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Rated 4.9 out of 5 by our customers
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Timing is everything on the start line. Whether you are fighting for a gap in a 60-boat ILCA fleet or coordinating a complex sequence on a keelboat, your sailing watch is your most important teammate.
The Windie Race Timer Pro has quickly become a fan favourite sailing watch in the dinghy park for one simple reason: it solves the "I can't see the numbers" problem. With its massive 65mm case and oversized 16mm digits, you can read your countdown from across the cockpit or while hiking hard in a blow. But before you hit the water, you need to know how to sync up your sailing watch.
Here is our updated guide to mastering your Windie sailing watch and ensuring your clock is perfectly set for the season ahead.
Unlike some older sailing watches that require a complex series of button mashes, the Windie sailing watch is designed for straightforward, "one-handed" operation. Follow these steps to adjust your display:
Select Clock Mode: Press the MODE button until the current time is displayed on the screen.
Enter Setting Mode: Hold down the CLEAR button until the hour digits begin to flash.
Set the Hours: Press the SET (Start/Stop) button to advance the hours. If you want to toggle between 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour (military) time, you can usually do this by clicking through the cycle while the hours are flashing.
Switch to Minutes: Press the MODE button to jump over to the minutes. You will see them start to flash.
Set the Minutes: Press the SET button until you reach the correct time.
Save and Exit: Once the time is correct, press the CLEAR button once to lock it in and stop the flashing.
The Windie sailing watch is built for the World Sailing (WS) 5, 4, 1, 0 sequence, but it is also flexible enough for 3-minute and 1-minute starts common in classes like iQFOiL.
The SYNC Function: This is the most vital button on the watch. If you miss the first gun and realise your watch is 10 seconds slow, simply hit the SYNC button at the next signal. Then your sailing watch will instantly re-align to the nearest minute, ensuring you are perfectly in time with the Race Committee.
The Count-Up Feature: Once the countdown reaches zero and the "GO" signal sounds, the Windie sailing watch automatically begins counting up. This allows you to track exactly how long you’ve been on a leg or how long the race has lasted - vital for tactical decisions later in the race.
A high-quality Sailing Watch is a significant investment in your racing performance, and damage most often occurs through salt buildup or improper storage rather than impacts on the water.
Saltwater is the primary enemy of any electronic device used at sea. After every session, it is essential to rinse your sailing watch thoroughly in fresh water. This prevents salt crystals from forming around the buttons, which is the most common cause of "sticky" buttons or seal failure. For sailing watches with charging ports, like the Optimum Time Series sailing watches, ensure the port is clear of salt and completely dry before connecting to power.
To maintain maximum visibility on your sailing watch, avoid using abrasive cleaners on the watch face, as these can scratch the LCD-optimised lens. If your sailing watch has a user-replaceable battery, always check that the O-ring seal is clean and correctly seated before tightening the backplate. A tiny grain of sand is all it takes to break the waterproof seal under pressure.
When you aren't on the water, store your sailing watch in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. While sailing, watch brands like Windie and Optimum Time are built for the sun, long-term exposure to extreme heat on a car dashboard or boat park can degrade the strap material and affect battery life.
When you shop with us, you’re dealing with sailors who actually get it. Sailing Chandlery was founded in 2012 by Andrew Dowley, who was tired of waiting weeks for basic parts to arrive. We’ve all been there - your boat breaks on a Sunday, and you need it fixed by next weekend’s race. That’s why we do things differently. We don't guess at stock; our website shows you exactly what's on our shelves in our Essex warehouse right now.
We’ve sent out over 50,000 orders since we started, but we still treat every customer like a fellow club member. Whether you’re calling us for a bit of technical advice on a tricky repair or just grabbing a new pair of gloves, our goal is to get you back on the water fast. We’re incredibly proud of our 4.9/5-star rating, and yes - we really do put a pack of Love Hearts in every box. It’s our way of saying thanks for trusting a local business that loves the sport as much as you do.
Accurate timing is the backbone of a successful race start, and having a watch that functions perfectly is non-negotiable when you're fighting for a lane. If you are noticing that your current sailing watch has "sticky" buttons that don’t always register a press, a fading LCD screen that is hard to read in direct sunlight, or condensation mist appearing under the lens, these are clear signs that the internal seals or circuits are failing.
There is nothing more frustrating than your sailing watch failing thirty seconds before the gun, so making sure you have a reliable, shock-resistant unit like the Windie Race Timer Pro ensures you can focus entirely on your tactics rather than your kit. If your strap is showing signs of "fretting" or the battery life is becoming unpredictable, it is likely time to invest in a fresh 2026 model to avoid a mid-regatta disaster.
Pro Sailing Tools: A great watch tells you when to start, but our range of rigging tools and multi-tools ensures your boat is tuned and ready to get there, from shackle keys to specialized sailors' knives.
Waterproof Coaching Folders: Keep your race documents, sailing instructions, and course notes as dry as your watch with our selection of waterproof folders and tactical notebooks.
Technical Sailing Apparel: Pair your new timer with high-performance gear designed for the elements, including spray tops and hikers that feature wrist seals specifically shaped to accommodate a larger race watch.
