In the mountains or at sea, Vintage Alpina Watches For Sale Replica ambassador Aurélien Ducroz, excels. We look back at the unique journey of the man who just finished at an honourable 10th place in the Tour de France Sailing Race.
Bridging the gap between skiing and sailing is no mean feat, but one seamlessly accomplished by Aurélien Ducroz, double world champion in freeride skiing and strong competitor against the best sailors of the moment. Passionate about mountains (and the sea), he has taken on the challenge and joined his horological partner Alpina and their team, Coved – Paprec for the third consecutive year, on the starting line of the Tour de France Sailing Race.
Competitors on the Tour de France Sailing Race sail 7.25 m long sports trimarans on the event of the season. As with the Tour de France cycling race, it is organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. The principle is simple: nine legs, over three weeks, set all around the French coast, with an official program including coastal regattas and stadim racing. Coupled with a race village, public attractions by the water and regattas close to the public, the event brings sailing and sporting festivities wherever it goes.
Much closer to the peaks of the Alps that are so dear to Alpina, than to the sea, Aurélien Ducroz only started sailing much later in life, in 2009. This, however, did not prevent him from completing a solo Mini Transat race (on a 6.50 m boat) in 2011, finishing 4th at the Transat Jacques Vabre, and 4th at the 2016 Tour de France Sailing Race. Finishing 10th this year, and therefore ranking lower than last year, Aurélien remains satisfied with his performance within a fleet whose level progresses year after year. “Another beautiful adventure, a month at 200% with a great new team and a tenth place in the overall ranking. We hoped for a little more, but with the level of performance this year, I am far from frustrated by our tenth place. There are some big teams behind us still”, said Aurélien Ducroz following the last leg, which took place in Nice at the end of July.
Objective: round-the-world tour
Honestly, I can’t argue with what Alpina has done together with the Startimer Pilot Automatic. Sure, there are more impressive watches with aviation styling but not many come close when you take into consideration the list of attributes available on the Alpina. You are getting a trusted Swiss motion in a Swiss made bundle with a tastefully completed pilot remedy for a price of around $1,000, which is a sweet spot for most collectors and general buyers alike. In a watch world of ever increasing options, together with micro brands nipping at the heels of major players, Alpina have lived and thrived by creating value propositions such as the Startimer Pilot Automatic. Alpina have mastered the art of taking a number of their high end design thoughts of larger brands, sending them through the Alpina mixer, and releasing them at costs regular people can actually afford. Despite my minor issues, for me personally, it’s a concept which really takes off.Keeping that the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic faithfully attached to a flight-suit, or in most cases, your wrist, is a thick black leather strap with contrasting white stitching, which is exactly the exact same no matter which of the four variations you choose. No word about a bracelet was yet announced. As previously mentioned, the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic AL-525 is offered in four variations; stainless steel with a black dial, stainless steel with a white dial, a polarizing rose gold plated version using a white dial, plus a “titanium coloured” model using a dark gray dial. Both steel versions will retail for $995 while the increased gold plated and ceramic variations will come in at $1,295 and $1,050 respectively.
This extreme sportsman who’s competing in a world that isn’t his, is adapting quite well and progressing quickly, which only strengthens his resolve in launching an XXL project: the 2020 Vendée Globe. But one cannot improvise a solo round the world tour on an 18 m monohull. Which is why we will find the Aplina ambassador once more on the starting line of the Transat Jacques Vabre this fall, a double’s race starting in le Havre and running all the way to Salvador de Bahia (Bresil). In the middle of the ocean, there are no mountains, although waves can sometimes reach scary heights…there is no doubt that this free rider turned experienced sailor should be able to cope with that…
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