models.

Garmin Venu Sq

• Display: 1.3-inch, 240×240 pixels, color touchscreen. • Battery Life: Up to 6 days in smartwatch mode. • Health Tracking: Heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, SpO2, and built-in GPS. • Sports Modes: Over 20 preloaded sports apps. • Music Playback: Control music on your phone or store music on the watch. • Smartphone Integration: Smart notifications and Garmin Pay. • Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters. • Compatibility: Works with both Android and iOS devices.

Comprehensive health and fitness tracking, including heart rate, sleep, and SpO2 monitoring. Up to 6 days of battery life Waterproof: Suitable for swimming and other water activities.

Onboard music storage is quite limited. Some may prefer a more traditional round watch design.

The Garmin Venu SQ is a solid choice for those looking for a well-rounded smartwatch with an emphasis on fitness tracking and affordability. I really loved this watch when it came in to me for testing. It has elements of the aesthetic of the apple watch but with the Garmin functionality and far superior battery life.

It doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles of the fancy watches I’ve listed in this guide to Garmin watches but it is a worthy watch to consider. It will see you right down the gym, out and about doing regular sporting activity and it can even store a small amount of music in the watch so you don’t need to have your phone with you to play music through bluetooth headphones.

It has a day to day style that is discrete and I like the sutomisable style of the venu series of watches. You can also get this with a round facia so if square isn’t your thing, not to worry, you’ll find a round one in a variety of styles to suit your personal taste.

The Garmin Venu SQ is a feature-packed smartwatch that strikes a balance between fitness and style. With a sleek, square design and a 1.3-inch color touchscreen display, it’s a fashionable accessory that doesn’t compromise on functionality.

Garmin Vivoactive 4S

Specifications :

• Display: 1.1-inch (27.9 mm) diameter, sunlight-visible, memory-in-pixel (MIP) display. • Screen: Corning Gorilla Glass 3. • Rated to 5 ATM waterproofing (50 meters), suitable for swimming. • Up to 7 days battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 5 hours in GPS and music mode. • Bluetooth, ANT+ for compatibility with various sensors. • Wrist-based heart rate monitor. • Stress Tracking: Monitors your stress levels throughout the day. • Tracks your sleep patterns and provides sleep quality insights. • Includes profiles for running, cycling, swimming, yoga, strength training, and more. • Features animated, on-screen workouts for various activities. • Receive notifications from your smartphone, including calls, texts, and app alerts. • Supports contactless payments

Fits a smaller wrist, lots of features to suit almost all users requirements, good for swimmers

Reasons to Avoid: 

The tracking option on the Garmin Vivoactive 4S is limited because it requires bluetooth and cellular connectivity, it may take some time to learn how to use it

The Garmin Vivoactive 4 and 4S is a smart watch that gives a whole host of features for tracking and logging health, fitness and sporting activities and comes in a lifestyle compatible case. You can wear this watch every day as a regular watch and it won’t look out of place in most day to day activities, from work and an office to the gym or swimming outdoors.

The companion app, which works for all of the watches in this buyers guide gives access to a whole host of metrics and information. You can also download different screen options to your smart watch from the app too. The straps are compatible with the Garmin quick release strap system so you can swap those out and change them according to your activity or outfit.

Ali from Practical Boat Owner magazine tested this watch at length and had some great results with it.

Garmin Epix

Specifications: • Display: A 1.3-inch, sunlight-readable color touchscreen with a resolution of 260 x 260 pixels. • Battery Life: Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and up to 24 hours in GPS mode. • Health and Fitness Tracking: Comprehensive health monitoring, including heart rate, sleep tracking, Pulse Ox, and a Body Battery feature. • Navigation: Preloaded topographic maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and a barometric altimeter. • Sports Modes: It offers over 41,000 preloaded golf courses, skiing maps, and a variety of other sports profiles. • Music Playback: Store and play music directly from the watch or stream from music services. • Smartphone Integration: Smart notifications, Garmin Pay for contactless payments, and compatibility with both Android and iOS devices. • Water Resistance: Up to 100 meters.

preloaded topographic maps and turn-by-turn navigation Offers comprehensive health tracking, sleep analysis, and body battery insights, helping you maintain your well-being. Store and play music directly from the watch, eliminating the need for a smartphone during workouts or hikes.

It’s on the higher end of the price spectrum, making it an investment. Its array of features might overwhelm those looking for a simpler, everyday smartwatch.

If you’re confused about the differences between the top Garmin watches, Quatix, Fenix and Epix… then you’re not alone. I’ve compared the top three watches side by side to get a better understanding of what kind of person they are designed for. Essentially the Fenix and Epix are virtually the same watch but with slightly different screen options. The Epix has a red screen option for better night vision preservation and the fenix 7 has memory in pixel screen meaning you have the option of an always on display without killing the battery. Both have the same sports tracking and health and fitness features. The Quatix is very much geared towards the pure boating person with its dedicated man overboard button and marine first focus on onboard features.

If you see a great deal on either the Fenix 7 or Epix, then know you are getting pretty much the same watch with very tiny, subtle differences in the screen.

FAQ: Do I Need My Phone for My Watch to Acquire GPS?

No, all of the above Garmin watches have built in GPS. They do not require the internet to work, nor a phone. They can work independently, tracking your activities or personal metrics. They store this information onbaord until you upload to a suitable other deivce. For best results you should sync your watch to a smart phone from time to time. Especially if you want to download your activities to other apps such as Strava.

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Best Sailing Watches of 2024

Watches and sailing go together. Sailboat racers have very particular timekeeping needs, and premium watchmakers have long sought the cachet of association with high-end yacht races. That association produces some truly extravagant timepieces. If the $200,000 price tag on the Breguet Marine Equation Marchante 5887 seems excessive, you can always settle for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yachtmaster-II at a mere $18,750! Fortunately, watchmakers recognize that sailors of slightly humbler means also use sailing-specific watches, and they’ve responded with an array of affordable timepieces that can stand up to the rigors of sailing and provide many of the same features found on the most refined models. This guide to the best sailing watches should help you choose one that suits your needs.

For more of our top sailing gear recommendations, check out the Best Sailing Gloves .

Quick Answer - The Best Sailing Watches

• Optimum Time Series 3 Sailing Timer View at Amazon
• Ronstan Clear Start View at Amazon
• Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer View at Amazon
• Tissot Sailing-Touch View at Amazon
• Garmin Quatix 6 View at Amazon

Comparison Table - Best Sailing Watches

Reviews - Best Watches for Sailing

Optimum time series 3 sailing timer.

• Water Resistance : To 50 meters/5 ATM
• Battery : Replaceable CR2032
• Display Size : 65mm
• Band : Elastic
• Multiple Specialist Race Timing And Countdown Options
• Luminous Backlight For Use In The Dark
• Can Be Mounted On A Mast Or Boom
• Huge 16mm Digits For Easy Visibility

BEST BUDGET SAILING WATCH

Optimum Time brings you a full-featured sailing watch with an impressive array of features and a remarkably accessible price tag in the Series 3. The “big yellow watch” is well-known and popular, and you can look around almost any club race and spot a number of these mounted on wrists and ready for action! If you don’t want to mount it on your wrist, there’s a bracket for mounting on your mast or boom, and the massive display and audible countdowns make it easily usable from a distance. The face can be rotated 360 degrees to give you a clear view in any mounting situation.

There’s a full range of pre-programmed countdown and count-up sequences also a re-sync feature that allows you to reset to race time if you miss the starting gun. We never do that, of course, but it’s good to know we’re covered if it happens!

Ronstan Clear Start

• Water Resistance : 50 meters/5 ATM
• Display Size : 50mm
• Band : Silicone
• Large 13mm Digits Can Be Read At A Glance
• Pre-Programmed Race Start Sequences
• Multi-Line Display Shows Race Time And Real Time
• Durable Fiber-Reinforced Resin Body

BEST VALUE RACING WATCH

Ronstan claims that the Clear Start is “the most popular sailing watch in the world”, and it’s hard to contest that claim. The latest generation of the Clear Start model packs a host of race-specific features into a well-planned interface that gives you fast access to key features and is easy to master. The watch is water and shock resistant and the case and crystal are solid enough to stand up to regular racing. 

The Clear Start provides great value in a race-specific watch, but it is primarily designed for racing, and if you’re a recreational sailor who prefers exploration to competition, it’s probably not the best choice.

Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer

• Water Resistance : 100 meters/10 ATM
• Battery : Replaceable CR2016
• Display Size : 45mm
• Band : Silicon
• Dedicated 4th Hand For Compass Readout
• Air Or Water Temperature Readings In Fahrenheit Or Celsius
• Indiglo Night Light Illuminates Face In Low Light Conditions
• Tide Tracker Counts Down To Next Low Or High Tide

BEST IF YOU DON’T RACE

Not all sailors race and not everyone wants a race timer with a digital display. This offering from Timex delivers a sleek, traditional analog package that will appeal to non-racing sailors. The body is crafted from a solid steel casting and the watch combines durability with elegance. The race-specific timing functions are replaced by more general marine features that all boaters will find useful: an effective compass, a thermometer that will measure air or water temperature, and a tide tracker. It’s an appealing package for the marine enthusiast who isn’t all about competition.

Some reviewers found the multi-dial functions confusing, so you can expect to spend a little time with the owner’s manual to master everything the watch can do. As with any watch offering temperature readings, you’ll have to remove the watch from your wrist to get an accurate reading, as body heat can skew the results.

Tissot Sailing-Touch

• Battery : Replaceable LR44
• Band : Stainless Steel
• Weather Forecasting Function Tracks 6-Hour Barometric Pressure Trends
• Regatta Mode For Start Countdown And Time Synchronization
• Integrated Compass and Speed Tracking
• Tide Tracker Gives Current Tide State, Ebb Or Flow, And Time To High Or Low

BEST ANALOG DIAL SAILING WATCH

If you prefer the look of a traditional chronograph but want a full range of sailing-specific functions, The Tissot Sailing-Touch will grab your attention. This Swiss manufacturer has a long history of making practical, elegant sailing watches, and the Sailing-Touch continues that tradition. You get start countdown and time synchronization functions for racing, a functional compass for navigation, and tide and weather tracking to keep tabs on sailing conditions. The whole package comes wrapped in a stylish, durable stainless steel case and combines the appeal of the traditional watch dial with fully modern functionality.

The Tissot Sailing-Touch delivers many of the features and much of the visual appeal that you’ll find in sailing watches that cost many thousands of dollars and brings them to market at a reasonable price. It’s a top pick for sailing enthusiasts looking for an affordable high-quality analog-dial sailing watch.

Garmin Quatix 6

• Display Size : 30.5mm
• Multifunction Touch Screen
• Bluetooth Connectivity To Your Boat’s Garmin Navigation Instruments
• Activity Profiles And Performance Metrics For Multiple Water Sports
• Full GPS Navigation Capability
• Garmin SailAssist Suite Of Sailing-Specific Functions

BEST GPS SAILING WATCH

They call it a smartwatch for a reason. Lots of sailing watches will give you a race countdown. The Quatix 6 will show you a virtual starting line, your distance from the starting line, your position relative to the starting line, your speed, wind direction and speed, and your tack angle. Other sailing watches will give you tide and barometric pressure data; the Quatix 6 gives you a continuous link to your boat’s entire navigation suite (check for compatibility). You get GPS navigation and tracking functions, a 3-axis electronic compass, a wrist-based heart rate monitor and much more. It also tells the time!

The only real downside here is that the sheer number of functions and options can be overwhelming: if you like to keep it simple, this may not be the watch for you. If you’re willing to spend some time working out what it can do and how to get it done, you’ll have one of the most effective wrist-based information systems on the market!

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A SAILING WATCH

All sailing watches are water-resistant. They usually offer a visual and often audible countdown designed to help racers time their approach to a starting line and set an ideal starting position. That’s just the beginning. Many modern sailing watches can provide barometric pressure, tide data, compass bearing and much more. Some can double up as a GPS and take on advanced navigation functions. You can fit a lot of power on your wrist, and you don’t need to spend a small fortune to get it!

DO YOU RACE?

What most manufacturers call a “sailing watch” might be better described as a “regatta watch”: the niche is largely defined by race-specific functions. If you race or you’re thinking about racing and learning how race starts work, these functions are important. If you don’t race and don’t intend to race, you’ll be looking for a solid water-resistant watch that offers functions like barometric pressure readings, tide status, and even the navigation capacity offered by wrist-based GPS units.   

GPS FUNCTIONS

If your sailing is more about journeys and exploration than competition, you may want to look for a GPS-equipped “smartwatch”. Many sport-oriented smartwatches also offer race-specific functions. If you’re interested in this type, check out this guide to choosing a GPS sports watch .  

STYLE MATTERS

Most of us don’t wear a sailing watch exclusively for sailing. You may not wear it every day, but it’s likely to go on your wrist well before a race or an expedition and stay on it for a while after. If you have specific preferences in watch styling, take those into consideration! Some people like digital watches, some like analog, some prefer stainless steel bands, others silicon. Find a watch you like to look at, and wearing it will make you happier!

SPECS AND FEATURES EXPLAINED

Water resistance.

Manufacturers specify water resistance in different terms. Some state a specific depth of water, some cite pressure in ATM, which is the pressure equivalent to atmospheric weight. 10 ATM is 10x the weight and pressure of the atmosphere. One ATM is roughly equivalent to ten meters according to the depth rating criteria. 

Note that a “50 Meters” rating does not mean that a watch is safe to use at that depth. Activity that moves the watch through the water greatly increases the pressure, especially if it involves significant speed, like a high dive into the water. In general, a 50m or 5 ATM rating is considered safe from splashing or rain, while 100m or 10 ATM is preferred for swimming, snorkeling, and other sports requiring sustained immersion. Remember that impacts can compromise water resistance, even if there’s no visible damage!

For more information, check out this comprehensive guide to water resistance ratings .

RACE TIMING FUNCTIONS

Sailboat racing is unique in that much of what goes into winning happens before the race starts. Getting to the starting line at the right time and position relative to the wind, the course, and the other contestants often determines who wins and loses. If you’re at the helm you need to keep an eye on the race countdown and your position on the water at the same time, which is why the sailing watch and its race-specific features are so important to racers. Race starts and the rules that govern them are complicated and take some time to master. Sailing World offers this advice on sailboat racing rules at the starting line and Yachts & Yachting contributes this advice on how to start faster .  

Most watches use a replaceable battery. The batteries typically last a long time, and it’s easy to forget they are there until they finally run out! If watch batteries aren’t readily available in your area, consider ordering extras with the purchase of your watch.

For more of our top sailing gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer's guides:

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Sailboat Winches

Sailing Shoes

Solar Panels for Sailboats

Bilge Pumps