Les Voiles De St Barth Richard Mille is the official name for the annual event that celebrates the finest and most technologically advanced yachts taking part in a series of races across seven classes. The first event took place in 2010 and in the decade following, Richard Mille has always been involved, to the point that as of 2019 the brand’s moniker was added to the name of the event. The event has witnessed almost 500 boats from across the world included in the event, which has become a serious fixture on the regatta circuit and has been an invaluable revenue stream for St Barths. With a Covid-induced hiatus for 2021, Richard Mille wanted to support the island and has pledged the proceeds from the sale of one of the watches to support worthy causes.

The RM 60-10 is the skipper’s equivalent of a Swiss army knife, being packed with all the useful features that one would need when partaking in such a serious regatta. The watch has all the functions you’d expect for a watch aimed at a life on the high seas, including a 50mm titanium and carbon waterproof case (that needs 10 days of machining and milling alone), an automatic movement that features an annual calendar with oversize date, a flyback chronograph, a 60-minute countdown and a UTC or GMT hand to allow the wearer to monitor two time zones or use the hand as a handy navigation tool.

The genius on-the go-anywhere-in-the-world compass allows the wearer to discover true north using the watch’s bezel. Just set the UTC hand, using the pusher at eight o’clock on the case, to the correct local time on the bezel. Once this is set, point said UTC hand towards the sun and the North, South, East and West on bezel will be pointing in the correct direction allowing one to set the correct course whether in a race or embarking on an epic aquatic adventure, a feat made even more genius by the fact that it can be instantly set for northern and southern hemisphere reading.

If it’s a regatta that you’re taking part in, then being in exactly the right place at the start is a little more complicated than it would appear. The skipper will often want to read both elapsed time and remaining time when positioning the boat ready to cross the invisible start line at exactly the allotted moment. The RM60-01 replaces the traditional hand with a skeletonized 60 minutes-marked disc.

This is a seriously impressive watch from a brand that never disappoints when it comes to fit for purpose sports timepieces. The fact that the brand is generously donating the proceeds from one of the 80-pieces limited edition to worthy causes in St Barths means that by buying this watch not only either keeps you safer on the seven seas or looking cool on the harbour in Monaco, but also you are helping out those in need. So, plot your course to your nearest RM boutique and set sail!

Tech Specs

Movement: Calibre RMAC2 with automatic winding movement with hours, minutes, running seconds at 3 o’clock, oversize date, month, annual calendar, flyback chronograph with central seconds counter, and 60-minute countdown timer, 24-hour totalizer, UTC function and adjustable rotor geometry.
Case and Dial: 50mm titanium and carbon case. Sapphire dial with anti-glare treatment (on both sides), protected by 8 silicon braces inserted in the upper and lower grooves.
Strap: Rubber strap with titanium RM pin buckle.
Availability: 80-piece limited edition priced at USD210,000