The choice for yachtsmen. TAG Heuer's sailing watch "Skipper" is back

TAG HEUER

A Distinctive Chronograph Returns After 40 Years

TAG Heuer introduces the "TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper" chronograph. The model, discontinued in 1983, has now been revived.

Text by WASEDA Kosaku (OPENERS)

Ensuring Excellent Legibility, As Expected from a Sailing Watch

From its debut in 1968 until production ceased in 1983, the "Skipper" adorned the wrists of yachtsmen, from professionals to amateurs.

The "Skipper" was originally born from the involvement of Jack Heuer, the fourth generation of the Heuer family, with the America's Cup, the world's oldest yacht race.

In the mid-1940s, Abercrombie & Fitch, a seller of high-end sporting goods, began commissioning Heuer to produce watches under its own brand for sale in its New York stores.

The first watch, "Solunars," featured a tide indicator to show the ebb and flow of the tides. This watch evolved in the 1950s into the more sophisticated chronographs "Seafarer" and "Mareograph."

By the late 1960s, the partnership with Abercrombie & Fitch had reached its 20th year. A close friendship between Jack Heuer and Walter Haynes, the president of Abercrombie, led Heuer to provide official timing equipment for the yacht Intrepid, competing in the America's Cup.

The choice for yachtsmen. TAG Heuer's sailing watch "Skipper" back | TAG HEUER

For the 1967 America's Cup, Heuer supplied a portable yacht stopwatch to the Intrepid and the "Aquastar" wristwatch to the crew. This model featured a countdown function with five red and white discs rotating behind small windows.

The Intrepid won the race with an overwhelming victory, winning all four of its matches. It was this victory that inspired Heuer to create the "Skipper."

The 30-minute sub-dial was modified to include a countdown function, dividing the 15 minutes before crossing the start line in a regatta into three further 5-minute segments. These three segments were color-coded: a vibrant orange warned the crew of the final five minutes, green represented the yacht's rigging, and light green replicated the color of the Intrepid's deck.

The revived "Skipper" retains the distinctive and colorful aesthetic of the original model. The main dial features a blue hue, inspired by the sea and emblematic of the "Carrera," complemented by a contrasting "Intrepid Teal" blue 12-hour counter. The three-part 15-minute regatta counter is rendered in Intrepid Teal, Lagoon Green, and Regatta Orange, respectively.

Vibrant triangular markers at five-minute intervals on the curved flange, a bright orange central seconds hand, and the "Skipper" name below the 12-hour counter all contribute to the model's unique design, evident in its every detail.

The case is the same as that of the recently released "Glassbox" Carrera. This design proved to be the optimal solution for a sailing watch, balancing aesthetics and practicality.

The bezel has been omitted, allowing the Glassbox to extend to the edge of the case, with the dial following the curve of the flange precisely. Through these thoughtful design choices, the "Skipper" ensures excellent legibility in any situation—a hallmark of a sailing watch engineered for utility on the water.

This model announces the return of TAG Heuer to the world of yachting and signifies the presence of its marine-inspired collection. The "Skipper" stands as a representative timepiece, forming a vital part of TAG Heuer's core collections.