Romain Pilliard & Sebastien Destremau: The Odyssey Of The Route Du Rhum
Ulysse Nardin, watchmaker of the oceans, is proud to announce its partnership with French sailor Ro-main Pilliard. This modern-day explorer will take part in an odyssey of considerable scale this fall – the Route du Rhum – with a precise goal in mind: creating environmental awareness through circular economy. This follows Ulysse Nardin’s announcement over the summer of the on-board arrival of Sébastien Destremau, who will also take part in the 2018 Route du Rhum. The watchmaking brand is thus proud to support these two Ulysses during the transatlantic event that brings together some of the best sailors in the world.
Romain Pilliard is no stranger to challenges, and his upcoming participation in the Route du Rhum is perfect proof. The race, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, links Saint-Malo, France, to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guade-loupe. This Sunday, November 4, 2018, Romain Pilliard will join over a hundred other solitary sailors as they set off to cross the Atlantic in this quadrennial event. Today, this seasoned sailor is embarking on an adven-ture that perfectly defines the state of mind dear to Ulysse Nardin: boundless determination, a thirst for discovery and the desire to push one’s limits.
Romain Pilliard & Sebastien Destremau: The Odyssey Of The Route Du Rhum
Romain Pilliard rounds out the armada of Ulysses who, in addition to Sébastien Destremau, include moun-tain-climber and photographer Fred Buyle, kite-surfer Alex Caizergues and snowboarder and surfer Mathieu Crépel. These modern-day heroes share a passion for exploration, live in strict harmony with water, both on its surface and in its depths, and are guided by their courage and ambition.
Close to nature and sensitive to environmental causes, Romain Pilliard plans to use his transatlantic journey to promote circular economy. A concept based on the reuse of goods and materials, circular economy aims to achieve a means of consumption without waste. “Climate change concerns us all. I want to prove to peo-ple that circular economy and performance are compatible.” His boat, which was constructed by British sailor Ellen MacArthur, a record-holder for single-handed sailing around the world, has been entirely refurbished with reused or recycled materials. The energy required for the proper functioning of the tools on board will also be produced by natural sources – solar panels, wind turbines and hydro-generators. The watchwords of his campaign: “reduce, reuse, recycle.”
For the entire length of the race, he will be accompanied by his Diver Chronometer, the new diving watch by Ulysse Nardin. A robust, elegant sports watch, designed for extreme sports on or under the sea. It is equipped with an inverted, concave bezel with domed sapphire glass. Its Superluminova indexes and hands make the time visible in the dark – an indispensable feature for an adventure such as the one Romain Pilliard is about to take on. The dial also houses a power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock and a date and small sec-onds aperture at 6 o’clock, all nestled within a unidirectional rotating bezel that is curved inward. Through the back of its 44 mm case, the UN-118 movement is visible with its silicon technology – a specialty of the Manufacture.
Romain Pilliard & Sebastien Destremau: The Odyssey Of The Route Du Rhum
For Ulysse Nardin, whose history is closely linked to the nautical world, it’s a partnership that goes without saying. Indeed, the watchmaking brand exists for our time’s modern explorers – the Ulysses of today. Those who like breaking the rules, casting off unmoored and swimming against the tide. The Beautiful Freaks.
About Ulysse Nardin – Manufacture of Freedom
Ulysse Nardin is the Pioneering Manufacture inspired by the sea and delivering innovative timepieces to free spirits. Founded by Mr. Ulysse Nardin in 1846 and a proud member of the global luxury group Kering since November 2014, Ulysse Nar-din has written some of the finest chapters in the history of Haute Horlogerie. The company’s earliest renown came from its links to the nautical world: its marine chronometers are among the most reliable ever made, still sought by collectors around the world. A pioneer of cutting-edge technologies and the innovative use of materials like silicon, the brand is one of the few with the in-house expertise to produce its own high-precision components and movements. This exceptional level of watchmaking excellence has earned Ulysse Nardin membership in the most exclusive circle of Swiss watchmaking, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Today, from its sites in Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, the brand’s continuing quest for horological perfection centers around five collec-tions: The Marine, the Diver, the Classic, the Executive and the Freak.
About Romain Pilliard
Romain Pilliard is a French sailor. Born in Paris, he discovered sailing while on holiday with family in Brittany. He partic-ipated in the La Solitaire du Figaro in 2000 and 2001, and sailed as a crewman, notably for British sailor Ellen MacAr-thur.
With his wife, he founded EOL Sports & Lifestyle, a sports marketing agency specializing in sailing. Together in 2008, they created the Tour de Belle-Île, the first major annual sailing event in France, which today unites over 500 boats.
In 2018, he will participate in the Route du Rhum. His sailboat, the Remade – Use it Again! belonged notably to Ellen MacArthur and was used during her journey around the world. Today, Romain Pilliard offers a second life to this trima-ran, a testament to his desire to promote a circular economy for a sustainable future. He is thus a perfect fit with the phi-losophy of Ulysse Nardin, itself highly aware of the need to preserve the environment.
About Sébastien Destremau
Sébastien Destremau is a Franco-Australian skipper and sailor who, in 1998, took home the Sydney-Hobart, considered a highly difficult race. In 2016, he decided to take on an even bigger challenge: the Vendée Globe, the most formidable single-handed race around the world. Despite technical damages, a lack of food and even cracked ribs, he was wel-comed as a hero in Sables d’Olonne upon achieving his goal after a journey of 124 days. A five-time world champion, he also prepared the 1992 Olympic Games for France.
– 5 America’s Cup campaigns
– 124 days alone at sea for the 2016 Vendée Globe
– A victory at Sydney-Hobart
– An Olympic campaign on the Flying Dutchman
– A victory at the single-handed Calero Solo Transat in 2016
Diver Chronometer 1183-170LE-3/90-GW
Diver Chronometer 1185-170LE-3/BLACK-MON
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Diver Chronometer 1185-170LE-3/BLACK-MON
References Titanium, blue dial: 1183-170-3/93
Titanium, black dial: 1183-170-3/92
Great White Limited Edition: 1183-170LE-3/90-GW
Monaco Limited Edition: 1185-170LE-3/BLACK-MON
Movement UN-118 Manufacture movement
Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, power reserve
Power reserve 60 hours
Dial Blue, black, gray
Case Titanium
Bezel Inverted concave unidirectional rotating bezel
Diameter 44 mm
Water resistance 300 m
Back Sapphire crystal, except for the Great White
Strap Rubber strap fastened with a pin buckle
Source: Ulysse Nardin Press
