This partnership is a unique opportunity for Zenith to once again support a remarkable human adventure and express its values - Authenticity, Audacity and Pleasure - through a highly technological project.
Since it was founded Manufacture Zenith has always cultivated this ability to look further ahead and conquer new horizons. It has thus supported some of the most remarkable human adventures and shared the destiny of extraordinary personalities. From Louis Blériot to Felix Baumgartner, Zenith has made its mark on the history of aviation and space.
It is in this same spirit that Zenith has committed for three years to being Official Timekeeper of Spindrift racing and its largest ocean racing trimaran in the world with, as of 2014, significant challenges to be shared on Lake Geneva and the Atlantic. "This partnership with the Spindrift racing team is a natural step forward in Zenith's development, which has encountered growing success in the past 5 years. Through the strong and unique experiences of this highly technological project, Zenith clearly and simply expresses its values - Authenticity, Audacity and Pleasure - as well as its philosophy and the people that wear its watches; looking higher and further ahead. At Zenith, we like to gamble on forward-looking personalities and projects. Dona, Yann and their crew members have the stuff of modern heroes who spark off dreams and make the world move forward. We are proud to associate our watches with their future endeavors. "
The maxi trimaran, Spindrift 2, designed to beat the major ocean-racing records for crewed boats and current holder of 9 circumnavigation records - including the Jules Verne trophy - will also be entering the solitary Route du Rhum race. This boat, designed for high performance wins, is the bold gamble of Dona Bertarelli, a businesswoman and accomplished athlete and Yann Guichard, an experienced sailor. Through this project, Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard share their passion for sailing, a multifaceted sport where performance primarily depends on a motivated and effective team prepared to move forward together and take on new challenges. Being bold while remaining pragmatic and structured, this approach adopted by the team since the creation of the team in 2011 has been rewarded.
Like Zenith, the Spindrift racing team believes in its lucky star. "Spindrift racing is a young stable that brings together a team of professionals whose work has quickly paid off," says Dona Bertarelli. "Our project has grown and already enjoys a good international reputation. With Yann, we have all the assets to successfully rise to new challenges." Embracing technology in order to aspire to new horizons and provide guidance on the path to making dreams come true. Achieving exploits, whether everyday or of a whole lifetime. Always going further and higher and being part of all conquests. Each moment, reinventing the subtle alchemy between tradition and avant-garde.
Zenith has written a few major chapters in the history of watchmaking. The El Primero caliber, the first integrated automatic chronograph movement, beating a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour, has become iconic.
Almost 50 years after its invention, it remains the only series-made chronograph capable of measuring short times to the nearest 1/10th of a second. More recently, the arrival of the gyroscopic module, called "Gravity Control", is one of the major watchmaking breakthroughs of the 21st century.
2014 timetable
D35 Ladycat powered by Spindrift racing
May 9-11: GP Les Ambassadeurs
May 24-25: Open-de-Crans
June 4: Bol d’Or Mirabaud
June 7: Genève‐Rolle‐Genève
June 8-9: Open de Versoix
August 30-31: Open National Suisse
September 6-7: GP Grange & Cie
September 19-21: GP SNG
Maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2
January-April: modifications and optimization in Lorient (France).
July-August: stand-by for crewed North Atlantic record (NYC - Lizard Point) and the 24 hours.
November 2: Start of the solitary Route du Rhum race (Saint-Malo-Pointe-A-Pitre).
