1970s Yema Yachtingraf Régate (Ref. 5667370) "Blue Ship"

From outer space, the racetrack, sailing, diving, and to the North Pole and back, Yema wristwatches were built to accompany adventurers from the very beginning. Founded in 1948, the Yema watch company saw early success and quickly became the best-selling French watch brand of the 1960s.

The Yema Yachtingraf was introduced in 1966 for the sole purpose of regatta racing and features a highly visible red, white, and blue countdown timer within the right sub-register to track the critical five-minute starting sequence of a yacht race. The Yachtingraf eventually became the official watch of the French Sailing Federation and went on to accompany the French National Sailing Team during the 1972 Olympic Games.

The example offered here is the highly coveted and exceptionally uncommon “Blue Ship” execution of the Yema Yachtingraf Régate, regarded by many collectors as the seventh and final evolution of the original non-digital Yachtingraf lineage. Distinguished by its oversized “Jumbo” straight lug case architecture and signature blue ship motif above 6 o’clock, this particular variant represents one of the rarest and most visually striking expressions of the Yachtingraf platform ever produced.

The dial layout of the Yachtingraf Régate is equally as compelling as its case architecture, featuring a highly specialized regatta countdown display designed specifically for yacht racing applications. The multi-colored segmented register allows sailors to track the critical countdown period leading up to the start of a race, functioning as both a practical navigational instrument and one of the most visually distinctive chronograph displays of the era.

Adding further visual depth are the unique dial “cutouts” integrated directly into the regatta countdown register itself, creating a layered, dimensional effect rarely seen in period chronographs. These apertures expose the rotating countdown disc beneath the dial surface, allowing the wearer to visually track the progression of elapsed countdown intervals in real time. The result is a dial execution that feels remarkably technical, playful, and purpose-built all at once, embodying the experimental spirit of late-1960s and early-1970s regatta chronograph design. Powering the watch is the modified Valjoux 7733S manual-wind chronograph movement, specifically adapted for regatta timing functionality.