Best Sailing Watch: Fully Tested Waterproof Watches for all Watersports Enthusiasts

Marine Tech Editor Fox Morgan has created a short list of the very best sailing watches on the market. There’s a range to suit all budgets and sailing needs, from a basics to smart watchesThe best sailing watches can offer a multitude of functions, from MOB alerts to tidal calculations and large faced race count down timers. And yet still there’s utter simplicity of a waterproof self winding timepiece.
For anyone who spends time on the water—whether trimming sails, paddling a kayak, or freediving a wreck—a reliable watch is the most fundamental piece of gear. While sheer waterproof ruggedness is the baseline, today’s best models offer capabilities ranging from intricate race countdowns and MOB alerts to GPS tracking for paddlesports and depth logging for divers.
The market has evolved from the simple, waterproof self-winding timepiece to embrace sophisticated smartwatch technology. Brands like Garmin and Suunto have brought features like full navigation, fitness tracking, and deep integration with on-board electronics to your wrist. A single watch can now seamlessly transition from racing regattas to monitoring your stroke rate during paddleboarding or logging a freedive.
But the smartest watch is not always the right tool. Sometimes, the core function—a simple, large-faced, and ultra-readable race timer—is all that’s needed. This guide highlights the best choices across all categories: from the most advanced smart sailing watches to the specialised racing timers and enduring luxury pieces from heritage brands like Panerai. Whatever your watersport of choice, we’ve found the perfect rugged timepiece to keep you on course.
You’ll see that Garmin have several entries in our best sailing watches guide and if you’re specifically after a Garmin, we have rounded up the best of those in this guide to the best Garmin watch for sailing.
However, the cleverest watch is not always the best watch for sailing. For regatta racing an extremely simple and speedy to operate model may suit better. Price is not always an indicator of functionality either; even some of the least expensive sailing watches can be packed with features. I’ve created a guide to the best big face sports sailing watches if this is something you are looking for then have a look.
Editor’s top choices at a glance

Best waterproof smart watches

Garmin Quatix 7 PRO waterproof smart watch – Best smart watch for sailing 2025
Specifications: Apple or android smart phone compatible | Sizes: 47mm / 51mm | Weight 70g | Battery life: up to 16 days with screen on by demand | GPS tracking | Waterproof to 10 ATM
Reasons to Buy: Large easy to read face, incredible versatility for an array of lifestyle activity, healthy wellbeing and boat interactivity, customisable to suit individual needs, has a built in led torch!
Reasons to Avoid: expensive bit of kit (but worth every penny)
Garmin’s latest sailing smartwatch includes improvements to strengthen integration with onboard electronics and now sports a little red and white mini torch.
It’s a touchscreen model that can, for instance, be used to control MFD displays or Fusion audio systems, as well as Garmin autopilots.
You can also pay for things with contactless payments, but you’ll need to use an intermediary app, such as Curve if you are in the UK as British banks haven’t signed up for that function directly yet.
High end Sapphire models add a new ultra-clear AMOLED touchscreen.
The watch can output directly to Strava and myfitnesspal along with other apps according to your preference. We like this watch very much indeed and it is currently the best smart sailing watch for all round functionality. Pricey though, but worth it.
I’m going to get straight to the point, this watch is utterly brilliant. Once you put it on your wrist, you wont want to take it off. I have put a metal strap on mine as I find the Silicon strap, day to day can irritate my skin. But I pop on another sports strap for sportsing about.
I row, sail, swim, free dive, run, cycle, indoor row, do gym work, look up tides, sunrise and set times, Barometer, Storm alerts,  monitor my heart rate, monitor my sleep patterns, use the multiple alarms for a multitude of stuff, sync the watch to the rowing machine, and pin drop where I parked my car because I tend to forget where I put it. Thankfully I’ve never had to use the MOB alert button, but it’s good to know it’s there.
There’s no getting away from the fact that this is a big old chunk of change for a watch, but it really is the best sailing smart watch on the market. However, if you are looking to spend a little less I’d also strongly recommend the regular Garmin Quatix 7, which is a little less money for a watch that is very nearly as good.

Suunto Ocean Smart Diving and sailing watch
Specifications: Apple or android smart phone compatible | Sizes: 49.9mm diameter / 13.2mm thickness (One Size) | Weight 99 g | Battery life: up to 16 days in smartwatch mode | GPS tracking (Dual Band L1+L5) | Waterproof to 100 m (10 ATM equivalent)
Reasons to Buy: Dual-Purpose Design (Diving + Sports Tracking) | Premium Build with AMOLED Display | Offline Maps & Advanced Navigation
Reasons to Avoid: Higher Price Tag | Limited App Ecosystem
This watch is a beast! As someone who enjoys both freediving and outdoor sports, this watch can handle both worlds on the water and under the water easily.
The watch feels premium and rugged. The 1.43-inch AMOLED display is bright and crisp, even under direct sunlight. The sapphire glass and stainless steel bezel give it a solid, high-end feel, and I love that it’s made in Finland with renewable energy. The strap is comfortable, and despite being packed with features, it’s not overly bulky on my wrist, though let’s not pretend this thing is small, I’m used to wearing large watches, so if you do have a smaller wrist like me, it might take a little getting used to.
Battery life is good but not mind-blowing. I got around 50 hours with GPS tracking, and up to 60 hours in dive mode, but with regular smartwatch use, I needed to charge it every 4-5 days. That’s reasonable, but some competitors last longer.
If you’re an adventurer who dives, hikes, and trains, this watch is one of the best all-in-one solutions out there. It’s rugged, packed with features, and reliable in the water. However, if you’re strictly a runner, sailor or cyclist, a dedicated Garmin or Coros watch might suit you better for the price.

Garmin Instinct waterproof smart watch
Specifications:Apple or android smart phone compatible | Sizes: 40mm / 45mm / 50mm | Weight: 42 g (40mm) – 67 g (50mm) | Battery life: up to 28 days/unlimited with solar (45mm) | GPS tracking (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) | Waterproof to 10 ATM
Reasons to buy: GPS positioning on charts | Barometric pressure and compass | Smartphone connectivity | An incredible amount of styles and colours | Single charge lasts 14 days
Reasons to avoid: Premium price without a premium design
The Instinct was launched as Garmin’s all-round watch, which they call their outdoors watch. Features that are particularly relevant to sailors include GPS positioning on charts; barometric pressure and a compass.
It has smartphone connectivity, receives emails and texts, and can control music via a phone. This watch also has an inbuilt thermometer and heart rate monitor.
The Garmin Instinct is available in no fewer than 20 different styles and colours. It’s actual diameter is 47mm (1 13/16” in) but the viewable face is 32mm (1 1/4”). The Instinct is 16mm (5/8” in) thick and weighs 53g (2 oz).
For racing sailors, it also has multiple start sequence options. The Garmin Instinct watch is a good alternative for anyone seeking a more moderately priced alternative to the Quatix 7, as it does many of the same things, but at a lower price. It may also be a better for for those looking for a multi sport watch.
The very best mulitsport watch remains the Garmin Fenix series, but (again) that comes at a pretty serious price.

Best Big Screen Watch for Sailing

Optimum Time Series 3 big face sailing watch – The most-loved waterproof watch for racing sailors
Specifications: Type: Digital, Size: 65mm
Reasons to buy: Great price |  Highly functional | Easy to read | Very robust for the price
Reasons to avoid: It’s really big, so is only really of use on the water
The popular ‘big yellow’ Optimum Time Sailing Watch is a lower-priced, yet highly functional racing watch. If you tune into the Olympic Games every 4 years, this is the watch that the vast majority of the racers will have. And it’s ubiquity remains almost anywhere you see serious racing sailing.
It truly is big – far too large for my wrist in any ‘normal’ applications at a gigantic 65mm (2.56” in) diameter and 16mm (0.62” in) thick. It’s also available in colours other than yellow – including white, blue and pink.
An advantage for racing is that this watch is easy to read at a distance thanks to its huge 16mm digits. A bracket is supplied to fix it to a mast. It also has a sync button if you miss the start gun, and can then run a repeat sequence or race timer for handicap competitions.
Robust, and water resistant to 5 ATM, with a wide elasticated strap. Any racing sailor worth their salt has bought, lost, broken, repurchased more of these than most of us care to remember. That’s not to say construction is an issue. But at this price point and for this use case, these do tend to see a great deal of abuse.

Gill Stealth Timer – Our best waterproof watch for racing sailors
Specifications: Type: Digital, Size 65mm
Reasons to buy: Robust design with secure strap | Extra-large | Easy to press silicon buttons | Great display
Reasons to avoid: Some consumers report issues with clasp/strap | Very big
This is Gill’s answer to the Optimum Time watch that dominates the racing market. With wrist, hull, mast or boom mount options, this timer is aimed squarely at racing sailors.
Gill is a well-known and well-trusted sailing clothing manufacturer based on the UK and this watch has clearly been designed by sailors for sailors.
In terms of outright functionality it is, essentially, identical to the Optimum Time watch. However, Gill has really made an effort to improve the visibility of the screen in all weather. The Optimum Time screen can suffer a little bit of glare, especially when wet. Gill has tried to get round this with a matte full dot matrix display, that can be easily read, even in driving rain.
It’s a great watch and like-for-like it is a step up from the Optimum Time. Again, you would not want to wear it anywhere other than onboard a racing boat, due to the screen size.

Ronstan Clear Start Race Timer
Specifications: Type: Digital, Size 65mm
Reasons to buy: Robust design with secure strap | Extra-large, easy to press silicon buttons | Good display
Reasons to avoid: Some consumers report issues with clasp/strap
With wrist, hull, mast or boom mount options, the Swiss-made Ronstan ClearStart Race Timer is aimed squarely at racing sailors.
Made by renowned rigging and hardware company Ronstan, it’s a robust design with a secure elastic strap and substantial ‘bumper’ around the digital display.
The ClearStart Race Timer’s features include extra-large, easy-press silicon buttons, a highlighted start/stop button, oversized 16 mm digits set in a 65mm rotating face and a double line display simultaneously showing the race countdown and time.
In addition, the ClearStart Race Timer offers ‘5-4-1-0’ and Match Racing start sequence programmes, making it a great choice for competitive sailors. Ruggedly constructed and built to last, this sailing watch weighs in at 92 grammes and is water-resistant to 50 metres.

Best luxury waterproof watch

Spinnaker Hull Chronograph
Specifications: Movement: Japanese VK73 TMI Meca-Quartz Chronograph | Case Material: Stainless Steel (Cushion-shaped) | Case Diameter: 42 mm | Case Thickness: 15 mm | Water Resistance: 100 m (10 ATM) | Crystal/Lens: Hardened Mineral Lens | Strap Material: Genuine Leather | Functions: Chronograph, Date, 24-Hour Display
Reasons to buy: Affordable | Good tachymeter function
Reasons to avoid: Only resistant to 10 bar | Leather strap will weather over time
Marine watch brand Spinnaker has produced a number of decent sailing-focused timepieces, but for a classic chronograph model, opt for the vintage-inspired 42mm Hull Chronograph.
Produced in Hong Kong with Japanese technology providing precision movement, this model is also equipped with a tachymeter feature and is available in a range of different colours (though the Lapis blue is one of the bestsellers).

Panerai Luminor Marina
Specifications: Movement: Panerai Caliber P.9010 Automatic Mechanical | Case Material: Stainless Steel (AISI 316L) | Case Diameter: Typically 44 mm (Other sizes available) | Case Thickness: Approx. 15.65 mm (Varies by model) | Water Resistance: 500 m (50 bar) | Crystal/Lens: Sapphire Crystal | Power Reserve: 3 Days (72 hours) | Functions: Hours, Minutes, Small Seconds, Date, Patented Crown-Protecting Device
Reasons to buy: Classic, elegant look | Luminous numerals | Made with hypoallergenic steel
Reasons to avoid: Only water resistant to 10 bar | Suede strap less durable at sea | Very expensive
Let’s not beat around the bush, this Panerai watch costs more than most of us are looking to spend on a sporting watch. But if you want a top of the range style statement that is also a handy sporting watch then look no further.
Long a staple of the brands marine range, the latest generation of the Panerai Luminor Marina preserves the watch’s unmistakable DNA. Specifically, the bold cushion case, the iconic crown-protecting bridge, and the highly legible sandwich dial.
But a raft of new technical upgrades have been made of most interest to watersports users is the increase in waterproof, which now offers 50 bar waterproofing (up to 500m). The new model has also been slimmed down necessitating a new movement.
This all adds up to a watch that is thinner, lighter, better-specced, and more versatile than ever.

Timex Yacht Racer watch – Best for Analogue race sailing watch fans
Specifications: Movement: Quartz Analog (Intelligent Quartz) | Case Material: Stainless Steel | Case Diameter: 47 mm | Case Thickness: 14 mm | Water Resistance: 100 m (10 ATM) | Crystal/Lens: Mineral Glass | Key Functions: Yacht Racing Mode (Countdown Timer to Auto-Start Chronograph), Perpetual Calendar (Perfect Date) | Lighting: INDIGLO® Night-Light (varies by specific model)
Reasons to buy: Striking analogue display | Countdown timers
Reasons to avoid: Larger than average design, Complex to set up | Can be hard to find
Including this watch in this guide breaks pretty much all of our rules about helping our readers to easily find the right product for them. Timex no longer produces this watch, so you r ability to buy one will be entirely at the whims of the used watch market.
The Timex Yacht Race is, though, the best combination of style and function for sailors that we have ever come across and it is well worth tracking down a decent used one to add to your collection (or as your main sailing watch).
This is a very striking analogue watch, designed to appeal specifically to racing sailors who don’t want a digital display. It features racing countdown timers (from 5 mins, 3 mins or 1 minute), then after the start the chronometer automatically starts a race timer for up to one hour.
This is a larger than average design, at 46 mm (1.81” in) diameter and 14mm (0.55” in) thick. It is complex to set up, as some functions require three buttons to be pressed in sequence. There is also no ‘reset’ button for anyone who misses their start sequence timer.
But… just look at how cool it is. How could you possibly say ‘no’?

FAQ: What makes the best sailing watch?
The ability to read the time, countdown or data in a hurry or at an angle is key, so look out for digital readouts with large numbers – some sailing watches have the ability to switch from digital to analogue readouts – and screens that can be viewed in different qualities of daylight. Backlit functions are essential for anyone heading offshore, whether racing or cruising.
A well-fitting wristband or strap with a secure clasp is vital to keep the watch on your arm. Most sailing watches have soft rubber or synthetic wristbands, which are more durable in a marine environment, and safer than steel. Rubber straps are also lighter and easier to adjust.
If you plan to use your watch for race start timing, look for programmable start sequence options, a sync button, countdowns that switch to seconds in the final stages. A loud, clear alarm or ‘beep’ function that tells you time to the gun is particularly useful, so you can keep watching your course, trim and other boats around you during the final approach to the line rather than having to glance at your wrist.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Head to Amazon’s dedicated boating page for more marine products.
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