In early summer, Alpina was appointed official timekeeper of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. Today, with the Alpina Countdown showing just a few weeks left until the big launch on January 7, 2024, the two limited editions that will accompany this solo circumnavigation are unveiled. They combine the rigor and robustness of Alpina’s Extreme line, whose DNA has been incorporated into the Seastrong collection. The best of both worlds for these collectibles of 100 and 150 pieces each in a 41mm steel case with a steel or rubber strap and a dial as silver as the foam or as blue as the waves. The sailor Eric Péron, Alpina’s new ambassador of the seas and participant in the race, will wear one of these watches on his wrist.
Only six competitors will compete, including skipper Eric Péron, Alpina ambassador. For 40 to 50 days they will fight against wind, waves, swell and ice and 3 capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Hoorn) to circumnavigate the world from west to east – a tremendous challenge! They only have one variable in mind: the weather. Whatever strategy and tenacity they bring to the table, the weather will be the only arbiter of their performance.
To overcome such a challenge, Alpina has put its expertise at the service of the race, with two key words: precision and robustness. In an extreme environment where every second counts, the Maison can rely on 140 years of experience.
Alpina was founded in 1883 and grew up in the foothills of the Alpine massif. The two pieces presented for the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest bear witness to this. You benefit from the fruits of this historical heritage and put it at the service of offshore racing. They adopt the geometry of the Extreme case, a powerful cushion with a side length of 41 mm. The steel is designed for the most demanding environments, the crown has a handle designed for handling in the spray. The case is water resistant to 200 meters and has a screwed, solid back engraved with the name of the race. It houses a Swiss Made automatic AL-525 movement with 38 hours of power reserve, three central hands and a date window at 6 o’clock.
The first version, which is limited to 100 pieces and has the engraving “1 out of 100” on the back, is equipped with a solid steel body: case, bezel and bracelet. The anti-reflective sapphire crystal reveals the deep navy blue dial, which is engraved with the triangular Alpina motif. Large luminescent indices all around count the hours and minutes, which are displayed by two openwork, hand-polished hands with also luminescent tips. At 6 o’clock they glide over the three-pointed logo of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. The watch meets the requirements of the Swiss manufacturer and offers an all-round satin finish and a crown handle that matches the color of the dial.
The second version, limited to 150 copies and also numbered, shows a sportier and more contrasting character. The dial here is silver-plated, the blue color appears on the bracelet, the flange and, atypically, also on the indices and hand-polished hands, thanks to a luminescent treatment specially developed in blue to match the colors of the race. A powerful and contemporary creation in which the Alpina emblem, which acts as a triangular counterweight to the second hand, is echoed in the race emblem at 6 o’clock, in the same bright red. Like the combination of Alpina’s know-how with the determination of the extreme sailors of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest.
Éric Péron will be one of the first to be equipped with this precision mechanics. The top skipper has taken part in the biggest single-handed and team races in France and around the world, on both Olympic and offshore circuits. He has been an Alpina ambassador since last month (October 2023). His trump cards are the passion for extremes and the joy of the challenge in this race stopped by Alpina, in which man alone is confronted with complicated, extreme and dangerous situations.
Alpina’s commitment to ocean racing is long-term. It runs until 2026 and will then accompany the next Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, which brings together the largest fleet of all levels on one starting line.
