Swiss watchmaker Rolex has expanded its historic ties to the sport of sailing by agreeing a multi-year deal to become the Presenting Partner and Official Timepiece of the new SailGP championship.
The deal announced today (Monday) means that Rolex timepieces and clocks will be visible throughout all SailGP events, as well as featured on each of the six F50 catamarans that are described as the world’s fastest race boat. Uniquely, the exclusivity extends across all SailGP assets throughout the league.
Rolex has a long heritage with sailing, including sponsorship of the World Sailor of the Year Award, an honour currently held by Marie Riou of the France SailGP team.
“SailGP marks an evolution in yachting and enables Rolex to further strengthen its 60-year relationship with the sport,” Arnaud Boetsch, Rolex’s communication and image director, said.
“As a brand, we have always appreciated endeavours and sporting disciplines that combine the highest levels of technology with the most talented individuals. SailGP meets such a vision, while the art of foiling perfectly illustrates the sport’s constant desire to innovate and improve efficiency, objectives that align with Rolex’s own quest for perpetual excellence, in all its activities.”
SailGP’s inaugural event of Season One kicks off on Friday, when rival national teams from Australia, China, France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States will take to Sydney Harbour in Australia.
The annual championship then moves to San Francisco on May 4-5, New York on June 21-22 and Cowes in the UK on August 10-11, before culminating in a $1m (€884,000) winner-takes-all race in Marseille, France, on September 20-22.