The Caribbean Waters of Casa de Campo Marina in La Romana is all set to make way for the 2010 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, a four day event which will commence on April 21. The prestigious sailing event will witness the participation of the best athletes from across the world and will take place for the first time on the waters of Dominican Republic.

With some of the supremely talented sailing athletes belonging to Italy, Australia, Denmark, United States, Greece and France among other nations in the troupe going with the presence of a huge number of fans and supporters, the 2010 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship is one grand regatta event to look forward to. The highly awaited event will also register the presence of some of the hot-shot business class elites and a vast line-up of national and international media covering the event. The official sponsor of the event is Rolex with the Casa de Campo Yacht Club and the Casa de Campo Marina Club jointly playing host to the event.

The highly spectacular sailing view and the scenic beauty of the Casa de Campo Marina in La Romana made it a perfect place for a regatta and compelled the organisers of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship to choose it for the 2010 event. The rich and ultra lush view of the landscapes of this place will act like a bonus for the spectators and fans, allowing them to appreciate beauty of the Caribbean apart from getting a huge adrenaline rush from the adventurous regatta.

Over the years, the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship has earned a fine name and has registered its place among the most adventurous and highly prestigious annual sailing events across the globe. The name of the grand regatta completely justifies its very essence. The competition registers a huge participation from about 500 athletes sailing in yachts with an enormous size of 40-foot. Originally, Farr 40 was a sailing boat about 40-foot in size which was designed by Farr Yacht Design. Managed and controlled by the Stagg Yachts, the event is driven by one main unique rule according to which the owner of the boat should be an amateur and should helm the sailboat as per the advice and support of four talented and qualified sailors who will be there just to motivate the owner and keep up the spirit of the team.

The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship is considered one of the most competitive and challenging regattas globally. The sailing event follows a certain pattern while choosing the venue which revolves around the regional fleets of Europe, Australia, United States and Caribbean. The yacht club is located well in the middle of the Casa de Campo Marina and has a sailing school to its name which is equipped with four J24 boats and is supported by highly qualified teachers from Italy’s Yacht Club- Costa Smeralda which has its base in Porto Cervo Sardinia.

The event is backed by the Rolex which with its constant support aims at bringing out the best in sailors. Rolex has been lending its unparallel support to many sailing events including Farr 40 Pre-Worlds, the Capri Sailing Week and the Farr 40 World Championship.

The incredible allure of the Rolex Fastnet races has been known to attract numerous sailors from around the world to try their hands at this eminent racing competition. From the shores of France to the docks of England and even from the icy blue waters of Canada, teams return year after year to claim the title of the best team in this popular offshore regatta. Navigating through the fierce currents off the shore of Cowes in England they head along the English Channel before rounding off at the Fastnet Rock and finally finish the race at Plymouth in England. Charting a total distance of 608 nautical miles the sailors representing the best teams from around the globe, face off against tremendous challenges including the ferocity of the waves and the gale force winds.
Sailors representing varied countries from around the globe come together to wager their chances at wining the challenging Rolex Fastnet Regatta. Held every two years, the scope of competition at the Rolex Fastnet Races is tremendous as it offers a fleet of competent and skilled sailors. The GPS tracking devices that are fitted on to each and every competing boat allow fans as well as ground teams to constantly monitor the progress of the boast while charting their way across the ocean in the Rolex race. Actual photos and text from the boats will be uploaded on the official website for the Fastnet Challenge and allow passionate followers from around the world to closely follow the race in an interactive way.

Retuning to the prestigious regatta this year is large number of boats from France and Great Britain. The total number of spectacular and diverse boats that are coming to compete in the Rolex Fastnet races equal to about 300. Veteran Dutch skipper, Piet Vroon onboard his new Ker 46, christened the Tonnerre de Breskens has appeared in a total of about 21 races. The most interesting aspect of the Rolex Fastnet Races is that every single year this offshore competition comes around it offers the competing sailors a whole new array of challenges to combat with. Staving off the blast of the tidal currents and the strong winds the determined sailors have to put in almost every skill and technique to work if they want to clinch the top spot at the toughest offshore regatta challenges in the world.

Star sailors along with their illustrious crew members like Mike Slade on his ICAP Leopard, Tony Harwood onboard his Nicholson 38 Volante, Karl Kwok onboard the Beau Geste comprise some of the formidable racers at this event. From Honk Kong, to Chile, Denmark and Italy the sailors set off from their countries heading towards the shores of Cowes to compete in probably the most grueling and endurance-testing offshore regatta challenges of this world.
The tremendously diverse fleet that dots the harbor at Cowes every year clearly indicates that the scope of the Fastnet Races goes way beyond the shores of England.  The Rolex races appear to be a festivity that brings together an assortment of individuals to celebrate the significance of the sport of sailing and the aspect of dedicated action.

When one thinks of Rolex the first aspect that comes to the mind is the capacity of the watch to be flawlessly functional yet extremely versatile. The Canadian born Actor Jim Carrey displays the same versatility inherent to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II. Form and functionality come together in a symphony of sorts in both the meticulously crafted Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II and the incredibly talented actor and stand-up comedian Jim Carrey. Every watch from the house of Rolex is crafted with the same dedicated and time-honoured passion that is a hallmark of this world renowned brand. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II is a perfect watch for the brilliant actor Jim Carrey as they both possess the same aptitude for perfection and functional resourcefulness.

Born in 1962 in Ontario in Canada, Jim Carrey symbolizes the capacity of incredible adaptability and a drive that makes the most overwhelming of tasks seem small. With a career that spans over two decades in the entertainment business, Jim Carrey might have been working at the steel mills in Ontario. But destiny had other plans for this powerhouse who was ready to unleash his antics on unsuspecting audiences everywhere. He began his career in 1979 under the guidance of Leatrice Spevack as a stand-up comedian in a club in Toronto. In a short span of two years he rose to become a hot favourite even among the critics. In the early part of 1980’s Jim Carrey moved to Los Angeles to work at The Comedy Store. After this he worked in a string of comedy productions but his first real break came on the short lived NBC show called The Duck Factory. Though it was his on screen antics in the show ‘In Living Colour’ that caught the attention of Hollywood producers and gave him access to films. Right from his first movie Rubberface to the critically rebuked Ace Ventura: Pet Detective that got him the Raspberry award for the worst actor Jim Carrey has worked his way up through tremendous determination. The Ace Ventura franchise was a huge commercial success that in turn got Jim multi-million dollar paychecks and finally got him a foothold in the industry. He appeared in a number of comedy movies so much so that people regarded him as only a comedy actor but the world had yet to witness the versatility of Jim. Like a storm that appears out the calm horizon Jim hit the silver screen with his powerful performance in The Truman Show. With two Golden globe awards to his name for The Truman Show and The Man on the Moon Jim Carrey had revealed to the world his capacity to perform a range of characters. The movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind earned him raging reviews for his incredible performance. Added to the already growing number of achievements was the tremendous performance of Bruce Almighty at the box office. In the decades Jim Carrey has been around he has portrayed a gamut of characters with extreme ease and shown his inherent capacity to reinvent himself. This is a hallmark of a great actor who just doesn’t play a part but lives and breathes it. This unparalleled achievement is possible only due to fortitude, sheer labour and incredible perseverance.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II crafted by the master craftsmen at Rolex was designed to possess the aspects of performance, function, aesthetic design and versatile function. Constructed by fusing gold and steel in an incredibly alluring design the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II features a gold fluted bezel. Built using the original, classic and robust design that was introduced in 1945 the new version is slightly larger by 5 mm. it goes without saying that the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II was constructed using the finest materials and a lot of meticulous engineering. The intricately carved numerals on the dial are so distinct that they catch your attention immediately. The buckle consists of more than hundred different pieces that have been put together with the utmost care to ensure comfort and durability. Like all the other models from the world famous Rolex brand the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II is a combination of superb functionality encompassed in an aesthetic design. The most significant aspect of the watch is its remarkable design that enables it to be inherently versatile and perform under a range of conditions.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II mirrors the adaptability and the determined vision of the brilliant and exceptionally talented actor Jim Carrey.

It is the craving for adventure and ofcourse inherent courage, which makes a man capable of conquering the world. The aptitude for adventure and the fortitude to prevail is what binds Keanu Reeves and the Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph. Unrelenting determination to achieve and to find its rightful and well-deserved place among the scores of watches out there, the Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph epitomizes the core qualities that have driven Keanu Reeves to dizzying heights of success. Yet another masterpiece from Rolex- the Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph symbolizes true quality and incredible craftsmanship. Patience, passion and the resolute will to perform are qualities that are at the core of the Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph as well as in the heart of the incredibly resilient actor Keanu Reeves.

Time and again Keanu Reeves has proven to the world that daunting challenges are offered not only to men who seek to find their place among stars but also inspire and leave behind stories and legends of their courage. Born in the year 1964 Keanu Reeves, the amazingly talented actor has more than fifty movies to his credit. The long list of movies Keanu has starred in have been critically acclaimed as well as commercially successful. Fighting all odds to gain a foothold in the Hollywood industry Keanu has catapulted to join the list of Americas all time favorite actors. His Hawaiian name Keanu means a ‘cool breeze over the mountains’ and he himself personifies the same tranquility and a certain sense of harmony. He defeated dyslexia to finish his education and become the star hockey player of his school. Nicknamed ‘The Wall’ this courageous actor has had to battle many unforeseen hindrances to reach the top of the ladder. Playing the part of Neo in the Matrix movies, one of the most successful movie franchises of all time he captured the imagination of audiences around the world and has been recognized as a formidable actor in the Hollywood industry. All this fame and fortune has only come to him after years of trials and tribulations that have tested his strength, courage and character. But his indomitable will does not see any barriers and he has always moved beyond them to emerge triumphant.

The Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph has been crafted by master craftsmen who drew on their incredible will to construct a watch that exudes passion and flawless performance. The Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph features a bi-directional bezel and displays the date at the 3’oclock position. This self-winding waterproof watch, which withstands pressure up to 330 feet, was launched way back in 1953. A symbol of adventure, the Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph features Mercedes style hands that replaced the pencil style hands after the earlier version was re-mastered to gain perfection and flawless performance. Its incredible design has been a source of inspiration to a number of watches around the world i.e. the inverted triangle on the top of the 12 o’ clock position. This steel and yellow gold watch uses the trademark 904L alloy of steel and features a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The bracelet is as fantastic as the watch itself and is composed of more than a hundred moving parts that can be adjusted to give you the most prefect fit. Precise craftsmanship coupled with a passion to build an incredible watch have culminated to form the Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph.

Surmounting the toughest and most overwhelming challenges is essence of the Rolex DateJust Turn-o-graph and Keanu Reeves. When the spirit is stronger than the most daunting of problems it has the ability to prevail and emerge as something that is not only the finest there ever was but more so as legend comes up in stories told for all eternity.

To choose the right kind of watch for the most influential politician in Canada might seem like a superhuman task, but Rolex makes it uncomplicated. The Rolex Datejust would be the most subtle, classic and suitable watch for Stephen Harper. Harper is the first ever Canadian prime minister to be elected from the Conservative Party, which happened courtesy of the unification of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative parties. The Rolex Datejust is also a unique piece because its inception was in 1945, the 40th anniversary of Rolex. Both Stephen Harper and the Rolex Datejust are first of sorts and believe in leading by example.

Harper and Datejust: The Names Echo Leadership

Stephen Harper has been a member of the Canadian Parliament since 2002, after his victory from Calgary Southwest, Alberta. He was also one of the members who founded the Reform Party but later dropped out in favor of the head of the National Citizens Coalition. Just like Harper, the Rolex Datejust also signifies leadership as it has been said to be one of the premium watches fabricated by Rolex. Versatility is a common factor binding Harper and the Datejust because of Harper’s flexibility to slip into many roles and the watch’s ability to accommodate many designs and bracelets. Both Harper and Datejust are dynamic leaders in their own way, setting new trends in leadership.

2002 was the year when Harper became the leader of the Canadian Alliance and made his return as the opposition leader in Parliament. In the federal elections in October 2008, the Conservative party led by Harper won a strong majority thus setting up the pedestal for Harper to come to power. The 1970s was the time when the Datejust was fine-tuned and was given a much smaller profile. Saphire crystal was introduced to the watch to make it look slick. Both Stephen Harper and the Rolex Datejust symbolize leadership leading to effective change.

The Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona has a lot of admirers, especially in celebrity circles. Names like Elle Macpherson, Danielle Lloyd, Francesco Totti, Tara Reid and John Mayer swear by the Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona and have been spotted wearing the watch on many occasions. It should be noted that all of them reside in different spheres of influence, but the one thing that binds all of them together is the love and appreciation that they have for the Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona. This is because of the Daytona’s endearing features such as the self-winding chronometer.

Celebrities and their obsession for the Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona

Known for gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit for a record five times, Elle Macpherson has made a name worldwide for being one of the most successful models ever. The Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona signifies the fame that has come her way. Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona has been featured in many magazines, very similar to the way Macpherson has been featured in Elle magazine.

Danielle Lloyd has earned acclaim for being successful on the modeling circuit at a very young age. Her love for the Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona emerges from the fact that both are vivacious and turn eyeballs and were applauded as soon as they emerged in the public eye.

Soccer might be Italian Striker Francesco Totti’s first love, but he is equally passionate about the Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona. Known for his explosive strikes when playing for Roma or his exploits with the Italian team that recently won the World Cup, Totti is known in the world of soccer for being very passionate about the game. The Rolex Daytona has been serving buyers for the past four decades passionately with reliability and quality–two factors that Totti is known for while playing.

John Mayer may be making the world swoon to his tunes, but he prefers wearing the Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona to keep track of time. Known for achieving major label success and his alleged relationship with Jennifer Aniston, Mayer has achieved recognition in various genres of music. The Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona is also known for its versatility, allowing it to be worn with various apparel and still make an impression.

No prizes for guessing that all of the people mentioned above count on the Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona to be their timekeeper.

Legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood truly represents the daring spirit of Rolex. At the age of 78, Clint Eastwood has been receiving accolades and awards for his performance in and direction of the film Gran Torino. Although primarily known as a successful action star, Eastwood has directed more films than Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas combined, and he has won two Academy Awards for directing. Earlier this year The Changeling, directed by Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie, was released. In his acting career, Eastwood has worn a Rolex watch in several of his films. In Firefox, he wore a Rolex GMT Master with a Jubilee bracelet, and in the hit film, In the Line of Fire, he wore a two toned Rolex Datejust.

In 2007, French President Jacques Chirac awarded Eastwood the Legion of Honor, a rare distinction for an American citizen. Recognized around the world as a true artist of the cinema, Eastwood’s talent has evolved and expanded over the years. In Gran Torino, Eastwood plays with his classic Dirty Harry tough guy image by showing a similar character grown up to be a bitter, angry man. “You always look for a character that can go somewhere, start one place and go another,” Eastwood said in a voice that now is almost a whisper. “I was intrigued by the Gran Torino script because it was not only about the Hmong culture, which was new to me, but it is also a kind of statement that you’re never too old to learn tolerance and learn a lot of things. Of course Walt Kowalski is a man who’s out of his time and he has trouble adjusting, but that makes hurdles to go over and they make the character fun to play.â€� Like Rolex, Eastwood has learned not only to love adventure and daring, but also the importance of giving back and helping his fellow man. It is hard to imagine an individual more deserving of wearing a Rolex watch than Clint Eastwood.

In Gran Torino Eastwood worked with an unknown cast of non-professional actors, including Bee Vang and Ahney Her, both born in the US to Hmong parents. “They were very nice kids and they were really earnest,” he says. “It’s interesting with the young people of the Hmong culture that, although they were born here, they all know the language of their parents and grandparents and they have a great respect for adults.” At 78, Eastwood demonstrates incredible energy and daring, continuing to evolve as an actor and an artist. If we could choose a Rolex watch for Clint Eastwood, a Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust with a Black Dial and a Fluted Bezel would be the perfect fit. With a combination of elegance and robustness, it matches the legendary character of this American icon.

Arguably, the most successful actor of his generation in terms of the box office, Harrison Ford chooses to wear a Rolex Datejust in his everyday life. In the thriller Frantic, renowned director Roman Polanski has Harrison Ford’s character wear a stainless steel Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet. If one legendary film character, however, definitely should have worn a Rolex, the adventurer’s watch, it is Ford’s greatest creation, Indiana Jones. In relation to Ford’s mastery of the character, one critic wrote, “Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones. He owns the role like a seasoned Rolex.� Furthermore, like the conquerors of Mount Everest or the divers in the ocean’s deepest depths, Indiana Jones represents the very essence of Rolex quality and daring. Yet, for some unknown reason, George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg never gave Indiana a Rolex watch to wear on his wrist. Even worse, they made Harrison Ford stumble through the final film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, backed by a bad plot and a terrible screenplay. If Indiana Jones had worn a Rolex watch in the last film, he might have been checking the time to see when it would be over like members of the audience.

The plot line left many patrons not merely bored, but angered, as illustrated by a controversial South Park episode, which left Kyle moaning about the third film’s Alien’s. If you did not see the film, are you shaking your head right now? Aliens in an Indiana Jones story just reduces it to the absurd and mocks the classic adventure roots of the character. Indeed, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a mockery of perhaps the greatest adventurer in modern film. Moreover, not giving Indiana Jones a Rolex is simply doing him a great disservice. First, as you can see from the pictures, Harrison Ford looks great in a Rolex watch, whether it is silver or gold. Second, like the real life adventurers that Rolex has teamed up with over the last century, Indiana Jones represents the best of man’s daring and courageous spirit. Nothing, not even Nazis or a tunnel overflowing with the grossest bugs you could possibly imagine, ever stopped Indiana from achieving his goals. In real life, Harrison Ford looks positively awesome in his Rolex Datejust. Indiana Jones may have done better with a Rolex GMT Master II, a Rolex Explorer, or even a Rolex Submariner like James Bond. In the end, Indiana should have had a better send-off in terms of a quality film and a Rolex on his wrist.

When it comes to giving back in the form of charity and cultural support, philanthropy is an intrinsic part of the Rolex culture and philosophy. Through the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a large percentage of the profits of the Rolex go directly to philanthropic causes. Upon the death of his wife in 1944, Wilsdorf established the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation in which he left all of his Rolex shares, making sure that some of the company’s income would go to charity. The company is still owned by a private trust, and shares are not traded on any stock exchange. The foundations funnels much of the profits generated by Rolex into various charitable endeavors. Given that Rolex is not a publicly held company, exact numbers are not known, but it is clear they generate huge sums of money for worthy charities. Below, the descriptions of the two eminent Rolex philanthropic programs are paraphrased directly from Rolex accounts that describe the programs with a perfect balance of humility and clarity.

Through its two primary philanthropic programs, the Awards for Enterprise and the Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, Rolex fosters innovation in science, exploration, conservation, and the arts worldwide. 
 The Rolex Awards for Enterprise were created to foster a spirit of enterprise and advance human knowledge and well being around the globe. They support pioneering work in five areas: science and medicine; technology and innovation; exploration and discovery; the environment; and cultural heritage. In each series, ten Awards are presented to visionary men and women whose groundbreaking projects benefit their fields of endeavor, their communities and the wider world. Winners are innovators who typically work outside the mainstream and often have limited access to traditional funding. Rather than reward past achievements, the Rolex Awards provide financial assistance and recognition to individuals embarking on new ventures or carrying out ongoing projects. Grants of $100,000 are awarded to five Laureates and $50,000 to five Associate Laureates in each series. These grants must be used to complete their projects. All ten also receive a Rolex chronometer. Each of the Laureates represent the best work being done in their field, reflecting the excellence that Rolex has accomplished with their ground-breaking watches.

In 2002, Rolex launched the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, a global program that pairs emerging artists with masters in dance, film, literature, music, theatre and the visual arts for a year of intensive collaboration. Building on a legacy of supporting culture that dates back to the 1970s, Rolex launched the Arts Initiative to help ensure that artistic excellence is passed on to the next generation. Unparalleled in its artistic and geographic reach, the program has helped over 200 notable talents from 39 countries since its beginnings. Noting the lack of corporate support for individual artists in a multitude of disciplines, Rolex created the program to foster the next generation of artistic excellence and fill a void in arts philanthropy. Renowned artists from around the globe have participated in the program, ranging from Rolex representative and Mexican tenor Placido Domingo to Israel violinist Pinchas Zukerman. Through the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, Rolex has expanded its influence well beyond the scope of groundbreaking watches and chronometers. Through its philanthropic programs, Rolex created a true corporate culture of giving back, leading to cultural achievements and scientific breakthroughs that have benefited the entire world.

Running arguably the biggest Ponzi scheme in the history of the world, Bernard Madoff stole over $50 billion dollars from his investors, including Rolex. Supposedly, Rolex lost 1 billion Swiss francs ($900) in the criminal web of high finance fraud, leading directly to the resignation of Rolex Chief Executive Patrick Heiniger. Bernard Madoff loved Rolex watches, and he is not the first or last criminal, both big and small, to translate such a love of luxury into greed larceny. Although Madoff did not steal any Rolex watches directly, his actions severely damaged the company.

In a piece for the London Times online, Morwenna Coniam writes about George Somlo, owner of Somlo Antiques in London, who deals in platinum and diamond watches. He also handles the resulting wealthy and respected clientele. Bernard Madoff, “… was trustworthy,� Mr. Somlo insisted. “If he had come to me and said, ‘can I borrow half a dozen watches to take home and show to my wife?’ I would have given them to him without question.� He admitted that Mr. Madoff had a taste for Rolex, but he would not dream of discussing how many of “the top collectable watches� Mr. Madoff bought, or how much he paid. Naturally, the privacy of a criminal must be kept because breaking such privacy could lead to having your legs broken or your money stolen in a Ponzi scheme.

Since Bernard Madoff was caught and his connection to Rolex revealed, online resources have reported on two more criminals and their Rolex-related illegal actions. In Georgia, a local thief was caught on video at a jewelry store, using his booty to buy a Rolex. Sylvania police revealed that the suspect swiped two credit cards, and then bought a $6,000 Rolex. Meanwhile, the victim did not even know his cards were missing. The owner has cancelled both cards, but the thief has not been caught. With the books fudged to the extreme in the Madoff case, you would think the federal regulators would have realized something was missing. When the rich steal, however, the crimes tend to be buried beneath mountains of paperwork.

Perhaps inspired by Madoff’s criminal success, a North Carolina man was arrested in early January 2008 on charges he attempted to defraud his insurance company of almost $25,000. Donnie Ray Cozart, 68, is accused of reporting to Kemper-Unitrin insurance company that his Rolex watch had been stolen. However, authorities say Cozart sold the watch, valued at $24,950, and tried to make an insurance claim for that amount. He was arrested by an agent with the N.C. Department of Insurance and charged with one count of insurance fraud. Isn’t it just incredible that small fry trying to pull off a Rolex insurance fraud scheme is caught immediately while a big fish defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme is allowed to continue for years on end until the damage amounts to $50 billion dollars? A simple truth about our capitalist economy is revealed: the more money you have, the more money you can steal. In addition, unfortunately, the more money you steal, the more Rolex watches you can buy, staining the reputation of a quality brand of historical significance.