New racing watch by Aquastar

This is really cool. Having used a Aquastar watch for the last 30 years (wow I am getting old) they just launched a NEW version of an old classic.
The LARGE "DOTS" help you see the countdown just like the original version but in a digital format.

LET THEM KNOW YOUR A HOBIE SAILOR, it helps to let companies know who uses their product.



http://www.aquastar.ch

Best of all its not expensive! Whoot! Been on the market for a whole 4 days now. I have one on the way. If it works as well as my 30 year old version they will sell like hotcakes. Remember to let them know your a HOBIE RACER!!

Smooth Sailing,
Karlton

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Smooth Sailing

Karlton,
Where did you buy yours from? The website quoted $215 US, with $75 being shipping!
Cool looking watch though.

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2003 Tiger - Don Atchley

I have never seen an Aquastar, but Ronstan's Clear Start watch is around $100 and works great. I had the all black one until a button stuck after a year or so. Even though I could not find my receipt, Ronstan sent me the new blue/black one as a replacement no questions asked. I have been using that watch for 10 or 12 regattas a year since 2004. There are several modes that work great for Hobie regattas - the one I use is a 5 min. countdown with audible alarms that increase in frequency until the gun and the watch then switches over to a stopwatch so I can see how long the race was. Cool.

The watch has a big face, so you probably won't be wearing it out on the town. That said, I can see the big numbers from a distance when I use the elestic wrist strap to attach the watch to the boom. For a more permanent installation, the detachable retainer that holds the watch to the strap can be attached using hardware. I have put a wrap of electrical tape around the removable part of the watch to make sure it stays in the retainer because I have seen one come off of another boat at sea while the crew was setting it. As the watch is round, you can imagine that story ended with a bounce, roll, splash.

Any post that has electrical tape mentioned to secure a watch makes me smile. hehehe Ronstan makes good stuff and stands behind their stuff, as most companies do now adays or they feel the sting of cyber review. One thing is for sure having a watch your used to makes starting less of a stress. For me having the large dots I can see super quickly is a big help on the line.

I am just glad we have choices and this one looks to be a good choice for a watch you can wear out on the town, see and has the modes we as racers need and is reasonably priced. PLUS the ease of ONE button to make it work.

This company that has been making yacht racing watches from the 1960s. Not blocks, not rigging just swiss made racing wrist watches.

Aquastar and Memosail have for years made watches with the "DOTS" others have too. Omega has a new watch out with dots but the dots are so small and you have to press a series of buttons to get the darn thing to work. Ugg for $3,500 you would think it would be easy to use. The new Rolex Yacht Master II at $32,000.00 is UGLY and hard to use. Louis Vuitton "Regate Cup" over $3,500. for hard to use. Once more UGGG.

Choice is good, getting the starting aid that works best for you PRICELESS!

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Smooth Sailing

OLD SCHOOL 18, I just bought it off the web site. I just found and bought an original to replace mine I paid about a grand. I let my trusty friend fill with water, because I was a dunce and did not get a new seal or have it serviced in 30+ years. Oh man did I blow it a $20.00 service cost me big time. But I have had fun searching for the replacement and as soon as I did WHAM this version came out.

NOTE: Original Aquastar Regatta Watches fetch from $800 to $1,500 on eBay or other online watch brokers. New they were about $275 new and in 1970's dollars that was a BIG investment in a starting watch hehehe. Now $275 fills up the truck one way to a regatta

Here is a good link to the Regatta Watch history including the Heuer years.
http://www.onthedash.com/Guide/_Chronog ... 5.Regatta/

Here is a couple of link to what they get on fleabay for the originals
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3DWatching

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=018

Why post that? Well because they would be worth squat if they were not that good to start with. Lets see $275 in 1974 now worth $1,500 must be they work and work well for some people.

We Hobie People like quality and low price for goods that help us enjoy our hobby / Hobie lifestyle.
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Smooth Sailing

I should mention that the electrical tape is just an easy "belt and suspenders" engineering thing. I don't think there is really much chance of losing the watch - but I really like being on time for the start so it is cheap insurance. Besides, if you are confident enough to wear a Ronstan Clear Start watch with electrical tape on it out on the town you will stand out from the crowd wearing their Rolexes and Louis Vuittons.

For sure 100% agree. But if you really want to make a statement dump the black electrical tape and go PINK DUCT TAPE! Chicks DIG Pink Duct Tape.

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Smooth Sailing

You can buy anything on the Internet.

Hey this is about Racing Hobie Cats, but come on a "Duct Tape Pirate Ship" thats funny!



whoops this was about watches.... hehehehe

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Smooth Sailing