In offshore racing, time is not just a technical measurement: it is a variable that is as decisive as crossing the finish line. What counts is how you cover the miles, how you manage the hours and nights, how you interpret conditions that change without allowing for any margin for error. Here, time is not something you endure: it is something you control.
When the race is sailed solo, this relationship becomes even more extreme. There are no crews with whom to share shifts or decisions. There is only the sailor, the boat and the rhythm imposed by the ocean. Sleeping means losing ground, staying awake consumes energy. Every choice is a continuous negotiation between speed, endurance and lucidity. It is in this balance that sporting competition becomes adventure.
The great ocean classic
Among offshore races, the Route du Rhum Destination Gaudeloupe occupies a special place, considered a true classic of ocean sailing. It takes place every four years and attracts the world’s best ocean sailors to the starting line, along with the most technologically advanced boats, from IMOCA 60s to the spectacular Ultim 32/23s.
It is a race in which every second can make a difference, as Julie Coutts, General Manager of OC Sport Pen Duick, points out: ‘The Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe is first and foremost a human and sailing adventure where every second counts.’ The 2026 edition will start on 1 November from Saint-Malo. At exactly 13:02, the countdown will begin, accompanying 117 solo sailors – who may be joined by a few wild cards – to Guadeloupe.
The benchmark remains the time to beat: the one set in 2022 by French skipper Charles Caudrelier, winner aboard the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild trimaran (Ultim 32/23 class). This feat rewrote the history of the race, lowering the previous record set in 2018 by Francis Joyon in 7 days, 14 hours and 21 minutes by almost 20 hours. A time that remains the absolute benchmark for the race today, and the declared goal of anyone who lines up at the starting line. And, in this 13th edition of the Route du Rhum, all eyes are once again on Gitana, which is likely to field a new and futuristic maxi-trimaran, the 18th in the series, at the starting line.
Timing the adventure
In this scenario, time also takes on a symbolic value thanks to Alpina’s role as Official Timekeeper of the race. This collaboration brings together ocean sailing and sports watchmaking, combining precision, reliability and a spirit of adventure.
Founded in 1883, the Manufacture has built its identity alongside explorers and outdoor athletes, from mountaineers to sailors. Since the 1960s, the sea has been part of its horizon, with timepieces designed to withstand the most extreme conditions. ‘Timekeeping, precision and reliability are absolute requirements in this type of competition,’ explains Yasmina Pedrini, Alpina’s Director of Communications. ‘This commitment naturally extends the Maison’s roots in the world of adventure and exploration and reflects its commitment to providing long-term support to major offshore racing events, where timekeeping, precision and reliability are absolute requirements.’ To celebrate the collaboration, limited editions dedicated to the race are planned.
Alpina and the sea, a story that began in 1969
The link between Alpina and the sea has its roots in the late 1960s. It was in 1969 that the Maison presented the Alpina Diver ’10 Seastrong, the first reference designed specifically for diving enthusiasts. A timepiece conceived as a true instrument, designed to meet the requirements of reliability, legibility and resistance demanded by the underwater world.
That debut marked the beginning of a journey that continues to this day: Seastrong has become the name that identifies the entire collection inspired by what is often referred to as the ‘sixth continent’, the ocean. Over time, the line has evolved while remaining faithful to its maritime vocation, reinterpreting the concept of the diver’s watch with an increasingly contemporary language. Among the latest additions are two new variations of the Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic collection, which represent two different approaches to the same idea of adventure.
The first looks to the past, focusing on a vintage aesthetic: hour markers, minute scale and hand tips stand out on the classic black dial treated with“Old Radium”, a luminous shade reminiscent of watches from the 1920s and 1930s. The second, on the other hand, introduces a khaki-coloured dial, which is rougher and more decisive, accentuating the exploratory character of the timepiece while keeping its marine DNA intact. Two different interpretations, but united by the same philosophy: that of a watch born for the sea, capable of traversing time without losing touch with its origins as an instrument.
A year to be experienced in one breath
2026 is thus set to go down in ocean sailing history as a watershed year. A moment in which the great regattas left a deep mark, redefining the relationship between man, sea and time. Not only because of the new edition of the Route du Rhum, but also in light of the new non-stop round-the-world sailing record, set on 25 January 2026 by French skipper Thomas Coville and his crew aboard the maxi-trimaran Sodebo Ultim 3. A feat that pushed the limits even further, confirming that ocean sailing is now one of the most extreme areas of contemporary adventure. Where technology accelerates, the sea commands and time remains the only true measure.
Matteo Zaccagnino
