yacht sailing watches

Best Sailing Watches: Nautical Options For Sailors

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

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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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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Best Sailing Watches in 2022 (From Budget to Luxury)

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Table of Contents

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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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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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.

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Incredible Yachting Watches

• By Yachting Staff
• Updated: April 10, 2015

Ideal for sailing, this watch features a bidirectional rotatable bezel made of platinum or gold to track elapsed sailing time; large hour markers and hands ensure legibility.

An automatic movement tracks the phases on the moon on the face of this watch , with a black, blue, or silver dial.

Evoking the feeling of a fine Cuban cigar, this limited edition of 99 watches is dedicated to the true cigar lover. (Not available until mid-June 2015.)

A vintage design, this watch features an internal rotating bezel with a Milanese mesh metal strap, a metallic blue retro dial, and 100m of water resistance.

With 24 karat gold and Grade-5 titanium, this watch is as high end as you can get and also features an alligator strap layered over stainless steel mesh and titanium carbide.

Limited to 100 pieces, this watch celebrates the 55th anniversary of the very first automatic winding movement Grand Seiko; the new model comes in white, yellow, or pink gold with coordinating Crocodile straps.

In honor of the yachtsmen of Emirates Team New Zealand, this watch comes in a limited edition of 2,013 pieces and features a regatta start countdown indicator, a matte black ceramic bezel, and a black rubber strap with red detailing throughout.

This watch features a minimalist dial and case design in rose gold with stenciled Arabic numerals and a mother of pearl moonphase indicator at 3 o’clock.

Touch-activated functions like meteorological forecasting abilities, a tide-calculator, and regatta countdown, among others, make this watch stand out from the rest, and it features a bi-material bracelet with a safety clip and extensions.

With neither dial nor hands, this watch is constructed so that it moves about its own axis; it also features UlyChoc shock absorbers and two silicium impulse wheels to maintain balance and minimize friction.

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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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Best sailing watches: 15 options for racing and cruising

Phil Sampson and Roger Hughes take a look at 12 of the best sailing watches available with functions for racing and cruising sailors

Photo: Garmin

Just as tablets and even smartphones have revolutionised how sailors use multifunction displays and instruments, so the latest smart watch technology has now firmly filtered into sailing. While we’re now familiar with using our watches to give us directions, make calls and send messages, and act as a repeater screen on our wrists ashore, so the latest sailing watches also make navigation, data and comms technology wearable afloat.

However, the cleverest watch is not always the best watch for sailing. For racing an extremely simple and speedy to operate model may suit better.

Price is not always an indicator of functionality either; even some of the least expensive sailing watches, like the Casio we showcase below, can be packed with features.

At the other end of the scale,  luxury horology brands – including Rolex, Panerai, and Omega among others – have long been closely associated with sailing, seeing it as the perfect sport to demonstrate their style, waterproof and ruggedised qualities, and accuracy.

In making our selection of the best sailing watches, we’ve chosen those with features specifically suitable for wearing aboard. That doesn’t mean, however, that they float, so be sure to do the clasp up securely and be wary of pulling off jacket sleeves in a hurry and losing your prized timepiece overboard!

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Best multi-function sailing watches.

Garmin MARQ Captain

Our top priced pick comes from wearable techno-specialists, Garmin. The MARQ Captain sailing watch comes packed with marine-relevant features.

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 lift or a header, a man overboard button and GPS.

The full extent of its capabilities is governed by the onboard technology to which it is connected, but possibilities include streaming boat data direct to your wrist wherever you are on the boat and controlling products from the Garmin-owned Fusion range of audio systems.

RRP: £1,699.99 / $1,850

Buy it now from Garmin

Buy it now from Westmarine.com

Buy it now from Jura Watches

Casio Tide Watch Orange

There’s no question that when it comes to affordable innovation, Casio is right up there.

Despite being one of the lowest priced watches in our selection, the Casio Tide Watch Orange is a highly functional piece of kit which, in addition to all the usual time, day and auto date functions also features a tide graph and lunar phase display.

More conventional sailing watch functions include a timer, stopwatch and LED might. It is water resistant to 100m and promises a 10-year battery life, all packed into a 43mm diameter case.

RRP: $82.99 / £62

Buy it now from Amazon

Garmin Quatix 6 sailing watch

See  MBY ‘s Garmin Quatix 6 review.

This watch we tried out at length – it is a very comprehensive design, with functions for every type of pastime on the water, including diving. It is a beautifully crafted and extraordinary wrist computer.

Garmin is well known for superior boating instruments and they have now managed to squeeze all the data of a ten-inch chartplotter into a 1.3” inch round sailing watch.

Bluetooth functionality means you can connect it to a Garmin chartplotter using the free Garmin Connect app, and to other makes of plotter using the Garmin transceiver (a $150 extra). This allows all the features of a chartplotter to be displayed on the watch, including charts and even autopilot control to allow you to change heading or follow a GPS route – provided it is also connected through the chartplotter.

The Quatix 6 also offers more typical smart watch functions including the ability to receive email and texts, can be used to control music on board, and monitors the user’s heart-rate.

It’s simple to switch between ‘boat display’ and ‘stylish watch’ modes, as hundreds of different watch faces that can be downloaded to customise it to the wearer’s preference, including an antique style face and even a copy of Big Ben. The Quatix 6 can also be switched between analogue and digital.

It’s overall diameter is 51mm (2” in) with a 36mm (1 5/8” in) viewable face, and it is 17mm (11/16”) thick. The Quatix 6’s weight is 83g (3oz) with the plastic strap or 156g (5.5oz) with the stainless band, which is quite a bit heavier than a conventional watch.

It is waterproof to 100 metres, sunlight readable and has a night light mode. The watch has a soft synthetic wristband, available in various colours.

A single charge will last 14 days with normal use, or there is also a solar-powered version for continuous self-charging (available at twice the price). But whatever you do, do not drop this sailing watch overboard, as it does not float!

RRP: £629 / $699

Buy it now on Amazon

Buy it now on eBay

Garmin Instinct outdoors watch

Read our Garmin Instinct review

Garmin also sent this watch for us to wear. The Instinct is Garmin’s all-round watch, which they call their outdoors watch. Features that are particularly relevant to sailors include 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 and heart rate monitor.

The Garmin Instinct is available in no fewer than 20 different styles and colours. It’s actual diameter is 47mm (1 13/16” in) but the viewable face is 32mm (1 1/4”). The Instinct is 16mm (5/8” in) thick and weighs 53g (2 oz).

For racing sailors it also has multiple start sequence options.

The Garmin Instinct watch is a good alternative for anyone seeking a more moderately priced alternative to the Quatix 6.

RRP: £269.99

Best sailing watches for racing

Ronstan ClearStart Race Timer

With wrist, hull, mast or boom mount options, the Swiss-made Ronstan ClearStart Race Timer is aimed squarely at racing sailors.

Made by renowned rigging and hardware company Ronstan, it’s a robust design with a secure elastic strap and substantial ‘bumper’ around the digital display.

The ClearStart Race Timer’s features include extra large, easy-press silicon buttons, a highlighted start/stop button, oversized 16 mm digits set in a 65mm rotating face and a double line display simultaneously showing the race countdown and time.

In addition, the ClearStart Race Timer offers ‘5-4-1-0’ and Match Racing start sequence programmes, making it a great choice for competitive sailors. Ruggedly constructed and built to last, this sailing watch weighs in at 92 grammes and is water resistant to 50 metres.

RRP: $119.95 / £85

Buy it now from West Marine

Optimum Time Series 14 Rechargeable sailing watch

Optimum Time’s bold coloured watches are popular among racing sailors from dinghies upwards, and the new rechargeable design makes it more sustainable for anyone who uses theirs frequently.

Featuring a 36mm diameter LCD display mounted within a bright red and black 68mm ABS case, Optimum Time’s Series 14 watch is a substantial device that is equally suited to being mounted on a mast or boom as your wrist, while the digits are large enough to allow crew to see the same timer as the skipper.

Waterproof to 5 ATM (i.e. capable of withstanding a pressure of 5 bar), the sailing watch is packed with useful features and comes complete with a bespoke USB charger clamp for convenient charging.

RRP: £85 / $111

Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer watch

This is a very striking analogue watch, designed to appeal specifically to racing sailors who don’t want a digital display. It features a racing countdown timers (from 5 mins, 3 mins or 1 minute), then after the start the chronometer automatically starts a race timer for up to one hour.

This is a larger than average design, at 46 mm (1.81” in) diameter and 14mm (0.55” in) thick.

However, this watch is complex to set up, as some functions require three buttons to be pressed in sequence. There is also no ‘reset’ button for anyone who misses their start sequence timer.

RRP: £132.99

Buy it now on the Watch Shop

Optimum Time Series 3 sailing watch

The popular ‘big yellow’ Optimum Time Series 3 is a lower priced, yet highly functional racing watch. And it truly is big – far too large for my wrist at a gigantic 65mm (2.56” in) diameter and 16mm (0.62” in) thick. It’s also available in colours other than yellow – including white, blue and pink.

An advantage for racing is that this watch is easy to read at a distance thanks to its huge 16mm digits. A bracket is supplied to fix it to a mast. It also has a sync button if you miss the start gun, and can then run a repeat sequence or race timer for handicap competitions.

Robust, and water resistant to 5 ATM, with a wide elasticated strap.

RRP: £59

Ronstan Clearstart RF4055 sailing watch

This sailing watch is another specialist racing design. Race mode features include multiple start sequence options, match racing timer and the ability to sync for an early or late start.

The Clearstart RF4055 is unusual in that it has a fibreglass case, which is available in striking yellow and red as well as the more subtle black. It has a 50mm (2″) diameter face, which is larger than most watches, with a 13mm (0.5″ in) digital display, and the weight is 74gm (2.61oz), though the buttons have a lower profile than some other race watches making it neater to wear on shore.

RRP: £85.95

Optimum Time Series 12 sailing watch

Another race timer with countdown time and pre-programmed start and audible warnings. Despite its more smart watch-style appearance, there is no GPS or interconnectivity, but you do get a countdown repeat option, World Sailing 5-4-1-0 start sequence pre-programmed with audible warning signals, and a sync button.

The Optimum Time Series 12 is available in many colours, but has a small 26mm (1.02” in) display, with 10mm (0.34” in) figures, which will make it hard to read in the middle of a hectic race start.

RRP: £95

Gill Race Watch Timer

This striking red and black Race Watch Timer is a sailing-specific watch developed exclusively for watersports apparel company Gill. It’s water resistant to an impressive 30 metres, with the timepiece unit encased in a reinforced carbon ABS plastic housing with a stainless steel back.

As well as telling the time, the sailing watch’s functions include countdown with synchro, day, date and alarm. There’s a keyboard lock feature to you don’t accidentally change the settings and an electro-luminescent backlight allows the wearer to check the data day or night.

A neat sleep feature preserves and prolongs battery life in a ruggedly constructed unit designed for durability and years of trouble-free service.

RRP: $110 / £75

Limit ProXR Countdown sailing watch

Limit has been producing watches for more than 110 years and specialises in offering a wide variety of styles at great value prices.

For a budget-friendly sailing watch option the Limit ProXR Countdown comes with a large, clear and easily readable display and is backed by a two year guarantee.

It also has a dual time display and stopwatch, countdown and pacer functionality. No fewer than five alarms can be set and there’s a night time illumination facility.

Available in a choice of orange/black or blue/black, the looks of this chunky 50 mm case diameter sailing watch certainly belie its low price tag.

RRP: £29.99

Buy it now on Nauticalia.com

What makes a good sailing watch?

The ability to read the time, countdown or data in a hurry or at an angle is key, so look out for digital readouts with large numbers – some sailing watches have the ability to switch from digital to analogue readouts – and screens that can be viewed in different qualities of daylight. Backlit functions are essential for anyone heading offshore, whether racing or cruising.

A well-fitting wristband or strap with a secure clasp is vital to keep the watch on your arm. Most sailing watches have soft rubber or synthetic wristbands, which are more durable in a marine environment, and safer than steel. Rubber straps are also lighter and easier to adjust.

If you plan to use your watch for race start timing, look for programmable start sequence options, a sync button, countdowns that switch to seconds in the final stages. A loud, clear alarm or ‘beep’ function that tells you time to the gun is particularly useful, so you can keep watching your course, trim and other boats around you during the final approach to the line rather than having to glance at your wrist.

You can read more about other types of GPS enabled and waterproof fitness trackers and smart watches at YBW.com

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Head to Amazon’s dedicated boating page for more marine products.

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A guide to some of the best watches for sailing

So, what makes a good sailing watch?

There is very little need in this day and age for a ship’s clock to tell accurate time. Not with the sheer amount of precise and practical luxury watches for sailing on offer on the market right now. Watches for sailing boast unique sporty appeal and are often worn just as much for their signature style as they are a tool for navigating the waters. Digital watches will give you millisecond accuracy, whilst analogue watches for sailing look classic with their traditional styling and a choice of different dial designs to pick from.

So, what makes a good sailing watch? Well, timepieces that hold up under adverse weather conditions and extreme external environments are, of course, a given – therefore some sort of water resistance is required, alongside a selection of strong, corrosive-resistant materials. As well as size, the strap of a sailing watch should also be carefully considered. Whilst metal bracelets that are resistant to saltwater are a good idea, synthetic bands and rubber straps are also remarkably practical since these dry quickly and offer comfort on the wrist for hours and hours of wear. So, here is a guide to some of the best watches for sailing on the market. The list is a mix of affordable and high-end watches, demonstrating the broad range of straps, dial colours, and materials on offer.

Omega Speedmaster X-33 Regatta

The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Regatta watch has a Professional Regatta Function that comes in handy for all sailing-related tasks. Whilst out on the water, the watch is both stylish and comfortable. The watch is limited to 2,017 pieces worldwide and was developed as a tribute to Emirates Team New Zealand's bid to win the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda. If you press the race button at 10 o’clock the watch switches into a countdown mode where it will measure the first hour of a sailing or yacht race. Two races with ten buoys can also be tracked in the logbook, whilst the rest of the digital functions include two alarms, a perpetual calendar, calendar and three different time zone features. Crafted from lightweight titanium, the Omega Speedmaster X-33 Regatta watch had to make our list of the best watches for sailing. It also features 30-meter water resistance and a black nylon strap with blue contrast stitching to match the blue elements around the edge of the black dial. 

Rolex Yacht-Master II

For those that can afford to spend good money on a watch for sailing, the Rolex Yacht-Master II watch is primed for such tasks. Not just that, but like all Rolex watches, it’s a life companion, thanks to its strong and robust Oystersteel case. This highly resistant superalloy is integrated with 100-meter water resistance and is powered by an automatic movement that offers up to 72 hours of power reserve. Tailored for Regatta races, the Rolex Yacht-Master II has a rotating bezel that acts as a programmable countdown. Skippers can gauge their best course of action whilst out on the water. The bezel can be set and synchronised to the sequence of race start times, working in conjunction with the movement as opposed to working independently. Additional features of this sailing watch include a white dial with dark blue and red accents, a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock, and a stop seconds for precise timing.

Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta

Although the Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta watch can be used as a standard chronograph it can also count down from a pre-set race time. What’s more, once the race has started, it can count up. The large 44mm sailing watch is water-resistant to 100 meters and features a screw-down crown and caseback, together with a crown security feature. Its navy dial with splashes of sporty yellow assists the legible hands as they make their way around the dial equipped with a date window at 6 o’clock. The watch also features a rugged dial for an easy grip and is powered by an in-house developed movement – the Calibre UN-155.

Casio SGW-100-1V

For a more budget-friendly sailing watch option, the Casio SGW-100-IV watch is a sports companion with a thermometer, digital compass, temperature sensor and world time function. A stopwatch and an automatic LED illuminator enable you to see everything you need whilst out on the water at night, plus its 200-meter water-resistant stainless steel case comes fitted on a supple rubber strap, enabling it to dry quickly if submerged in water or splashed whilst sailing the waves.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Chronograph

The Aquaracer line of watches from TAG Heuer was always intended as an instrument for professionals and adventurers. Although there are several different variations available on the market, they all share the same characteristics – superior water resistance, a legible dial and a sporty, energetic aesthetic. Perfect for satisfying any boat owner, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Chronograph watch makes our list of top watches for sailing since it features 300 meters of water resistance, luminous hour markers and hands, a date window at 3 o’clock and a large 45mm stainless steel diameter. The surface of the dial is protected by a lens of anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass, making it super easy to reference the dial without any undesirable glare affecting your view. In addition to this, the Aquaracer watch features a 30-minute sub-counter at 12 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock and a small seconds dial at 9 o’clock. These features are surrounded by a unidirectional rotating bezel, so if you do decide to take a plunge off the deck and into the water, you can keep track of remaining dive time without the risk of the bezel accidentally extending your time underwater.

Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer watch

One of the key features that make this sailing watch so practical is its yacht racer mode. The Timex Intelligent Quartz Yacht Racer watch is an affordable yet functional tool with injections of vibrant yellow running throughout its design. It offers three different countdown timers for one, three and five minutes, as well as an alarm that signals the last 5 seconds of the regatta timer. Accessing the time is straightforward, thanks to rectangular indexes and vivid blue and red elements to enhance legibility. This sailing watch is also 100-meter water-resistant and is powered by a reliable and highly accurate quartz movement.

Tissot Men’s Sailing Touch Watch

Having built the Touch technology over twenty years ago, the Sailing Touch watch from Tissot features a tide-calculator and a regatta countdown in one. The touch-activated functions are encased within a profile that mirrors the lines of a yacht. What’s more, the sailing watch boasts cleat-shaped pushers, a bi-metal bracelet and a special safety clip for extending over wet weather gear. Amongst the features of this watch for sailing are an EOL (battery end-of-life indicator), a meteo, a compass, 2 alarms, a perpetual calendar, a tide function, a regatta function, a speed chrono function, 2 time zones and backlight functions. The watch measures 45mm in width and wraps around the wrist with a supple rubber strap.

Corum Admiral AC One 45 Tides

Crafted from lightweight titanium, this broad 45mm watch for sailing has been manufactured by Corum and belongs to the brand’s Admiral collection. A sapphire crystal glass front protects the surface of a vivid blue dial adorned with luminous hour markers and partially skeletonised hands. These rhodium-coated hands are sent around the display via the calibre CO 277 automatic movement, capable of producing a 42-hour power reserve. A blue vulcanized rubber strap, securing with a triple folding buckle completes the look of the sporty Corum Admiral AC One 45 Tides watch. The sailing companion can indicate the time and strengths of the tide as well as the phases of the moon, the currents of the tides and the height of the tides. The 9 o’clock sub-dial will let you know whether the tide is ebbing or rising, the 12 o’clock location shows you the phases of the moon, the tidal movement and the strength of the tides, and the 6 o’clock location shows two tides for the following 24 hours.

Luminor Regatta Chrono Flyback

Lastly, the Panerai Luminor Regatta Chrono Flyback is a beast of a sailing watch, measuring in at 47mm on the wrist.Top of the range this is considered the true sailing watch above every other manufacturers.It is powered by a recent technical innovation – the P.9100/R automatic chronograph calibre. It can precede the time measurement of a race with a countdown stage, which clearly displays the minutes and seconds remaining before the start of the race itself. Crafted from corrosion-resistant titanium, the model is one of the best sailing watches out there on the market right now and features 100-meter water resistance, a black rubber strap, a 12-hour totaliser at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, a central chronograph hand, and chronograph minutes hand.

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Best Sailing Watches Reviews: Our Pick of the Top Models & Buyer’s Guide

Are you a sailing enthusiast? There’s nothing quite like the thrill of getting out on the water for some fun. Sailing is a challenging skill filled with ups and downs that will test your mettle against the elements of the ocean or lake.

Sailors rely on their position to show them their course while at sea. Without accurate positioning, it’s hard to tell where you are in the race and if you’re on the right course to win the event.

A sailing watch gives you everything you need to keep your position and time. These watches come with chronograph functionality for precision timekeeping, and they are available in smart and analog models.

This review unpacks the best sailing watches for your next aquatic experience. We’ll look at some of the top models and make our recommendations on the best sailing watch for your activities and budget.

Our Top Picks

• The Best Overall Sailing Watch – Garmin Quatix 6 The Garmin Quatix 6 wins our award for the best overall sailing watch. This smart model comes with a clean look, featuring stainless steel casing and a sapphire display. You get a bevy of smart functions in the watch, including GPS and timing functions.
• The Best Premium Sailing Watch – SUUNTO 9 The SUUNTO 9 wins our award for the best premium sailing watch in this review. This smart model comes with GPS and timing functions, and you get a host of functions and features with great battery life. This model is expensive, but it’s a great choice if you want the best sailing watch available.
• The Best Budget Sailing Watch – Garmin Instinct The Garmin Instinct wins our award for the best budget model in this review. This smart sailing watch brings you outstanding functionality and a military-spec design. You get plenty of features, including GPS and timing functions. Best of all, this smart model comes with an affordable price tag.

Sailing Watches Reviews

The best overall sailing watch – garmin quatix 6.

If you’re looking for a high-quality sailing watch offering you excellent performance in all conditions, we recommend the Garmin Quatix 6. This smartwatch features a rugged design with a sense of sophistication to its looks. We like the stainless steel bezel buttons and trim around the face providing a classy look to the watch.

You get a 1.3″ display that’s easy to read, with a simple interface providing a user-friendly experience. The watch comes with the Garmin QuickFit band system for easy adjustment to your wrist. The Quatix 6 connects to Garmin Chartplotters, allowing you to stream data to the watch.

• Provides comprehensive connectivity with compatible Garmin chartplotters and other devices (GPSMAP 7x2/9x2/12x2 Plus GPSMAP 10x2/12x2 GPSMAP 74/7600 GPSMAP 84/8600 GHC 20 GNX Wind GNT 10)
• Rugged sophisticated design features an always-on 1 3” display stainless steel bezel buttons rear case and QuickFit band system
• Improved sail racing assistance includes virtual starting line distance to start line race countdown timer and tack assist
• Preloaded apps for boating tides autopilot control Fusion-Link anchor fishing and GNT 10
• Support for optional BlueChart g3 coastal charts and LakeVü g3 inland maps with improved chart presentation for the latest in Garmin marine cartography

The Autopilot feature on the Quatix 6 lets you control the boat even when you’re not at the helm. The Autopilot app allows you to change your heading, follow a pre-planned GPS route or engage pattern steering. The Fusion-link app also allows full control of your entertainment system from the watch interface.

The Quatix 6 gives you all the critical data you need for your position and heading. The watch measures engine RPMs, water depth, wind, and much more. You also get waypoint marking included with the Quatix 6. Mark your favorite fishing spots and destinations so you can return to them later.

Garmin included support for Navionics data and a full range of charts for the east and west coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. Create virtual starting lines, and the track-assist function allows you to see if you’re on course or lifting.

The Quatix 6 includes preloaded topographic maps, multi-GNSS support, altimeter, and compass. The clean and crisp display is minimalistic, with all the data you need to improve your sailing experience. We rate the Garmin Quatix 6 as the best overall sailing watch in this review.

What We Liked

• Classic look with stainless steel finishes.
• Maps included and Navionics data available.
• Autopilot feature.
• Waypoint marking and Sail-Assist function.
• Comprehensive connectivity.

The Best Premium Sailing Watch – SUUNTO 9

If you’re looking for the best premium sailing watch, we recommend going with the SUUNTO 9 Baro & Peak. This smartwatch is the pinnacle of technology for sailing enthusiasts. The SUUNTO 9 comes with a durable design, with raised bezels to prevent scratching of the watch face.

You get a multisport GPS with accurate positioning and a 120-hour run time between charges. This model connects to your favorite sports and health apps with a 300-foot water-resistant rating. The intelligent GPS won’t run down the battery without compromising accuracy.

• Suunto 9 Baro: This durable multisport GPS watch is designed for athletes who demand the best; Featuring over 80 sports modes, a barometer for accurate altitude info, and wrist heart rate monitor
• Built To Last: Made for training, racing and extreme adventures, this GPS watch delivers up to 120 hours of continuous exercise tracking; Water resistant to 100 meters; Great for running, hiking, cycling and more
• Get Connected: Connect to your favorite sports apps and services from the Suunto app to get more from your watch; Share with your sports communities and access specific training analysis and guidance
• Adventure Starts Here: Combining Scandinavian design with ultra durable materials, our watches track your sports, daily activity, and sleep to help you keep life, training and recovery in balance
• Authentic Heritage: Founded in 1936, Suunto brings over 80 years of high-quality heritage craftsmanship, relentless accuracy, and pioneering innovation to our watches, compasses, and dive products. Proudly made with 100% renewable energy

There’s an altimeter barometer included in the watch, and the unique FusedTrack algorithm tracks your distance accuracy through the use of GPS and motion sensor data. This smartwatch also syncs with your calls, messages, and emails, allowing you to stay connected out on the water.

The 2-inch watch face features large, legible numbers and letters, and you get a high-quality rubberized strap for durable wear. The clean look of the bezel and buttons make this watch ideal for sports use, casual wear, and semi-formal use.

Overall, the SUUNTO 9 is a great choice for your sailing watch, but it comes with a steep price tag. Still, if you’re looking for the best model in this review, you can’t go wrong with the SUUNTO 9.

• Attractive design.
• Large 2-inch face.
• Comfortable strap.
• Apps and GPS data are available.
• Connects to messages and communications.

The Best Budget Sailing Watch – Garmin Instinct

If you’re searching for the best budget deal in this review, we recommend going with the Garmin Instinct. This sailing watch comes in your choice of 34 different colors. You get a rugged military-spec design, making the watch capable of handling the most demanding environments.

The Instinct meets 810G Military standards for shock, thermal, and water resistance up to 300-feet. You get a built-in 3-axis compass in the watch and a barometric altimeter. The Instinct includes multiple global navigation systems, including GPS, Galileo, or Glonass. As a result of the multi-GPS systems, the Instinct provides accurate positioning data.

• Rugged GPS watch built to withstand the toughest environments.Supported Application:GPS,Fitness Tracker,Heart Rate Monitor,Sleep Monitor. Connectivity technology:GPS. Wireless comm standard:Bluetooth
• Constructed to U.S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance (rated to 100 meters)
• Built in 3 axis compass and barometric altimeter, plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, Glonass and Galileo) support helps track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
• Monitor your estimated heart rate, activity and stress; Train with preloaded activity profiles
• Stay connected with smart notifications (with a compatible smartphone) and automatic data uploads to the Garmin connect online fitness community

The Instinct includes estimated heart rate, daily activity levels, and athletic strain. You also have the option of using the pre-installed activity profiles. The Garmin Instinct also provides you with smart notifications for your devices, and you get an auto-upload of your data to the Garmin fitness community.

The Instinct comes with the Garmin “Tracback” feature, offering you auto navigation of the same route to your starting point. The Instinct comes with excellent battery life, with up to 14-days standby in smartwatch mode, 16-hours in GPS mode, and up to 40-hours in the Ultratrac battery-saver mode.

Overall, the Garmin Instinct offers you the best value deal in this review. It’s a highly functional watch with everything you need to enjoy your time out on the water.

• Affordable quality.
• 3-stage GPS.
• Built-in 3-axis compass.
• Smartwatch vital monitoring.
• 34-colors available.

The SUUNTO 7 is another great choice for your sailing watch. This model comes with a similar feel and interface to the SUUNTO 9 but with a price tag that’s half the cost of the SUUNTO 9. This watch features an attractive design, with a large 2-inch face and raised stainless steel or titanium bezels. With the adjustable rubber strap, you get a clean look, ensuring the watch sits securely on your wrist.

The SUUNTO 7 comes with 70-sports modes and a heart rate monitor. You get access to GPS functions, supporting Navionics data and maps. Connect to the SUUNTO app and bring the smartwatch to life with a range of custom functions.

• Suunto 7: This versatile smart watch combines Suunto's sports expertise with smartwatch technology; Track exercise accurately with access to more than 70 sports modes, GPS, and wrist heart rate sensor
• Make Life Easier: Compatible with Android and iOS phones, the Suunto 7 is powered by Wear OS by Google so you can see incoming calls and messages, make payments with your watch and download music to your watch to listen offline
• Authentic Heritage: Founded in 1936, Suunto brings over 80 years of high quality heritage craftsmanship, relentless accuracy, and pioneering innovation to our watches, compasses, and dive products

The SUUNTO 7 features the Google Wear OS, making it simple to integrate to any tech and your accounts. Download your favorite podcasts and music, and use the watch to Bluetooth it to your boat speaker system. This watch comes with the option of setting up dozens of widgets to enhance its functionality.

The SUUNTO 7 comes with smart battery technology. You get up to 40-days battery life in battery-saver mode, up to 2-days in smartwatch mode, and up to 12-hours in GPS mode. Overall, this model might not be as powerful as the SUUNTO 9, but you get a highly functional watch at half the price. There are eight colors to choose from when purchasing your SUUNTO 7.

• Compatible with Google apps.
• Accurate GPS tracking.
• Displays vital information like heart rate.
• Download music and podcasts.
• Long battery life.
• Eight color options.

SUUNTO Core

SUUNTO makes some of the best smartwatch models available, and the Core is another example of tech that enhances your sailing experience. The SUUNTO Core is a versatile smartwatch ideal for use out on the water. You get a range of connectivity features for your messages, calls, and emails, and plenty of apps and widgets to download to improve the functionality of this smartwatch.

The Core comes with a black face featuring red accents, giving it an appealing look—the raised bezels on the edges with navigational markings along the edges. The rugged nylon strap is water-resistant and tear-proof, ensuring a secure fit to your wrist.

• The daily companion in the mountains and on skiing tours – Ideal for all altitudes
• Storm warnings, Temperature, Time-, Date-, and Alarm functions, 12 month Battery life in time mode
• High durability thanks to aluminium case, Waterproof up to 30m (to ISO6425)
• Contents: 1x Suunto Core multisport watch (unisex), USB cable, Band length: 24.5 cm, Black/Red, SS023158000
• International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions.

The SUUNTO Core comes with a barometric altimeter, compass, and depth gauge. You get real-time alerts for storm warnings, the air temperature, and a highly impact-resistant aluminum casing that’s nearly indestructible and scratch-resistant. The watch is waterproof up to 100-feet, and you get an easy-to-read face with large numbers and letters.

Overall, the Core offers you a great range of functions for your time out on the water. It’s an affordable watch in the smartwatch category and a fantastic choice for your first sailing watch.

• Attractive looks with a Nylon strap and red accents on the face.
• Barometric altimeter and compass.
• Connects to Android and Apple devices.

Citizen Eco-Drive ProMaster Sailhawk

Citizen have a legacy of manufacturing high-quality watches at affordable prices. The Eco-Drive ProMaster Sailhawk is a great example of a sailing-specific watch in the Citizen range, with a reasonable price tag.

The Sailhawk comes with a bright orange or blue color on the strap and bezel of the watch. The rest of the watch body features design and construction with stainless steel for corrosion resistance and an elegant look to the timepiece.

• 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 Orange Polyurethane Strap
• Retractable Hands and Mineral Crystal
• 200 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty

This watch features 30-time zones, a yacht racing timer, a 99-minute countdown timer, split-lap times, and two alarm settings. You get water resistance up to 600-feet and a 5-year warranty included with the Sailhawk.

This model is a great choice for anyone looking for an analog sailing watch without smart capabilities. There are two digital displays for the time zone and digital time. You get luminous hands and markings for low-light viewing and three low-profile function buttons.

The Sailhawk comes in a large plastic carry box. You get a one-touch interchangeable digital/analog time, digital backlit display, retractable hands, Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) display, and daylight savings time indicator.

Considering the price, the Sailhawk offers you excellent value for money and is one of the best sailing watches in this review.

• Rugged design featuring stainless steel construction.
• Eco-Drive technology means no battery changes.
• Yacht racing timer.
• 600-feet water resistance.
• 5-year warranty.

Casio Pro Trek

Casio has a reputation for manufacturing some of the best digital watches on the market. In the 80s and 90s, Casio dominated the entry-level watch market. Four decades later, the company still manufactures high-quality digital watches at an affordable price. The Pro Trek model is another great choice for your sailing watch.

The Pro Trek features a rugged design with the solar-powered operation and Multi-band atomic timekeeping. The attractive aluminum casing adds to the rugged look of the watch, and you get raised bezels with compass markings and luminous readouts on the face.

• Tough Solar Power, 100M Water Resistant, Low Temperature Resistant (-10 C / 14 F), Altimeter, Digital Compass, Barometer, Thermometer. Thermometer Display range: -10 to 60 C (14 to 140 F) Display unit: 0.1 C (0.2 F)
• Full Auto LED (Super Illuminator) Backlight with Afterglow, World Time, 31 time zones (48 cities + UTC), city name display, daylight saving on/off, Sunrise/Sunset Data, 5 Daily Alarms (4 one-time and 1 snooze alarm)
• Hourly Time Signal, 1/10 Second Stopwatch, Countdown Timer, 12/24 Hour Formats, Button operation tone on/off
• Storage Battery: Solar Rechargeable Battery, Battery Level Indicator
• Power Saving Function, Approx. Battery Life: 9 months on full charge (without further exposure to light), Module 3415

The Pro Trek comes with all the functionality you need in a sailing watch. There’s a duplex LCD, tide graph, moon cycle data, digital compass and altimeter, barometer, and thermometer. The watch face has full LED backlighting for viewing in low-light conditions and fire alarms, along with a 1/100th second stopwatch function.

There is a battery level indicator and a power-saving function. You get an auto-calendar and countdown timer with a solar-charged battery on this model. The Pro Trek offers you 5-months of operations without any exposure to sunlight.

The Pro Trek is water-resistant to 600-feet, and it comes with five alarms. Overall, the Casio Pro Trek is a great choice for your sailing watch, and it comes with an affordable price tag to boot.

• Rugged aluminum body.
• Plenty of functions.
• Solar-powered operation.

Tissot Sailing-Touch

Tissot is another name in sailing watches that stands out from the pack. This Sailing-Touch model is another great example of a purpose-built sailing watch for your aquatic adventure.

This Tissot model comes with a 45mm stainless steel casing design for the watch body and a blue accent on the face and bezel. The hands are luminous, allowing for reading the time and data in low-light conditions.

• Stainless steel watch featuring techymeter bezel and black dial with luminous hands, perpetual calendar, and chronograph functionality
• 45 mm stainless steel case and antireflective sapphire dial window
• Swiss quartz movement with analog-digital display
• Rubber band and fold-over clasp with safety closure
• Water resistant to 100 m (330 ft)

The Sailing-Touch features a sapphire dial for scratch-resistance and durability, and you get water resistance up to 330-feet with this watch. The Sailing-Touch includes a perpetual calendar and chronograph functionality. You get real Swiss Quartz movement and a hybrid analog/digital display with a backlighting function.

We like the Histogram function, showing you the evolution of relative pressure over the last 6 hours. You also get the minute hand indicating the tide at your chosen location, and the hour hand shows the low or high tide.

The Sailing-Touch also comes with a “regatta” function, allowing you to set the countdown from zero to ten minutes. The watch transforms into a racing chronograph when the countdown timer reaches zero. The digital display also notes the air temperature, and the compass function keeps your navigation on track.

• Clean design.
• Sapphire anti-scratch face.
• Blue-accent bezels.
• Stainless steel casing.

Casio G Shock Mudman

Who can forget the launch of the legendary “G-Shock” series from Casio? These watches were the hottest fashion item in the 80s and 90s, and for a good reason. These Casio watches are incredibly durable and the choice of many military operators.

The Casio G-Shock Mudman is a great choice for your sailing watch. This model comes with a mineral crystal display for durability and shock resistance. You get solar-power operation meaning the battery will never run out, and the buttons are all mud-resistant.

• Featuring a Black Band, Black Case, Scratch Resistant Mineral Crystal

You get a 600-foot water-resistant rating with the Mudman and plenty of features. The Mudman comes with moon [phase data, thermometer, digital compass, and backlighting with afterglow function. This watch comes with a preprogrammed calendar, world time, a stopwatch, and a countdown timer.

The G-Shock Mudman has a rubberized casing with a tick bezel and oversized buttons. It’s the ideal choice for sailors with larger hands looking for a durable watch that lasts a lifetime. The Mudman comes with a comfortable, adjustable rubber strap and a power-saving function for the battery.

• Classic G-Shock quality.
• Mud-resistant buttons.
• Sturdy shock-proof design.
• Digital compass.

Invicta I-Force

If you’re looking for an affordable and effective sailing watch, we recommend going with the Invicta I-Force. Invicta is one of the new timekeeping brands on the market. The company is making waves in the industry thanks to the high-quality materials and styling used in its watch design. The I-Force is a perfect example of one of the company’s elite products.

The I-Force comes with a 51mm stainless steel casing for durability and a classy look. You get blue dials on the watch that contrasts impressively against the brushed stainless steel. The watch face features design and construction with scratch-resistant flame fusion crystal. The rubber wrist band is completely adjustable for a secure fit, and you get a lightweight, powerful design for the watch.

• Stainless steel case 51mm diameter x 12.5mm thick; Black dial; Luminous hands
• Japanese quartz movement, VD57 Caliber; Assembled in Japan; SR920SW battery included; Watch weight: 164 grams
• Black polyurethane band, 210mm L x 26mm W; Buckle clasp
• Flame Fusion crystal; Screw-down crown; Stationary stainless steel bezel with blue top bezel ring; Functional Subdials: 60min, 60sec, 1/10th sec; 100 meter water resistant: Suitable for recreational surfing, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and water sports. Not suitable for diving.

The I-Force comes with several handy functions for sailors. There’s a 60-second and 1/10th second chronograph, luminous paint on the hands, and hour marking for easy reading in low-light conditions.

Overall, this watch has an impressive look, with classy use of stainless steel and plenty of features. Considering the price tag, it makes an excellent choice for an entry-level sailing watch.

• Very affordable.
• Polyurethane rubber strap.
• Chronograph functionality.
• Luminous hands.
• Flame fusion crystal face.

Other Best Selling Options

• 38mm x 20mm display size. Single row display. Massive 16mm digit height. Adjustable viewing angle.
• 5,4,1,0 ISAF start sequence pre-programmed with audible warning signals (can be silenced if preferred).
• Boom/Mast Mount Bracket Supplied. Elasticated Strap for Wrist or over sleeve wearing.
• Countdown repeat option or Countdown and Up to show elapsed time for handicap races.
• Large 65mm overall ABS case. Shock Resistant Construction. Water Resistant to 5 ATM.

• Great Product

Sailing Watches Buyer’s Guide

After reading through the reviews of the best sailing watches, it’s time to decide on the right one for you. However, choosing the right sailing watch requires you the understand what you’re looking at.

This section will unpack the features and characteristics of sailing watches and what to look for in a prospective timepiece.

What is a Sailing Watch?

If you’re an avid sailor, it’s time to get yourself a timepiece that exemplifies your sport. A sailing watch, also known as a “regatta” or yachting watch, is ideal for sailing enthusiasts. The sailing watch is a timepiece dedicated to the sport, offering you the chance to capture accurate timekeeping during the journey.

If you’re into racing sailboats or yachts, you know that it’s challenging to line up at the starting line before the race. You’ll need to learn how to control the wind while waiting for the countdown to the race. It’s in these moments that a countdown timer pays dividends.

You’ll start your countdown timer at the resounding signal. The regatta watch gives you a measurement of progress and speed concerning time. With the right watch, you hit the start line right as the horn sounds at the beginning of the race.

A sailing watch is an essential piece of equipment for anyone that enjoys racing boats. This guide to sailing watches unpacks everything you need to know about these exquisite timepieces.

What are the Benefits of Sailing Watches?

Investing your hard-earned money in a sailing watch is money well-spent for yachting enthusiasts. If you enjoy getting into the outdoors and onto the water, they make a great watch for many different activities and sports, not just sailing.

The regatta watch is rugged and reliable, and it requires a sense of style. After all, you’re going to be flashing it around the yacht club, and you need a decent timepiece on your wrist, right? Most yachting enthusiasts require a sailing watch for several important actions.

The regatta watch will help you with timekeeping and tracking the weather, ad some also feature integrated GPS for easy reading of your position out on the water. Typically, the sailing watch has a straightforward design, without as many functions as you would receive in other sports-specific models. They focus on doing what the sailor needs – keeping time.

The sailing watch is easy to read and use and stylish, offering you a functional watch with an eye-catching aesthetic for dressing down or up.

What are the Types of Sailing Watches?

Sailing watches are available in a range of designs from several manufacturers. Sailing or “regatta” watches come in different models to suit your budget and activities out on the water. These dedicated marine watches have water-resistant features and materials for long-term use at sea.

You have options for analog, analog/digital, and smartwatches in this category. The models listed in our review represent the best of what we could find online. You have options for digital, analog, automatic, chronograph, dress, and quartz watches to suit your style and budget.

There are dozens of brands available, and we chose top manufacturers for the products in this review.

What are the Features of the Best Sailing Watches?

The best sailing watches come with basic features for timekeeping. However, manufacturing brands added several functions to these watches over the years. The introduction of the smartwatch added way more functionality to sailing watches, with some models having more than 70-functions.

Analog models come with hands and luminous markings for reading in the dark or with a backlit operation and glow function to help you tell the time in low-light conditions. The countdown timer is the most important feature of the watch, allowing you to get the best start to your race.

Let’s unpack some of the other critical features you need to look for in the best sailing watches.

The watch’s casing should feature design and construction with lightweight, durable materials. The classic watch designs usually use stainless steel in the casing, stopping any form of corrosion from damaging the look of the watch and its internal components.

Smartwatch models typically feature a durable plastic or rubberized casing to absorb shock and prevent damage to the watch. Most classic designs have thicknesses ranging to 45mm, with a 1.3-inch watch face.

The new smartwatch models may feature a thicker design to accommodate the electrical and digital components of the watch. The Regatta watch must stand up to the test of being in saltwater all time, whether your sailing, snorkeling, or diving.

Depending on the model and the manufacturing brand, you can pick up a regatta watch at varying price points. There’s a reason why we left Rolex out of this review; not everyone has the kind of money to purchase one of those timepieces.

This review contains ten choices for the best sailing watches. We took our time to curate the list based on the watch’s functionality and its price tag. The models listed in this review all offer you value for money, and they won’t blow your budget.

What Straps are Available for Sailing Watches?

The sailing watch is available in a wide range of designs. Most of them feature straps that stand up to the test of being out in the elements. You can choose the strap to match the watch and your sense of style.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel and titanium wrist straps are popular for more expensive models. These straps are ideal for people that want to wear their sailing watch as a dress timepiece. Stainless steel offers you the best corrosion resistance, and it’s a very strong, durable material. Typically, these straps come with links, and you might need to visit a jeweler to adjust the strap to fit your wrist.

Leather is another common material used in strap design for sailing watches. Leather is a great compliment to a classic-style sailing watch and durable materials. However, continuous exposure to the elements on your yachting trips may cause the strap to wear out faster than other materials.

Rubber or Synthetic

Most sailing watches come with rubberized or synthetic straps. These straps are durable, lo9ng-lasting, and easy to maintain. They won’t tear or weather in the salt air, and they are available in a range of colors to suit your style.

What Functions Do I Get with Sailing Watches?

What are the top features to look for in a sailing watch? This section unpacks the basic components and design elements of regatta watches.

Time and Date

Of course, the watch should offer you the time and the date. Analog models will use hands to read the time, but some might have a digital display alongside the analog operation.

Water-Resistance

As a sailor, you probably get in and out of the water all the time. So, it would help if you had a watch that matches your lifestyle, with the right water-resistant rating for your activities. Most regatta watches come with a water-resistant rating between 100 to 600-feet. When choosing your watch, make sure it has stainless steel components to prevent the watch from rusting.

Countdown Timer

The sailing watch is all about accurate timekeeping. The countdown timer in the watch is essential for helping you get the right start to the race. Look for models that have up0 to a 99-minute countdown timer. Typically, you’ll need at least a 30-minute timer for your race.

Chronometer

As mentioned, the regatta watch is all about accurate timekeeping. Most of the top models include a chronograph in the design. The chronometer is not only important for assessing time, but it’s also useful for calculating your longitude at sea.

Compass and Barometer

The best sailing watches come with a compass to help you navigate. Typically, analog or semi-digital sailing watches have the compass feature, while smartwatch designs rely on GPS for positioning information. The compass can come in handy, especially when you want to check your course on the fly.

The best sailing watches also include a barometer and altimeter. These features let you understand the air pressure and make adjustments to what you think the weather is going to do on your trip. A barometric altimeter can help you predict storms and bad weather, helping you to mitigate these risks in your float plan.

Tide information

The tide is critical to launching and returning to the marina. Some waters are not possible to navigate during low tide, and you’ll need to know what the water is doing if you want to avoid damage to your sailboat.

The best sailing watches offer you tide information. They can tell you the current tide status and when you can expect the tide to change.

Multiple Time Zone Information

The best sailing watches come with multi-time zone compatibility. The watch should offer you the time in several different zones, with some watches in this review offering you up to 30 different time zones.

When taking long trips, you need to keep your timekeeping accurate as you switch between time zones.

GPS and Other Features

Many of the best sailing watches are digital models, including GPS in its range of functions. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are vital in giving you accurate location data for your position. If you’re calling the coast guard for assistance, you’ll need to let them know where you are. Giving the rescue team your exact coordinates will help them rescue you faster.

Most sailing watches with GPS function come with a set of maps built into the device interface. Some allow for map upgrades to extend the watches coverage of lakes and waterways around the United States. A GPS on your sailing watch could end up saving your life in rough weather.

The GPS in the watch also allows you to save your waypoints and routes, making navigation easier. They also allow you to mark dive spots and fishing grounds for easy identification on return trips.

While we all want the best functionality out of our sailing watch, we also need to ensure a stylish look. We have a model in this review to suit your tastes.

From the sleek, modern look of the Garmin Quatix 6 to the classic styling of the Invicta, there is a sailing watch in this review to suit your personal style.

Smart Sailing Watches Vs. Analog Sailing Watches

When assessing the best sailing watches, you have options for traditional analog models and smartwatches. The analog model is the conventional choice, and many sailors prefer analog models over smartwatches.

With an analog model, you don’t have to worry about the battery draining or the electronics in the watch malfunctioning. However, smart sailing watches offer you a bevy of functions, including GPS, that you can’t find on analog models.

Smartwatch models are typically more expensive than analogs, and they require more maintenance. You’ll need to ensure you fully charge the watch the night before going out on the water to have enough battery life for the trip. The last thing you need is for the watch to die on you when you’re navigating your way back to the marina.

The Best Sailing Watches FAQ

Q: what is a chronograph.

A: The word “chronometer” comes from the Greek language, meaning “timekeeper.” Chronometers are precision time measurement instruments, and they must meet international test conditions. The organization monitoring chronograph standards is the Swiss organization “Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC).” This organization tests all chronographs for 15-days in five positions and at three temperature levels.

Q: Do I go with a digital or analog sailing watch?

A: You have options for choosing digital or analog sailing watches. If you’re going out onto the water with a smartwatch design, you’ll need to ensure you have a charged battery and somewhere to set the watch if it goes flat. Analog watches don’t have this issue, and they are substantially more affordable than digital smart sailing watches. However, analog models don’t offer you the same range of functionality as digital smartwatches.

Q: How do I use a sailing watch?

A: Using a sailing watch isn’t as challenging as you think. You’ll sail from the beginning of the start/finish line to the other side. Use the lines marked at three or nine o’clock on the face to site your destination. If you find yourself steering on a course where you’re on the (+) side of the line, you’re on the best heading to win the race.

Q: Where can I buy the best sailing watches?

A: We recommend buying your sailing watch from Amazon. Amazon is the world’s largest marketplace with the best selection and prices. Prime members get free shipping and buyer protection on their orders. Sure, you could take a trip to the local jeweler for your sailing watch. However, we doubt you’ll find the same selection and great prices that you get in this review.

Sailing Watches – The Verdict

After reading the review and buyer’s guide for the best sailing watches, you probably have your eye on a specific timepiece for your activities out on the water. However, with so many great options in this review, you might find yourself struggling to make a purchase decision.

We get it; it’s challenging to make a decision when you have so many great options in front of you. If that’s the case, why not go with one of our top picks? We have a sailing watch to suit your needs and your budget.

• The Best Overall Sailing Watch – Garmin Quatix 6
• The Best Premium Sailing Watch – SUUNTO 9
• The Best Budget Sailing Watch – Garmin Instinct

John is an experienced journalist and veteran boater. He heads up the content team at BoatingBeast and aims to share his many years experience of the marine world with our readers.

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The 5 Best Sailing Watches With GPS

The 5 best sailing watches with GPS are listed below.

• Best Overall : Garmin Instinct
• Best For Features : Garmin Fēnix 5
• Best For Price : Suunto Traverse Alpha
• Best For Underwater : Garmin Descent MK1
• Best For Battery Life : Garmin Quatix 5x Sapphire

A great sailing watch with GPS tells the time, fits comfortably, looks stylish, offers the latest tech, is suitable in all marine environments, is waterproof and customizable, and provides GPS data to the person wearing the watch.

In recent years, the evolution of wearable technology has significantly enhanced the functionality of sailing watches with GPS, making them indispensable tools for sailors seeking precision and convenience on the water.

1. Garmin Instinct

The best overall sailing watch with GPS is the Unisex Garmin Instinct manufactured by the US/Swiss brand Garmin at their manufacturing hub in Taiwan and sold worldwide.

It comes in 5 editions including standard edition, eSports edition, surf edition, tactical edition, and camo edition. There is a solar-powered version available too. It comes in quartz movement.

We recommend the standard edition as this edition is more than enough to cater to all sailing activities. Buying this watch gives buyers access to the Garmin Connect app too.

it is priced between $170 and $320 making it the most affordable option compared to the other sailing watches. It comes with a one-year warranty to protect against defects or errors in workmanship.

The battery life lasts 14 days in smart mode, 16 hours in GPS mode and 40 hours in Ultratrac battery mode. It is chargeable through a USB cable that plugs into the back.

It has a bright display with a display resolution of 128 x 128 pixels. It has a memory of 16MB.

The comprehensive features of this watch are listed below.

• Heart Rate Monitor
• 3 Axis Compass With Barometric Altimeter
• Digital Time Display
• Pre-Programmed GPS (Multi-GNSS Satellite Support)
• Elevation Tracker
• Audible Smart Notification Alerts
• Garmin App Connectivity

The dimensions are 45 x 45 x 15.3 mm. The screen size is 1.27 inches. It fits wrists with a circumference of 132-224 mm. It weighs 52 grams so it is lightweight on the wrist.

It is shaped round/circular with a sleek design and comfortable fitting. It comes with 5 total buttons on either side of the watch display. These buttons control the light display, the GPS, a back button, an up button and a down button.

It comes with a water rating of 10 ATM which means it can withstand 10 bars of pressure which is approximately a water depth of 100 meters.

It is compatible with smartphones including Android and Apple devices. This enables alerts and notifications to be received on the smartwatch itself.

It is not compatible with Windows 95, 98, Me, Windows NT, and Mac OS 10.3 or earlier.

It can operate in a temperature range from -4ºF to 140ºF which means it can work in most sailing weather conditions.

It comes in 13 different colors from black to red.

The material in this watch includes U.S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance, a fully vented silicone wristband strap with 2 removable keeper loops, a monochrome & sunlight-visible memory-in-pixel (MIP) display and a fiber-reinforced polymer case

The new package includes 1 smartwatch, 1 battery, 1 USB cable and 1 piece of documentation with device and warranty information.

The wireless frequency/protocol of this watch is 2.4 GHz @ 2.4 dBm nominal.

The 5 benefits are listed below.

• It's water resistant up to 100 meters depth : It has a 10 ATM water rating which means it is resistant in water depths of 100 meters/10 bars. This means it is the perfect watch for any sailing trip
• There are many color options : It comes with 13 color options which means buyers have plenty of choices to choose from to suit their own preferences and style
• The display screen is scratch resistant : The watch display is chemically strengthened to create a scratch-resistant display which is great for harsh and rough marine environments when sailing
• People can easily see all their statistics and data in the Garmin Connect app : This watch automatically logs data to the Garmin Connect app which means people can easily check their stats inside the app
• It has multiple great features : It can monitor heart rate, track elevation data, provide GPS data, automatically update Garmin Connect app, track activity etc. which means it is a great multi-function smart watch for sailing

One disadvantage is the battery can drain fast in the GPS mode with a battery life of just 16 hours in GPS mode.

2. Garmin Fēnix 5

The best sailing watch with GPS for its features is the Unisex Garmin Fēnix 5 manufactured by the US/Swiss brand Garmin at their manufacturing hub in Taiwan and sold worldwide.

It comes in 2 editions which are the sapphire edition or the standard edition with no sapphire. It comes in 3 different case sizes which are 42mm, 47mm and 51mm.

We recommend the Garmin Fēnix 5 sapphire edition 47mm case as this edition features a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, speedy Wi-Fi connectivity and the 47mm case is a great size for sailing. The 42mm watch is one of the thinner watches on the list.

It is priced between $370 and $680. The large price range is because the different case sizes vary in price.

It comes with a one-year warranty to protect against defects or errors in workmanship.

The battery life is 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, 24 hours in GPS mode and 60 hours in Ultratrac battery saver mode. It is chargeable through a USB cable that plugs into the back of the watch.

It has a display resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. It has a memory of 64MB.

The major features of this watch are listed below.

• Easy Reset Ultra Cleaer Digital Colored Screen Time Display
• GPS With Full Colored TOPO U.S. Mapping
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Smart Audio Notifications
• Step Counter Tracking
• Built-in Altimeter, Barometer, 3-Axis Compass
• Sleep Tracking
• 3D Speedometer
• Accelerometer
• Thermometer

The dimensions are 47mm x 47mm x 15.5 mm. The screen size is 1.20 inches. The weight is 85 grams so it is one of the heavier watches on the market.

It is shaped round/circular. It comes with 5 total buttons with 3 buttons on the left side of the customisable watch display and 2 buttons on the right side of the watch display. These buttons control the light display, selecting an activity, a back button, an up button and a down button.

It is smartphone compatible and it can work with Apple and Android devices. This watch can pair with a smartphone device that is within 10 meters (33ft) of the watch's range.

It can operate in a temperature range from -4ºF to 122ºF which means it can work in most marine weather conditions.

It comes in 13 colors from grey to black.

The material includes a polymer case with stainless steel rear cover, a PVD-coated stainless steel bezel and buttons, a chemically strengthened robost sapphire crystal lens and a silicone or steel strap.

The wireless frequency/protocol of this watch is 2.4 GHz @ 8.16 dBm nominal.

The benefits are listed below.

• It comes with a great high resolution full color display : It comes with an incredible high quality fully colored display screen
• The sapphire edition is scratch-resistant : The sapphire edition is scratch resistant and durable so it can withstand harsh marine environments
• It is wi-fi enabled : This watch can connect to any wi-fi network which is an added benefit
• It comes with a great 1-year warranty : This watch comes with a 1-year warranty which gives added peace of mind
• It is water & shock-resistant : This watch can withstand up to 100 meters underwater and it is made of durable and shock-resistant material which is great for rough seawater when sailing

One disadvantage is it is more expensive than other sailing watches with GPS with a price tag ranging from $370 to $680.

3. Suunto Traverse Alpha

The best sailing watch with GPS for its price is the unisex Suunto Traverse Alpha manufactured by the watch brand Suunto in Finland and sold worldwide.

It is priced between $230 and $260.

It comes with a two-year warranty to protect against defects or errors in workmanship.

The battery life is 14 days in time mode and 15 hours in training mode with GPS. It is chargeable through a USB cable that plugs into the back of the watch.

It has a display resolution of 128 x 128 pixels. It comes with 5 customizable modes which are running mode, cycling mode, hunting mode, fishing mode and sports mode.

The features are listed below.

• Programmable Digital Compass
• GPS & GLONASS for route and POI navigation
• Training Analysis Logger
• Barometric Altimeter
• Speed, Distance & Altitude Tracker
• Temperature Display
• Moon Phase Calendar
• Alarm Clock
• Vibration Alerts
• Step Counter
• Real-Time Route Recording
• Mobile Notifications (Calls, Texts & Push Notifications)
• Access To Movescount App
• 3D Map Route Creation
• Weather & Storm Alerts
• Night Vision Goggle Compatible

The dimensions are 1.97" x 1.97" x 0.59". The weight is 75 grams.

It is shaped round/circular. It comes with 5 total buttons with 2 buttons on the left side of the watch display and 3 buttons on the right side of the watch display. These buttons are the back button, view button, start button, next button and the light button.

It is smartphone compatible and it works with iOS and Android devices.

It can operate in a temperature range from -5ºF to 140ºF which means it can work in most marine weather conditions.

It comes in 2 colors which are black and graphite.

The material includes stainless steel bezel material, sapphire crystal glass material, textile strap material and a battery.

The package includes 1 smartwatch, 1 charging/data USB cable, 1 quick guide and 1 warranty leaflet.

The 4 benefits are listed below.

• The glass case is scratch-resistant : The sapphire glass display is a robust, scratch resistant which means this watch can withstand tough environments without getting scratched or scuffed
• It comes with a great 2-year warranty : This watch comes with a 2-year warranty which gives added peace of mind
• It's a great price : This watch is one of the cheaper options on the market at a price range of $230 to $260 which means people will not have to spend a lot of money to get one
• It is water-resistant : This watch is water resistant up to 100 meters underwater which means it can function perfectly when out sailing on the water

Two disadvantages are it has a low battery life in training mode with a battery life of just 15 hours and it only comes in two color options so there are not many color choices to choose from.

4. Garmin Descent MK1

The best sailing watch with GPS for its underwater abilities is the unisex Garmin Descent Mk1 manufactured by the US/Swiss brand Garmin at their manufacturing hub in Taiwan and sold worldwide.

It is priced between $1,050 and $1,350.

There are 3 styles of this watch to choose from including a steel case with a silicone band style, a titanium case with a silicone band style and a titanium case with a titanium band style.

We recommend the sturdy titanium case with a silicone band version as it is the lightest weight of the three versions.

The battery life is 19 days in watch mode, 10 days in smartwatch mode, 30 hours in UltraTrac mode, 40 hours in dive mode, and 20 hours in GPS/HR Activity mode so there is a great battery life for sailing trips.

It has a display resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. It has a memory of 16GB.

• Digital Colored Screen Time Display
• GPS Speed & Distance Tracker
• Surface GPS With TOPO Mapping
• Wrist-Based Heart Rate Monitor
• Tidal Depth Sensor
• Full LED Faced Display
• Steps Track
• Calorie Burn Tracker
• Bluetooth, ANT+& Wi-Fi Connectivity
• Impressive Dive Log Tracks Up To 200 Dives

The dimensions are 51mm x 51mm x 17.8 mm. The display size is 1.20-inch in diameter.

The weight is 101 grams for the steel case and silicone band version, 94 grams for the titanium case with silicone band version and 145 grams for the titanium case with titanium band version.

It is shaped round/circular. It comes with 6 total buttons with 3 buttons on the left side of the watch display and 2 buttons on the right side of the watch display and 1 button on the display screen. These buttons control the light display, up and down buttons, select buttons, back button and confirm button.

It comes with a water rating of 10 ATM which means it can withstand 10 bars of pressure which is approximately a water depth of 100 meters. It also comes with a dive EN 13319 water rating which means it can be used to dive in depths up to 100 meters.

It is smartphone compatible and it can work with Apple iOS and Android devices.

The underwater operating temperature range is 32º to 104ºF.

It comes in 3 colors which are grey sapphire with black band, silver sapphire with black band and grey sapphire with DLC titanium band.

The material includes a polymer case, a stainless steel or titanium bezel and buttons, a sapphire glass lens and a elastic silicone or titanium strap.

The package includes 1 smartwatch, 1 rechargeable battery, 1 extra long adjustable strap, 1 USB cable and 1 piece of documentation with device and warranty information.

The wireless frequency/protocol is ANT+ 2.4 GHz @ -1 dBm maximum, Bluetooth 2.4 GHz @ 0 dBm maximum and Wi‑Fi 2.4 GHz @ 12 dBm maximum.

• It is waterproof : This watch is waterproof and can be used diving up to 100 meters underwater which means it is great for withstanding harsh marine
• It is durable and shock resistant : The great fiber-reinforced polymer case with sapphire glass helps protect the watch and ensures it is durable and can withstand any force that may be experienced while out sailing or swimming
• Multiple style options : There are 3 different style options to choose from which is great as it gives people plenty of choices to choose their preferred style of comfort, sturdiness, and durability.
• Large memory : This watch comes with a great 16GB memory which is large for a watch

Two disadvantages are it is not air integrated and it is expensive with a price tag of between $1,050 and $1,350.

5. Garmin Quatix 5 Sapphire

The best sailing watch with GPS for its battery life is the unisex Garmin Quatix 5 Sapphire manufactured by the US/Swiss brand Garmin at their manufacturing hub in Taiwan and sold worldwide.

It is priced between $800 and $900.

It comes with a simple one-year warranty to protect against defects or errors in workmanship.

There are two editions of the Garmin Quatix 5 to choose from which are the sapphire edition and the standard edition.

We recommend the sapphire edition as this protects the glass case against scratches much better compared to the other edition.

It is suitable for adults. It is not suitable for children.

The superior battery life is 20 days in smartwatch mode, 24 Hours in GPS/HR mode and 60 hours in UltraTrac mode.

• Wi-Fi Connectivity
• Boat Autopilot Control
• Tidal & Depth Information
• Boat Stereo Control
• Garmin Marine SailAssist Capabilities (Create 2 Waypoints Visual Sail Racing Start Line And Finish Line)
• Collects Water Sports Data
• High-Sensitivity GPS Navigation & Tracking Functions
• Wrist Based Heart Rate Monitor
• Internal Gyroscope Helps Improve Position Accuracy
• Smart Notifications (Receive Emails, Texts & Alerts On Watch Screen)
• Garmin's Fusion-Link Lite App Access

The dimensions are 47mm x 47mm x 15.5 mm. The display size is 1.20-inch in diameter.

The weight is 85 grams with the flexible silicone band and 156 grams with the thick metal band.

It is shaped round/circular. It comes with 5 total buttons with 3 buttons on the left side of the watch display and 2 buttons on the right side of the watch display.

It can operate in a temperature range from -4ºF to 122ºF which means it can work in most boating weather conditions.

It comes in 2 colors which are stainless steel with blue band and stainless steel grey sapphire with silver metal band

The material includes a secure fiber-reinforced polymer case, a stainless steel bezel, buttons and rear case, a sapphire glass lens and a conventional silicone or stainless steel metal band.

The package includes 1 smartwatch, 1 rechargeable battery, 1 watch band, 1 USB cable and 1 piece of documentation with device and warranty information.

The wireless frequency is 2.4 GHz @ 4 dBm nominal.

The 3 benefits are listed below.

• It can connect to sailboat autopilot or boat entertainment system: This watch offers the ability to connect to a boat's autopilot system or entertainment system through Garmin's Fusion-Link Lite App
• The glass display is scratch-resistant : The sapphire case means the glass display is scratch resistant which is great for protecting the watch from getting scratched
• It has a great long battery life : This watch can last up to 20 days in smartwatch mode before needing to be charged again

One disadvantage is it is heavy on the wrist when a person chooses the metal band option as the weight of the watch with the metal band option is 156 grams.

Top Sailing Watches With GPS Comparison Table

What To Consider When Buying A Sailing Watch With GPS

The factors to consider when buying a sailing watch with GPS are:

• Price : The price of a sailing watch with GPS is an important factor to consider when buying a sailing watch. People have different budgets so some people can only afford cheaper sailing watches whereas others can afford more expensive ones
• Material : The material of the sailing watch with GPS is a factor to consider when looking to buy one. Different materials can change how well the sailing watch operates and functions so choosing the ideal materials is important
• Waterproof Compatibility : Is the sailing watch with GPS waterproof? This is an important factor as most people prefer waterproof watches with sailing out on the seawater. A waterproof sailing watch will ensure no damage when sailing or swimming
• Design & Style : The style of the sailing watch is a factor to consider when buying a sailing watch with GPS. Buyers prefer a fashionable and stylish-looking sailing watch and every person has their own unique taste
• Size : The size options are another factor to consider when buying a sailing watch with GPS. Buyers can only purchase a watch if the watch fits around their wrist

Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Sailing Watches With GPS

Below are the most commonly asked questions about the top sailing watches with GPS.

What Are The Top Sailing Watches With GPS Brands?

The 2 top sailing watches with GPS brands are listed below.

How Much Do Top Sailing Watches With GPS Cost?

The best sailing watches with GPS cost between $230 and $1,350.

How Much Does The Cheapest Top Sailing Watch With GPS Cost?

The cheapest top sailing watch with GPS is the Garmin Instinct watch which costs approximately $170 to $320.

How Much Does The Most Expensive Top Sailing Watch With GPS Cost?

The most expensive top sailing watch with GPS is the Garmin Descent Mk1 watch which costs between $1,050 to $1,350.

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The Slender Wrist

Best Men's Watches, Reviews and Guides

What is a Sailing Watch? (And Why You Might Need One)

By Karlton Miko Tyack Updated February 19, 2024

Are you looking for the best sailing watch to accompany you on your seafaring adventures? This article will talk you through what a yachting watch is and why you may need one.

To master the thrill of seafaring, you’ll require some level of skill, precision, and a little intuition. For that, you’ll need the right gear. 

Part of your kit should include a sailing watch. Sailing watches help sailors keep track of time and navigate their way across the water during harsh conditions out on the water. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional sailor or a weekend enthusiast, you can make good use of a yachting watch.

Table of Contents

What Is a Sailing Watch?

A sailing watch is more than just a timepiece. It not only keeps accurate time but also aids navigation. 

Marine environments are testing and dangerous. A sailing watch can be the difference between a safe or unsafe journey out at sea, depending on your needs. 

As you’ll already know, conditions out at sea can change dramatically. Having a watch that can withstand exposure to saltwater and corrosion, not to mention temperature changes, is crucial. 

To help assist you out at sea, a sailing watch can include one or several additional features compared to a standard watch. 

To help answer the question “What is a sailing watch?”, we’ll take a look at these complications:

Chronograph  

The chronograph function in a sailing watch is what you’ll commonly see in many sports watches . The function allows you to measure elapsed time, split time, and lap times. You can use chronograph watches for races or drills. 

In some models, the complication also accompanies a tachymeter scale for measuring speed based on distance.  

Countdown Timer 

Watches with a countdown timer can help you monitor the start of a race and synch with other racing boats.  

Regatta Timer  

A regatta timer has multiple stages that can help you prepare for the start of a race. In doing so, it can give you audible or visual signals at different intervals.  

Compass  

A compass built into a timepiece is a very clever thing, especially for those who spend a lot of time sailing. You can use a compass in a watch to orient yourself or to follow a course.  

A barometer function in a watch predicts weather changes by measuring atmospheric pressure, allowing you to plan accordingly.  

Altimeter  

An altimeter measures altitude above sea level, proving to be a very useful feature in a sailing watch. 

The complication estimates your current position, enabling you to avoid obstacles or make changes to your route if needed.  

Thermometer 

Some yachting watches include a thermometer. As you’d expect, it can measure the temperature of the air or water. It can also monitor weather conditions while out on an expedition. 

Tide Graph 

You can monitor tide levels and phases at different times and locations with a tide graph feature in a watch. It’s great, too, if you need to plan your water-based activities around tide cycles. 

Moon Phase  

Moon phase functions feature in dress watches, too. They display the exact positioning of the moon as it appears in the night sky each evening. 

You can use this feature to plan your sailing activities according to the moonlight given each evening.  

The History of the Sailing Watch

Some of the first patented uses in sailing watches arrived in the 1950s. Timepieces fitted with a rotating bezel quickly became important in timing the moments before a race. 

Early creators of yachting watches include Breitling and TAG Heuer. The Seamaster Yachting watch by Omega arrived on the scene in the 1970s. 

Breitling also extended its popular Chronomat watch with the release of the Chronomat Yachting Watch in the 1980s. 

Perhaps one of the most famous yachting watches of all time, however, is the Rolex Yacht-Master II. It arrived on the market in 1992. 

It followed on from the reference 16672 — the original Yacht-Master. The brand has been refining these seafaring instruments ever since. It now offers a range of models in different dial designs and case materials.  

Best Sailing Watches  

So, what are the best sailing watches on the market, and how do you choose between them? 

Well, as a general rule, the best kinds of sailing-friendly watches are those that come with a multitude of functions. 

That said, if you’re a beginner, you might want to start with something simple.  

Just as tablets and smartphones have revolutionized how seafarers use their displays to navigate and time their journeys, so have smartwatches. They can provide directions, make calls for us, navigate, and display all the relevant data we need. 

Here are a few of the best sailing watches for beginners, advanced sailors, and everyone in between.  

Garmin MARQ Captain  

There are several reasons to invest in a watch like the Garmin MARQ Captain watch ,  especially if your preference is a smartwatch.

It comes packed with marine-relevant features like weather and tidal data, a regatta timer, and GPS. If you love your technology and you’re familiar with Garmin smartwatches, the MARQ Captain requires little time to get to grips with. 

You can stream live boat data to your wrist while enjoying  32GB of memory and 27 hours of battery life in GPS mode.  

Casio G-Shock Rangeman 

Firstly, it’s worth noting that Casio G-Shock watches offer exceptional value for money. That’s a great thing if you’re shopping for a sailing watch on a budget. 

As a round-up, the Rangeman offers functions like a barometer, Altimeter, thermometer, and compass, all rolled into one robust design.

The G-Shock series is also exceptionally shock-resistant. 

Combined with suitable water resistance , the Rangeman makes for a versatile choice for all sailing enthusiasts.

Rolex Yacht-Master II  

The Rolex Yacht-Master II deserves an introduction of its very own. For more insight into the brand, you can check out its history .

Otherwise, just know that the Yacht-Master II comes with a programmable countdown timer and regatta chronograph. It also boasts an unmistakable style that Rolex fans go crazy for.  

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ETNZ

Over the years, Omega has developed service watches for the Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ). These designs, first launched in 2015, feature a regatta-oriented display and signature colors of the championship-winning team.

Its grade 5 titanium case is but one of its many innovative features, along with a Co-Axial Caliber movement and 300-meter water resistance.  

FAQs  

To help you understand a little more about regatta timers and sailing watches, here are some common questions about them:

What Is the Best Watch for Sailing?

For many reasons, enthusiasts feel the Rolex Yacht-Master II is the most iconic seafaring watch of all time. 

On the other hand, Garmin’s range of smartwatches for sailing are some of the most advanced in modern technology.  

What Watches Do Sailors Use?

Sailors may choose any number of yachting watches depending on preference. Popular options include the Rolex Yacht-Master II, the TAG Heuer Autavia Chronometer Flyback, and the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ETNZ.  

Is a Sailing Watch the Same as a Yachting Watch?

Sailing watches, AKA yachting watches, are a niche type of watch, also named regatta timers, and offer additional functions for seamen.  

Set Sail With a Seafaring Watch 

Whether you intend to wear your chosen timepiece below deck, on land, or in water, sailing watches are a great choice. Also known as regatta timers, their designs specifically assist the world of competitive boat racing. 

They come with some superb features that can help you count down to the start of a regatta race. Rather than timing a race like a chronograph, regatta timers help you control boat speed before the race begins.

Nautical watches like the Rolex Yacht-Master II, and the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ETNZ are some of the industry’s best. 

There are, however, several smartwatches designed for the seafaring industry. They sync all the relevant data you need to enhance your experience out on the water in real-time.  

The question of who makes the best sailing watches remains a matter of personal opinion. But there are some features that undeniably improve your experience of timekeeping out on the water. 

Above all, look for reliability, legibility, and robustness, and you can’t go wrong when shopping for a quality sailing watch.  

Have you ever been sailing? Let me know in the comments!

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10 Best Sailing Watches

Sailing watches are an important marine device needed for carrying out day-to-day tasks when at sea. These watches are multifunctional and come laden with essential features needed by a sailor.

There are two types of sailing watches, mechanical and digital. Mechanical sailing watches do not run on a battery but have self-winding movements. They are waterproof and come with chronometers. The best mechanical sailing watches are made in Switzerland and they are expensive compared to their digital counterparts.

Digital sailing watches require a battery and have an LCD display. They come in numerous colours, designs and functions but do not show real-time data. They are preferred for their functions such as measuring time, date, temperature and sailing direction. These watches are also quite affordable and a good choice. They also record body temperature, heart rate and work anywhere in the world.

In the past, people had to depend on numerous tools such as a compass, maps, barometer and their insight to survive at the sea. However, all these features and much more are now available in a small nautical watch or a sailing watch.

Investing in a good sailing watch is a must to make your sailing trip a memorable and pleasurable one. Although many options have flooded the markets today, finding the perfect fit might not be easy.

In this article, let us look at some of the features a sailing watch must possess and then we will list some best sailing watches to help you pick a unique piece.

Table of Contents

Features of a sailing watch

A great sailing watch is a sailor’s best friend at sea. Most sailing watches show real-time data and can be connected to mobile phones and other devices. They have additional features such as GPS mapping, weather forecasts, data, internet messaging and also speed tracking. Apart from these advanced features, they must also possess the following characteristics-

Water-proof – The most important feature of a sailing watch is that it should be water-resistant. Though sailors do not swim or dive, the watch is bound to get some water splashes. Hence, it should be 100% waterproof and also made of corrosion-free material like silicon or stainless steel.

Compass – While modern yachts, boats or small ships have an electronic navigation system, a compass always comes in handy for determining directions. A sailing watch with a compass allows a sailor to easily ascertain where to head and becomes a saviour if the electronic navigation fails.

Have an inbuilt chronometer – A sailing watch must be equipped with a chronometer to determine the time accurately and to determine the longitude while at sea.

Barometer – While sailing, it is important to be aware of upcoming storms and weather conditions to be able to stay safe at sea. A Barometer helps in this by measuring the air pressure.

Countdown Timer – For sailors at sea, countdown timers might not be a great requirement, however, if there are yacht races or sailing competitions, then countdown timers are a must to keep track of time. Most sailing watches come with timers.

Tide flow – Sailors need to know the ebb and flow of the ocean to be able to sail safely. Most sailing watches nowadays come with this feature.

Multiple time zones – A sailing watch that shows many time zones is essential for a sailor or a captain when they cross different time zones during long voyages.

Emergency functions – Also, most sailing watches come with a GPS and can send emergency signals to the authorities if the sailor is in danger. These are known as their emergency functions.

Best sailing watches

1. tomoro’s vogue simple men’s unisex 100m waterproof watch.

Tomoro’s men’s watch comes in a simple yet elegant design. It is perfect for sailing and other water sports. It is up to 100 m waterproof and works well underwater too. Most dive watches cannot be pressed underwater but this is an exception.

The watchband is black while the dial is white. It is made of a soft silicone strap that is comfortable and stretchable. The dial is round and made of stainless steel while the dial window is made of acrylic. It has a digital display, with big black digits. It comes with a rubber case and an extra polyurethane strap.

It is ultra-lightweight, sturdy and durable. It weighs around 42 grams and its diameter is 44 mm. It is multifunctional, is luminous and has a countdown timer, stopwatch, dual-time display, chronograph, alarm, an hourly chime and is shockproof. It is equipped with the best quality electronic parts with digital movements accurate to +/-1 second per day. The watch battery is made to last for 2.5 years.

It also has a special El backlight function that can help to see more clearly in the dark. Since the watch display background is greyish white, the backlight function might not be useful during the day.

• Simple and elegant design
• Multifunctional
• Digital display
• Impact-resistant
• Has an El Backlight
• Chronograph
• Dual-time display
• Sturdy and long-lasting
• Comfortable
• Scratches easily
• Band length short

• 330 ft. (100 M) Water Resistance: In general, suitable for recreational surfing, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and water sports, In addistional, it Can be pressed underwater ( most of the dive watches can not be pressed underwater)
• Ergonomic and Minimalist Design: Seamless connection of watch case and soft silicone strap bring a comfortable Ergonomic wearing expeprince, Clear Large black digits display on white background bring a Minimalist Visual experience
• Supper Light but Durable: net weight 42 grams=1.48oz which can bring a burdenless wearing experience, Stainless steel Bezel integrated with ABS rubber case+Acrylic Window+Strong Polyurethane strap which make a durable and strong body; Overall, you can feel free to do any sport activity with this watch
• Multifunction: Stop watch, Countdown timer, Dual-Time-display, Chronograph, Alarm, Luminous, Hourly Chime, Shock Resistant
• Diameter 44mm without lugs, So it fit to male of medium build, and female who prefer it slightly larger, We made a video showing detail about how to set all the functions of the watch from the description page of related videos.

2. Tissot Sailing-Touch Men’s Black Face Multi-Function Watch T056.420.27.051.00

The Tissot sailing watch is one of the best products available in the market. It is made of a strong stainless steel case and a black rubber strap. It has safety features as well. It has a round black dial and a red bezel. The dial window is made of an anti-reflective sapphire. It has hour hands that glow in the dark. It shows two time zones and also has a backlight.

It has a digital display and an inbuilt compass. It also has an alarm feature. The Histogram function shows the relative pressure of the last 6 to 7 hours. The minute hand shows the tides at a particular location and the hour hand shows the possibility of a low or high tide. The Regatta function can be used to set a timer. It also has a chronograph and its Metro function shows outside temperature.

It is tough and does not scratch easily. It is also anti-reflective and has a Swiss quartz tactile movement and a low battery indicator. It is also waterproof up to 200 metres.

• Swiss quartz movement
• Shows tide movement
• Perpetual calendar
• Scratch-resistant
• Battery indicator
• Complicated

• Fold over clasp with divers extension and safety
• Luminous hands

3. Garmin quatix 6 Multisport Marine Smartwatch, Comprehensive Boat Connectivity, Model Number 010-02158-90

The Garmin Multisport Marine Smartwatch stands out in the category of sailing watches. It has a plethora of amazing features that make it one of the best options.

The watch is grey with a blue strap. The size of the screen is 1.3 inches. It can be connected to Bluetooth and wifi. It has inbuilt maps of North America. It has a stainless steel case and bezel buttons. It also has a barometer, altimeter and compass. It is water-resistant up to 100 m.

The battery can last two weeks if it is operated in smartwatch mode, till 24 hours in GPS mode and 60 hours in Ultra battery saver mode.

This watch offers real-time connectivity and is compatible with Garmin chart plotters, the GNT 10 transceiver and other devices to pull out data.

It has an autopilot feature and can be used to navigate by connecting it with the ship’s navigation system. The autopilot app can be used for changing the destination, and even direction. You can also put it on a GPS route without manually controlling the vessel.

A special ‘fusion-link audio system’ provides you with entertainment at sea with the Fusion-link lite app. You can seamlessly view and access data relating to water depth, engine RPM, wind speed, and much more when the watch is connected with the vessel’s system.

It also offers waypoint marking without the need to get to the steer every time. The Chartplotter can be used for this purpose to mark waypoints from any place on the vessel.

The watch provides sail assistance and has many coastal charts with Navionics information. It also has Lakevu G3 maps of US freshwater lakes.

• Inbuilt maps
• Real-time connectivity
• Autopilot control
• Fusion link system
• Waypoint marking
• Provides sail assistance
• Has G3 charts and maps
• Short battery life
• Too large dial
• Difficult to operate

• Provides comprehensive connectivity with compatible Garmin chartplotters and other devices (GPSMAP 7x2/9x2/12x2 Plus GPSMAP 10x2/12x2 GPSMAP 74/7600 GPSMAP 84/8600 GHC 20 GNX Wind GNT 10)
• Rugged sophisticated design features an always-on 1 3” display stainless steel bezel buttons rear case and QuickFit band system
• Improved sail racing assistance includes virtual starting line distance to start line race countdown timer and tack assist
• Preloaded apps for boating tides autopilot control Fusion-Link anchor fishing and GNT 10
• Support for optional BlueChart g3 coastal charts and LakeVü g3 inland maps with improved chart presentation for the latest in Garmin marine cartography

4. Invicta Men’s Specialty 45mm Black Stainless Steel Chronograph Quartz Watch, Black, Gold/Blue (Model: 13785, 13787)

Invicta’s sailing watch is ideal for watersports such as sailing, surfing, snorkelling and swimming. It comes with a black stainless steel case measuring 45mm in diameter and is 12mm thick. Its dial window is made of synthetic sapphire and it has an analogue display.

The watch has a big round dial having a luminescent function and hour hands that glow in the dark. The black band is flexible and can be adjusted by the addition or removal of the links. It also has a safety clasp that can be folded. It has a chronograph too.

It is assembled in Japan and flaunts a smooth Japanese quartz movement. It has a VD51 Caliber and comes with an extra battery. The watch weighs about 163 grams. It has a black stainless steel bezel and subdials. It is waterproof up to 100 m.

• Strong and durable
• Fashionable
• Analog display
• Japanese quartz movement
• Comes with an extra battery
• Water-resistant
• Simple operation
• Adjustable band
• Battery dies fast

• Black stainless steel case 45mm diameter x 12mm thick; Black dial; Luminous hands and hour markers
• Japanese quartz movement, VD51 Caliber; Assembled in Japan; SR920SW battery included; Watch weight: 163 grams
• Black stainless steel band, 185mm L x 22mm W; Band is adjustable by adding/removing links; Fold over safety clasp
• Flame Fusion crystal; Push/pull crown; Stationary black stainless steel bezel; Functional Subdials: 60min, 60sec; 100 meter water resistant: Suitable for recreational surfing, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and water sports. Not suitable for diving.

5. Timex Intelligent Quartz Tide Temp Compass Watch

The Timex watch comes with a high-quality brown leather strap that is adjustable and a round white dial with the date window at 6 o’clock. It has an analogue display and a buckle clasp. It has a silver 45 mm stainless steel case made of glass crystal.

It is multifunctional and has a tide tracker, an electronic compass and an Indiglo dial that lights up in the dark. This feature can be activated using the crown button. It comes with electroluminescent technology and it has a nightlight too. The watch glows in the dark or low light.

The beige dial has compass markings and also comes with a tide tracking function that can measure high or low tide at any point in time. It has a quartz movement and is waterproof up to 100 m.

It also has a thermometer that measures air and water temperature and also an analogue compass. This watch is ideal for snorkelling, sailing but not diving.

• Great – quality
• Stylish and sturdy
• Tide tracker
• Analogue compass
• Inbuilt thermometer
• Small digits
• Complicated operation
• Thin hands, difficult to read

• Adjustable brown 16mm genuine leather strap fits up to 8-inch wrist circumference
• Off-white dial with date window at 6 o'clock; compass markings
• Tide tracker counts down to high or low tide; thermometer measures air & water temperature; analog compass
• Silver-tone 45mm stainless steel case with mineral glass crystal; Indiglo light-up watch dial; luminous hands
• Water-resistant to 100m (330 ft): In general, suitable for snorkeling, as well as swimming, but not diving

6. Casio Men’s Pathfinder Triple Sensor Multi-Function Sport Watch

This black watch is made of blend material and is solar-powered. It has many features such as a digital compass, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, an El backlight and also shows world time. It shows 31 time zones of 48 cities and has a city code display.

Five alarms can be set daily and there is also a stopwatch feature. It has an auto-calendar that is programmed till 2099, a battery indicator and a power-saving feature too. This watch cannot tolerate low temperatures, and its battery can last 6 months when it is fully charged.

The physical features include a 51 mm case made of stainless steel and a mineral dial. It has a digital display and a quartz movement. It has a resin band and is waterproof up to 100 m. It has a solar panel and recharges when it is kept in sunlight. The watch face absorbs the sunlight and charges the battery. It is impact-resistant and can handle high water pressure.

• Solar-powered
• Handles high water pressure
• Low-quality watch band

• Black solar-powered sport watch with multiple features including digital compass, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, low temperature resistance (-10 C/14 F), EL backlight, world time (31 time zones, 48 cities), city code display, five daily alarms, 1/100-second stopwatch, full auto calendar (pre-programmed until 2099), countdown timer, 12/24-hour formats, battery power indicator, and power-saving function

7. Amazfit T-Rex Pro Smart Watch with GPS, Outdoor Fitness Watch for Men

The Amazfit-T-Rex Pro smartwatch has a 1.3″ HD AMOLED display. The watch has a beautiful texture as its bezel is metal sprayed. It is ultra-lightweight and weighs only 60 g. It goes through 15 military-grade tests and so can survive hot, humid and also cold temperatures.

It is the perfect partner for exploration and has a global navigation satellite system. It can be taken on land adventures and also in the seas. It measures blood oxygen, heart rate, gives real-time weather forecasts, has a sunrise and sunset monitor. It also has a compass, barometer and altimeter.

This fitness watch has 100 sports modes and can also record distance travelled, speed and so on. It is user-friendly and can be used for setting reminders. It also notifies the user about messages and calls and upcoming alarms.

The watch has 18-day battery life. If used excessively then the battery lasts for 9 days and if the GPS mode is used continuously, then the battery would last 40 hours.

The Amazfit watch is waterproof up to 100 m and is the perfect companion for surfing, sailing trips and swimming.

• Sporty design
• Durable and flexible
• Easy to use
• touchscreen
• Bulky watch case
• Not very comfortable

• RUGGED DURABILITY: Military-grade certified for rugged and demanding environments, this smartwatch is built to resist high heat, humidity and extreme cold.
• LONG 18-DAY BATTERY: Up to 18 days on a single charge for more running, hiking, walking, and being active without worrying about battery life.
• CUSTOMIZABLE TOUCHSCREEN: Ultra durable glass AMOLED face with 34 alternative watch face choices.
• HEART-RATE and VO2 MONITORING: Find your cardio zone with heart-rate monitoring and blood-oxygen saturation measurement.
• FITNESS APP DATA SHARING: Easily connect with Strava, Adidas Running, Apple Health, Google Fit, Relive, Komoot to record and share health, steps and fitness data.

8. Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Sailhawk Quartz Men’s Watch, Stainless Steel, Dive Watch

The Promaster Sailhawk comes with an orange polyurethane strap. It has a stainless steel case measuring 44 mm. This stylish and brightly coloured watch has eco-drive technology. It has a solar-powered lithium-ion cell and so battery life is not an issue. It also stores energy and can be charged from fluorescents and lamps too.

It has a chronograph, digital backlight and a daylight savings time indicator. It shows world time, has a yacht racing timer, a countdown timer and can set two alarms. It is waterproof up to 200 m and is ideal for professional sailors. It comes with a Five-year warranty.

• Eye-catching
• Eco-drive technology
• Energy storage capacity
• multifunctional
• Small case size
• Not high quality

• 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 Orange Polyurethane Strap
• Retractable Hands and Mineral Crystal
• 200 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty

9. AOSLSI’s Waterproof Sports Digital Watch for Men

This watch has many features such as an altimeter, barometer and thermometer. It has an inbuilt digital compass and can be used for setting double-alarms, shows dual time, hourly chime and is waterproof up to 100 m. It also has a backlight.

This watch can also be used to count the distance, speed, has a stopwatch, timer and metronome. It is made of a good quality ABS case.

It has a round dial and an acrylic dial window. It has a digital display. It is sturdy and has a flexible band made of stainless steel pin buckle. It is lightweight and is very comfortable.

• Easy operation
• No GPS function

• ★Outdoors Military Watch : Altimeter tells current elevation and records last 24-hour history by altitude graph. Barometer displays both local pressure and sea level pressure. Thermometer shows temperature from -10°C to 60°C( can be displayed in Fahrenheit, or Celsius ). Weather Forecast displays 4 symbols to indicate the predicated weather
• ★Digital Compass: Accurately pinpoint direction to safely find your way through wilderness and in whiteout conditions. We calibrated the compass before sending out. If you still find a problem, we recommend you to calibrate it automatically or manually.
• ★Sport Watch: Step, Calories, Distance, Stopwatch, Countdown Timer and metronome. Pedometer and Pace can track your steps and speed, which helps you to know your workout better. This non bluetooth pedometer watch with memory storage can record your last 7 days data of step-distance-calories-sports time.
• ★Basic Functions: Double Alarms, Dual Time, 12/24H Format, Date/Week, Hourly Chime, Waterproof to 3ATM, Super Backlight.
• ★Material & Size: High quality thick ABS case 50*47*17mm, durable and breathable PU double hollow band with stainless steel pin buckle is suitable for wrist from 6.7 to 9.0 inches. Weight 76g is very lightweight and comfortable, just feel you wear nothing on wrist.The watch is a little large, Please carefully measure the wrist size before buying.The temperature displayed on the watch is the ambient temperature， when measuring temperature, please remove away from your wrist.

10. CKE Men’s Digital Sports Watch Large Face Waterproof Wrist Watch for Men

The CKE digital watch is fashionable and has an LED display. The dial is big and the watch hands glow, making it easier to see the time. The watch might feel too big for some people.

It has a round dial and has a mineral dial window. The watch case is made of good-quality plastic and the watchband is made of silicone. It has an electronic movement. It has a compass and barometer.

Designed for sports lovers, it is shock-resistant, has a stopwatch and also a backlight. It is also waterproof up to 50 m. It cannot be pressed underwater and should be kept away from hot water.

This watch is affordable and can be used when going fishing, sailing, hiking and so on.

• Easy to operate
• Clear, easily readable display
• Shock-resistant
• Not multifunctional

• Digital Watch: Fashionable sporty dial design. Large Dial and numbers with light, show time clear in the dark. Use import EL Lamp, easy to see the time clearly in the light, easy to read. Larger than usual watch
• Men's Watch: Appeals to men, especially to those who like doing sports, shock resistant, stopwatch,12/24H time mode, and LED backlight functions to make it perfect for all kinds of sport and daily use.
• Sports Watch: Shock Resistant, perfect for both outdoor and indoor sports, such as running, climbing, fishing, etcShock Resistant, perfect for both outdoor and indoor sports, such as running, climbing, fishing, etc
• Multifunction Watch: Auto Date, Alarm, Water Resistant, LED display, Shock Resistant, Stop Watch, Back Light
• Waterproof: 164 Ft / 50 M water resist, Please DO NOT press any buttons underwater, and in case of damaging waterproof ring, please keep it away from steam and hot water.

These are some of the watches that you could take for a sailing trip.

You may also like to read –

• What is a Tide Clock? 
• 10 Best Sunglasses For Boating
• 30 Best Gifts For Boaters And Sailors

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About Author

Vasudev Ghangnam is a marine engineer, presently sailing as 3rd Engineer with Bibby Ship Management on their Gas Tankers. He has sailed on a variety of Oil and Gas tankers and keeps special interest in marine insurance. He loves reading about latest technology and writing his opinions on contemporary maritime issues.

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Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M

45.5 mm, black ceramic on rubber strap

Seamaster Diver 300M

44 mm, steel on steel

Sailing watch

For decades, OMEGA has been supporting sailors on the world's toughest oceans. We are proud to support teams such as Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi, as well as Olympic champions such as Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. We also have the pleasure of timekeeping historic competitions such as the America's Cup. <p> Among our flagship sailing watches, discover the Seamaster Planet Ocean America's Cup Edition. This chronometer is an exceptional tribute to the 36th America's Cup. The Master Chronometer certified watch delivers timeless style and honors the bright colours of the event's logo. You will also find the Seamaster Diver 300M, a tribute to the America's Cup trophy. This incredible chronograph will surprise you with its unique features. The 44 mm stainless steel chronograph is topped by a blue ceramic bezel displaying a white enamel diving scale. In the centre, the red aluminum chronograph seconds hand has a counterweight in the shape of the America's Cup trophy.

For decades, OMEGA has been supporting sailors on the world's toughest oceans. We are proud to support teams such as Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi, as well as Olympic champions such as Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. We also have the pleasure of timekeeping historic competitions such as the America's Cup. Among our flagship sailing watches, discover the Seamaster Planet Ocean America's Cup Edition. This chronometer is an exceptional tribute to the 36th America's Cup. The Master Chronometer certified watch delivers timeless style and honors the bright colours of the event's logo. You will also find the Seamaster Diver 300M, a tribute to the America's Cup trophy. This incredible chronograph will surprise you with its unique features. The 44 mm stainless steel chronograph is topped by a blue ceramic bezel displaying a white enamel diving scale. In the centre, the red aluminum chronograph seconds hand has a counterweight in the shape of the America's Cup trophy.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Garmin Quatix 6 review: Best Boating and Sailing Smart Watch – tested

• April 11, 2022

The Garmin Quatix 6 is a genius bit of kit. It has an array of functions for a wide range of sports, including functions aimed at boaters and sailors, the fitness conscious and outdoors enthusiasts. We've had this on long term test and can confidently say that after much testing in as many environments as possible, this is fully deserving of a five star review.

Product Overview

Overall rating:, garmin quatix 6.

• Most popular sports catered for, downloadable upgrades and user modifications, a good Garmin Connect app that allows connection to others using Garmin products, much more than just a sport tracker
• It's bulky, which isn't to everyone's taste. Some with larger hands have reported of occasionally triggering the MOB alert by accident with the watch button being pushed during the wrist articulation.

Price as reviewed:

Garmin Quatix 6 Deals

A super versatile sports and fitness watch that offers much more besides.

I’ve had this model on test for a few months now and I can say that without doubt it has been a revelation and utter joy to use.

The Garmin Quatix 6 has been used for everything from sailing, to coastal rowing, to cycling, cross-country running (…or walking) and generally gadding about.

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It has built in alarms for waking up, going to bed, checking the barometer, receiving storm alerts, checking tides, sunrise and sunset times and so very much more.

You’re spoiled for functions and ways to use this smart device.

The MOB button (right) can be accidentally triggered if you have gloves on or bulky clothing that can get caught in the crease of your wrist.

Garmin Quatix 6 review, menu and navigation buttons.

The screen on the Quatix 6 can get a bit smudgy but the Gorilla Glass wipes off really easily.

No touch screen, and hurrah for that. I am so tired of swiping a screen. How lovely is it to have a positive set of buttons to push? (Yes, maybe I’m a luddite)

Moving on. The battery life on this thing is excellent. I forget when was the last time I charged it. It easily lasts more than a week even when being used for GPS tracking activities, although if you were GPS tracking all day every day, you’d need to charge it more often.

With my weekly sporting activity including both outdoor (using GPS) and strength exercises on a mat at home, I would say I’ve charged the phone on average once every 10 days or so. It charges quickly too. Take yourself off for a shower and plug it in, by the time you’re clean, dried and dressed, the Quatix 6 will be pretty much charged back up again.

It doesn’t look out of place with smart wear for work with its metal bezel and easily blends in as a day to day watch.

It comes in two different face sizes, 47mm and 51mm and has the option for a solar version which gives considerably longer battery life, but sadly the solar version is currently only available in the larger watch face, which looks ridiculous on me and my spindly wrist. I am testing the 47mm watch size throughout this review.

Buy The Garmin Quatix 6 from Garmin UK

The Quatix 6 has boating and sailing at the fore of its functionality.

Garmin Connect app screen on Android phone

The dashboard for sailing shows a GPS track and the corresponding heart rate and speed graph.

Other screens and functions are self explanatory and equally easy to use. It’s possible to connect up the watch to the vessel’s onboard autopilot and use it as a remote control. When connected to the chartplotter and data stream you can also view your boat data on your Quatix 6.

A handy tool is the tides, which can be scrolled through day by day. They’re not finely detailed but they do give a ready reckoner to the basics of where the tides are at. The watch gets the data via a wireless connection to a mobile phone.

There is a super handy anchor alert. How I wish I’d had this anchor alert the last few times I was on anchor! It would certainly have allowed me to sleep better between my anchor watch rota.

There’s also an array of regatta functions, which allow you to ping the start line and synchronise the start timer. I’m not a regatta sailor, more of an offshore sailor where the start lines are far less of a bun fight, but this could be a valuable tool if you’re on a regatta race boat.

Garmin Quatix 6 – Long term test – Cross country running test.

I’m not a natural runner, but since I’m training for an event with my dog, I used it to track my location as we went off the path into the wilds of the New Forest.

The live map allowed me to see my route and my start point, which meant I could meander around dodging flood waters and always knowing where to find the car later.

Garmin Connect app screen on Android phone – tracking map

Cross country running with the Quatix 6 tracking the route and also logging the start location to enable an easy return to the car without getting lost in the wilderness.

Coastal Rowing

Garmin Quatix 6- smart watch long term test review – coastal rowing

I’ve taken the Quatix 6 with me coastal rowing a few times and the results have been really interesting. I’m not an advanced rower by any stretch of the imagination, though I have rowed fixed seat boats all my life since I was old enough to hold an oar, the sculling motion/sliding seat longer coastal culling boats are something I can only do when I get a good weather window to head over to Poole/ Studland bay where the  Coastal Rowing Centre is based.

Bob, who runs the place, has been giving me tuition and the opportunity to row on one of his several rental boats. As part of this learning process I am working on my technique to have a smooth graceful clean row that isn’t rushed, so that I can build consistency and then gradually add the power in later ( I’m a cyclist too so this is also a complimentary low impact sporting activity – see the tracking on that further down this review)

The Quatix 6, although quite large on my wrist, doesn’t feel obtrusive or get in the way of my rowing action. Once I set it going, I no longer looked at it and left it to just get on with logging the various metrics.

With the Quatix 6 recording my rowing action, I just focused on being smooth and getting into the flow. It’s not easy to look at the watch anyway while rowing.

At the end of the row, simply stop the recording and then once back you’re within signal range of a phone the Quatix will download the data it has recorded which is accessible via the Garmin Connect app.

Garmin Connect app screen for coastal rowing – Android phone

Apart from heart rate recording, it also records average pace over 500m and the other two metrics are distance per stroke and stroke rate. These are helpful metrics to help see where I am at in my practice, where I am being smooth and consistent and when I am not. Though some of the sporadic dots nearer the end of the row are because I stopped to take a picture in the sunshine of Old Harry Rocks!

Old Harry Rocks – Coastal Rowing – Garmin Quatix 6 test

Road Cycling

The Quatix 6 has the ability to calculate a cycle route for you. Simply input the desired length of the ride and in which general direction you want to go and it will figure out the rest. I found it a bit hit and miss. The calculating part takes a few minutes to complete.

I set my route request for about 35km and, as can be seen from the second course it offered me, it decided I needed to do a bit more. After several attempts at getting it to create a route I liked the look of, I gave up and headed out to find my own way.

The screens available for cycling are a combination of lap time, distance travelled, time travelled, speed, heart rate and an option to simply show time of day or a live map.

The GPS tracked route shows a coloured track indicating speed over a section. As usual, the Quatix 6 offers a full data breakdown of heart rate, lap time (if desired) and can be hooked up to other extra kit to record other metrics. I mostly used it to track heart rate to pace myself, and speed to push myself a bit harder if cycling alone.

Health Metrics

The Quatix 6 also offers much more than sports recording and data feedback. One of the reasons I have worn a fitness tracker for the past couple of years is to monitor my sleep and stress levels. I am someone who regularly doesn’t get enough sleep and this impacts on my work and social life. This element of the Garmin watch proved invaluable to me. It has options to set a reminder to relax and various other mindfulness exercises. It’s not all about being super active, but often, it’s the opposite.

Other functions include contactless payments. I’ve used the Quatix 6 to pay for a host of things and it’s really easy to set up. If your bank isn’t signed up for the Garmin system, you can use a 3rd party, such as Curve, which is free to set up.

You can link your cards via your virtual curve card and then add this to your digital wallet on the Garmin Connect app and the watch. To make a payment, the screen switches to a number dial, you tap in a four-digit pin code and then the watch is activated for contactless payments. So, if someone does get hold of your watch without your permission, they can’t go ripping your account off without the pin number.

The weather and barometer functions are useful. The barometer has the option to set a storm alert if the pressure drops a a set amount of millibar within 3 hours.

Garmin Quatix 6 longterm test review – music controls

The music controls have also been so useful. As I use my phone to connect through a variety of bluetooth speakers and auxiliary cables to different outputs, being able to stop, start, skip and adjust the volume from my wrist has been a lovely feature to have.

Buy Garmin Quatix from House of Watches

Read more about other models of sailing watch in our buyers guide

If you're the kind of person that loves being outdoors and boating, sailing and other water-based activities are your thing, then the Quatix 6 is well worth the price

Screen Rant

I'm convinced below deck sailing yacht season 5 will include gary king in the cast (was it filmed before the scandal).

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20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now

This below deck star needs to take full responsibility if sailing yacht season 5 gets canceled, 1000-lb sisters: signs amy slaton and michael halterman have made up.

• Gary King likely to appear in Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 despite troubling allegations.
• Allegations of sexual misconduct against Gary surfaced between seasons, but he continued filming.
• Season 5's release has been delayed, possibly due to editing Gary's presence in the show.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 is likely going to feature First Officer Gary King , despite the troubling allegations lodged against him during the show’s off-season. Throughout Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 4 , many were concerned about the increasingly troubling behavior of Gary, who’s been part of the show since season 2. While he’s always been somewhat of a playboy, Gary’s behavior with women got increasingly difficult to watch as he continued further along in his journey with the franchise. Confident in himself, Gary was open about what he was interested in, sometimes getting overly physical with women on deck.

While Gary’s behavior hasn’t always been over the top, there were some serious sexual misconduct allegations lodged against the Below Deck Sailing Yacht star after the last season of the series. Even though Gary was known to be somewhat concerning with women , Bravo continued with another season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht . In between the last season ending and the next season filming, allegations were made against Gary by a makeup artist that was hired by the series, and the account of her interactions with the First Officer gave viewers pause about seeing him on another season of the show.

Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.

Gary Has Always Had A Bad Reputation

Throughout his time on Below Deck Sailing Yacht , Gary has been one of the more difficult yachties to pin down. While he's been fun in some instances, the majority of Gary's time on the show has been spent showing off his womanizer tendencies. Whether it's flirting with the women aboard the sailing yacht as charter guests, being somewhat too touchy with his fellow crew, or bragging about things he's done outside of the scope of the superyacht, Gary's always been known for his scandalous relationships with women . As he's moved through the series, his behavior has become increasingly uncomfortable.

Though viewers were willing to accept Gary as a part of the crew early on in the series, as the show evolved, he became more of a problem for the people around him which in turn became more disturbing to watch. During Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 4 , Gary's behavior towards Mads Herrera was troubling for some viewers. Even before the allegations of sexual misconduct, Gary was a struggle for some viewers to get behind , and after the accusations became public, many called for his removal from the series.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 Filmed Despite Allegations

While the allegations against Gary were serious, Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 had already begun filming when they became public. Though Gary's behavior throughout the series could've been enough of a red flag to remove him from the crew, he was kept on as First Officer on Parsifal III, which means his appearance in the next season of the series is inevitable. While many Below Deck viewers have taken issue with Gary's behavior in the past , it wasn't taken seriously in the years that the show has been on, but with serious allegations afoot, very little can be done.

Gary's appearance on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 was confirmed early on in the filming process by the First Officer himself, who shared on Instagram that the show was filming another season. While Bravo distanced themselves from Gary after the allegations came out, they only seemed to care to do so after audiences called for Gary's removal from a BravoCon lineup, as well as the show itself. Though the network has taken action, some still feel like it's too little, too late considering Gary was a part of the already filmed Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 .

Gary Is Likely Too Baked Into The Season To Be Edited Out

Many have been curious as to what's taking so long for Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 to be released, as the show has been finished filming for nearly a year. While there has been enough time and space for the editing team to put together a normal season of Below Deck , there's likely a much bigger challenge when it comes to Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5. Knowing that Gary's featured in the season , many have speculated that the editors have been hopeful they'd be able to remove Gary from the show as much as possible to save face.

While Gary has been heavily featured in every other season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht , he'll likely be edited out of Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 as much as he can be. Even with the power of editing, though, Gary has been a major part of the series and was likely one of the major story points of the season. It doesn't seem likely to me that he'll be able to get removed from the show in most facets without the season being entirely re-filmed. Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 will be fascinating when it finally comes out.

Source: Gary King /Instagram

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

*Availability in US

Not available

Below Deck Sailing Yacht is a spin-off of the Below Deck reality television series. Premiering on Bravo, the show follows the life of a Yacht crew as they attempt to navigate a busy Charter season in which many customers make use of a 177-foot sailing yacht. Over the first three seasons, the yacht has been to Greece, Croatia, and Spain.

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• This Massive 1,063-Foot Residential Gigayacht Will Be Bigger Than ‘Titanic’

Ulyssia is expected to hit the seas in 2028.

Rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

This 190-foot custom superyacht is a luxe haven for fitness lovers.

• The Original Illustration for the First Harry Potter Book Just Sold for a Record-Breaking $1.9 Million
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Apparently, The World is not enough.

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Designed by Italian firm FM Architettura, the interiors will reportedly be finished to a “five-star luxury hotel specification.” Some 132 private residences will be thoughtfully positioned throughout, with homes ranging from approximately 1,216 square feet to more than 10,000 square feet. Ulyssia will also be outfitted with 22 guest suites to accommodate friends, family, or visiting guest speakers.

The private abodes range from breathtaking penthouses to family duplexes. Each pad will offer one to six bedrooms, elegant reception rooms, an open-plan kitchen, private terraces, and uninterrupted ocean views. Owners can choose from one of eight existing designs or appoint their own team to customize the interior.

Residents will have access to a range of amenities, too. Chenot , the Swiss outfit behind several notable spas, will spearhead the health and wellness activities on board. Guests can make use of a spa, fitness center, or even a medical facility with the latest equipment for X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, etc.

Gourmands will also be catered to. Ulyssia will be outfitted with multiple restaurants that will reportedly be staffed by both “world-renowned” and “up-and-coming” guest chefs. In addition, the “gourmet market” will be stocked with local produce sourced from the areas in which the ship is cruising. The vessel will also have a well-stocked wine cellar that oenophiles can enjoy.

As for grunt, Ulyssia will be equipped with hybrid propulsion systems and will run on methanol and other biofuels when possible to reduce emissions. Batteries and solar are also planned. She will travel everywhere from chic ports to iconic cities to remote destinations. EYOS Expeditions has even come aboard as an “expedition partner” to create exciting excursions for guests.

“The concept behind Ulyssia is, quite simply, traveling the world from the comfort of your home. Every day, you go out and you explore these magnificent destinations all over the globe, but you come home to familiarity, to people who know who you are, who know what your needs are and how to take care of all your preferences,” Ulyssia Residences AG CEO Alain Gruber said in a statement.

Ulyssia isn’t the first residential superyacht concept that has been floated—there’s the 948-foot Njord , the 728-foot Somnio , and the 753-foot Narrative , for instance—but the project does feel more legitimate than others because of the founding team’s experience with The World . They are confident they can create “the world’s most exclusive residential yacht community,” who will work together on environmental conservation and cultural preservation projects to leave a positive impact wherever they go.

As for the fine print, owners will be offered a 50-year transferable and renewable lease, with annual fees expected to be between 3 to 3.5 percent of the purchase cost. (The company has not provided exact prices of the residences.) The team is looking for people with a passion for exploration and philanthropy. Construction on Ulyssia is planned to start this year, with delivery expected in October 2028. You can contact the Ulyssia team for more information.

Click here to see all the photos of Ulyssia.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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F1 on the Water? Yachts Race at the Statue of Liberty.

Thousands of spectators turned out over the weekend for SailGP, which brought a high-speed competition, and lots of champagne, to the New York Harbor.

The catamarans used to compete in SailGP races cost about $5 million. Credit... Dolly Faibyshev for The New York Times

Supported by

By Alyson Krueger

• Published June 24, 2024 Updated June 26, 2024

At 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning, with New York City under a heat advisory, a gaggle of sailing enthusiasts, dressed in polo shirts and summer dresses, boarded a ferry for Governors Island to watch towering F50 catamarans race along the skyline of Lower Manhattan and in front of the Statue of Liberty.

It was the second day and the finals of the New York Sail Grand Prix, part of SailGP, the growing international sailing competition in which teams, grouped by country, compete in $5 million boats that race up to 60 miles per hour.

The competition was founded in 2018 by Larry Ellison, the tech billionaire, and Russell Coutts, a five-time America’s Cup winner, to build a mainstream sailing league. Unlike America’s Cup, which occurs roughly every four years, SailGP has events around the globe throughout the year, allowing audiences to follow along.

“It’s this high-adrenaline, high-speed sort of racing product right in front of you,” Mr. Coutts said.

Organizers and fans are comparing the competition to Formula 1 racing on the water, which also has billionaire and celebrity backers and flashy backdrops including St. Tropez and Dubai. Now in its fourth season, the number of SailGP teams and events has doubled. The races, filled with Olympic sailors and state-of-the-art catamarans, are broadcast throughout the world and attract millions of viewers, according to organizers.

The sold-out race was held at the tip of Manhattan. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch the race by boat or from Governors Island, a 172-acre island in New York Harbor. (Tickets started at $85 for the grandstand.)

A private tent on a paved area by the water was reserved for team owners and invited ticket holders. There was sushi and dumplings and tea service catered by the Plaza.

The teams were spread around the lounge, marked by flags. Lindsey Vonn, the Olympic ski racer, is on the board of directors for the team from the United States.

“I love speed and adrenaline, so when the opportunity presented itself it was a no-brainer,” Ms. Vonn said in a text message. She attended the race live on Saturday.

On Sunday, the races started around 1 p.m., prompting many guests to put down their champagne and Aperol spritzes and approach the edge of the water to take in the sailing.

Unlike in Formula 1, where a spectator can see only a short stretch of the track at a time, all of SailGP’s racing happens in a tight area in full view of the crowd.

The event is a series of three short races (each one lasts about 15 minutes) in which the boats circle the course multiple times, depending on the wind conditions.

For the boat to turn, 32 functions have to be performed by the team in unison. The catamarans are close enough to shore to see the sailors — there are usually six on each boat — in action.

Jennifer Falvey, 63, a real estate agent, had traveled from Woodstock, Vt., for the event after hearing it about it from a friend. “The boats are just so sexy,” she said.

Daniela Forte, who came with her husband from Westport, Conn., was struck by the speed.

“I don’t have a sailing background, and I had never heard of SailGP before this event, but it’s kind of an amazing idea,” she said. “Sailing has always felt like something you had to do, not just something you can watch, but this is amazing.”

An hour and a half after the first race started, the team from New Zealand was declared the winner (a television broadcaster announced: “The Kiwis have conquered Manhattan.”) The top three contenders are now New Zealand, Australia and Spain — ahead of the season finals in San Francisco in the middle of July.

Then sailors, still wet from the water, filled the lounge for “Apres Sail.” Hundreds of people remained in the private lounge for hours, snacking on fresh plates of pasta and freshly shucked oysters.

Despite the stifling, 90-degree temperatures the party continued until late afternoon. Dance music blared over the loudspeakers, fans mingled with the sailors, and at least one bar ran out of champagne.

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Sailing schools and courses (ISSA, RYA, IYT) in Russia

The possibilities for yachting in russia are unlimited, since this is a country with a long maritime history. you just need to choose where you want to sail. small and big lakes, full-flowing rivers, warm and cold seas — all this is available to those who want to try sailing in this country..

Practical yachting

You will be able to master the skills of sailing; learn to feel the boat, approach and leave the pier, learn about the safety measures on the water and much more.

There are places in 1 team

International Bareboat Skipper (IYT) Course

Having received the International Bareboat Skipper Certificate, you can independently charter a yacht on a charter and operate it in the waters of any country.

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ISSA Offshore Skipper course

The certificated confirms the skills sufficient to sail the yacht in light and dark hours at a distance from a sheltered port up to 100 sea miles.

IYT International Crew course

This is a certificate of excellence for those candidates who wish to train to become an active crew member on a power or sailing yacht. It includes Introduction to Boating for power and sail yachts.

IYT Introductory Sailing Skills course

This course is great for groups of friends or like-minded people to get together for a few days of fun sailing while learning skills to better help as crew onboard.

IYT Try Sailing Course

It’s a fun hands-on course to enjoy being on the water while learning basic sailing skills.

Yacht management training in the Moscow region

In three hours of training, you will learn the basic techniques of managing a yacht, learn some of the specifics of working with a yacht, a helm, sails.

RYA Coastal Skipper course

Advanced skippering techniques for yachtsmen with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.

RYA Competent Crew course

This course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers.

RYA Day Skipper course

A course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.

RYA Start Yachting course

A short introduction to sailing for complete beginners.