Hey, mates, did you know that the Rolex Yacht-Master watch has my name on it? I do a fair bit of yachting (weather permitting), and I like to think of myself as the "master" on board. So I presume Rolex created this very handsome watch with my best interests at heart.

Needless to say, the Yacht-Master is one of my favourite wristwatches in the Rolex collection (since they have not yet created a "cricket" model.) It is everything I like and need in a watch: chunky, robust, and sturdy enough to withstand the unpredictable nautical conditions of races and regattas. What can I say -- it's a tough life.

It is also the first Rolex to receive the new "Maxi Dial" - enlarged markers and a thicker minute hand that has become this model's trademark. And the date display magnified by the Cyclops lens is a brilliant feature as well.

Since I am partial to a clean, uncluttered design, I like the simple elegance of the platinum-and-steel model with a rotatable bezel, and an Oysterlock bracelet with a safety clasp. Sailors who like a tad more glitter and dazzle on high seas might prefer a similar model in 18-carat gold, or maybe in the gold-and-steel combination.

Of course, since the Yacht-Master is not waterproof at more than 330 feet (100 metres), I would not go diving in it, though I daresay a nip into a Jacuzzi is not going to hurt it one bit.

If deep-sea diving is your thing, the more water-resistant Rolex models, such as the Sea-Dweller 4000 or the Submariner, will take you where you need to go. And if you are a mountaineer or any other extreme sports enthusiast, the Explorer is a jolly good bet.

For me, the Yacht-Master is a fine, sea-worthy watch that works brilliantly from ship-to-shore (and vice-versa). Let me put it this way -- with the Yacht-Master around my wrist, it is always smooth sailing.