If the Manufacture Audemars Piguet is particularly looking forward to the start of the 2008 sailing season on the waters of Lake Geneva, that is partly because it will see Ladycat taking possession of its full faculties to compete in the Julius Baer Challenge. In 2007, this all-female crew was able to size up its adversaries, test its material and reinforce its cohesion. It is now preparing to resume competition, under the favourable auspices of Audemars Piguet, which is dedicating a special edition of its famous extreme sports model – the Royal Oak Offshore – to this promising new team.

Very much like the Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat, the fuchsia-coloured SUI-10 catamaran conceals a wealth of technological treasures beneath a seductive exterior. The use of composite materials, such as aramid fibre or carbon, ensures lightness, speed and smooth manoeuvring. This 10.81 m long D35 monotype multi-hull has a total sail area of approximately 160 m2 and reaches a maximum speed of 30 knots.

Meanwhile, beneath its delightfully trendy feminine exterior, the Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat Chronograph houses a selfwinding movement equipped with a high-performance chronograph mechanism. The rubber used for the strap also clothes the bezel, crown and pushpieces. The dial proudly flies the Ladycat colours: the fuchsia hour-markers, hands and sweep seconds hand stand out beautifully against the black “Méga Tapisserie” background, the signature feature of the Royal Oak Offshore collection. The striking overall effect is lit up by a crown of diamonds encircling this delightfully chic and elegant watch.

Commitment to sailing is a well-anchored tradition for the Manufacture Audemars Piguet. Back in 1985, it already supported UBS Switzerland and Pierre Fehlmann in his round-the-world team race. In 2000 the brand discovered the America’s Cup with the first Swiss
challenger, Be hAPpy, before subsequently accompanying Alinghi in its feats accomplished during the 31^st and then the 32^nd America’s Cup.

In supporting Ladycat, the watchmakers from Le Brassus are paying tribute to top-level sportswomen. Headed by Dona Bertarelli Spaeth and skippered by Karine Fauconnier, Ladycat brings together some peerless female sailors who have demonstrated tremendous daring in setting up a 100% feminine crew. The Manufacture fully subscribes to the cause of Dona Bertarelli Spaeth who through this sporting endeavour is supporting the “Go Red for Women” campaign, aimed at raising public awareness of cardiovascular diseases among women.

Reference	:	26266SK.ZZ.D069CA.01 Limited series of 150
Movement	:	Calibre: 2385, selfwinding Total diameter: 11.5 lignes (26.20 mm) Casing-diameter: 11.25 lignes (25.60 mm) Total thickness: 5.50 mm 37 jewels Power reserve: up to 40 hours Cadence of the balance: 21,600 vibrations per hour Finishing: all parts meticulously decorated; mainplate circular grained and sandblasted, holes counter-pierced, bridges circular-grained and adorned with “côtes de Genève”
Case	:	Satin-brushed and polished steel Diameter: 37 mm Steel bezel, clad in pink rubber and set with 32 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 1.25 carats), hexagonal drill-through screws in polished steel Pink rubber-moulded steel crown and pushpieces Back engraved with the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat Water-resistance: 50 m
Dial	:	@Black “Méga Tapisserie” guilloché motif, fuchsia applied hour-markers Silver-coloured counters Fuchsia hour and minute hands, sweep seconds hand and counter hands
Strap	:	Pink rubber, exclusive AP double-blade folding clasp in polished steel A second strap in brilliant pink crocodile leather lined with black alcantara is delivered with each watch
Functions	:	Hours and minutes Small seconds Chronograph with sweep seconds hand, 30-minute and 12-hour counters
Presentation box	:	Box in the Ladycat colours with black leather lining