Whilst at Antigua Airport in the duty free shop run by a crowd called
'Colombian Emeralds International' I stupidly purchased a Citizen
Eco-Drive chronograph watch specifically for sailing/yachting. That
was what the assistant told me it was for. Unfortunately I did not
have time to fully check out the features. I should have been warned
by the fact that she sold me the display model which might well have
been an old discontinued version. It was dated 2003 on the reverse.

During the flight home to the UK whilst reading the instruction
booklet I was (and still am) puzzled as to what features the watch
actually has for yachting/sailing.

So after returning home I looked on the Internet for the Citizen UK
web site but could not find one. But I did find this site:

http://www.citizendealer.com/citizen...ng_watches.htm

This stated the following details for both versions:

Citizen Model JR4010-51L / Citizen Model JR4000-55L

* Sailhawk Eco-Drive Yacht Timer Combination Quartz Watch --- The
Stars and Stripes America's Cup 2003 Official Watch. Features time and
calendar in 22 time zones, 1/100 second chronograph that measures up
to 24 hours, 99 minute countdown timer, one touch interchangeable
analog/digital times, retractable hands for display visibility, and
rotating 360 degree bezel.

* The official America's Cup insignia appears on the watch caseback
(big deal and hardly a selling point)
* Metal bracelet with all titanium case (that can be easily scratched
trying to take some links out).
* Blue dial (wow!!)
* Water resistant to 100 meters (useful)
* Safety fold over clasp with push button (useful?)
* 4 year power reserve (saves on batteries I suppose)

No other features are listed!!

So unfortunately apart from having a non-functional logo marked 'Stars
and Stripes' or 'America's Cup' I can see no extra features for
yachting that these two watches provide over and above what my very
considerably cheaper Casio basic sports timer watch already has (that
is apart from the Eco-Drive feature).

Whilst the waterproof feature is always useful for yachting, where are
the other features necessary for yachting/sailing?

I am now thinking that the watch I have is actually a simple timer and
not for yachting at all.

Specifically I'm referring to the complete lack of any navigation
functions including direction estimation, tacking angles, ability to
read in the dark (e.g. a back-lit display which my Casio has) -
important for night sailing, and wind direction and strength
estimation - to name a few.

Certainly there are absolutely NO instructions in the accompanying
booklet to describe the yachting functions (if they exist at all), not
even how to use the rotating bezel.

So please - what is the difference between the JR4000-55L and the
JR4010-51L models. Both seem to have the same features. So how do I
tell which version of the watch I have?

Also I am also having GREAT difficulty in removing some strap links to
allow me to actually wear the watch. The small arrows on some links do
not indicate any way of removing them, there are no instructions in
the booklet, and the small connecting pins are impossible to push
through using a small screwdriver. Indeed I have scratched the surface
of some of the links trying to do this. This does not say much about
the supposed hardness of the titanium band - but then I notice that
this is made in China so I suppose it is really made of soft metal and
not titanium after all.

The other SERIOUS issue I have with the watch is the button marked C
in the booklet. This is very easy to inadvertantly press with my
jacket sleeve and doing so appears to move the hour hand to indicate
the incorrect time. This is not a fault I would expect for a watch
that cost me over £200.

Frankly my year's old Casio Sports Timer cost £15 and is far better
suited to yachting and sailing. To say that I feel ripped off is an
understatement. I will NEVER purchase a Citizen watch again, and
certainly not from any duty free shop (so-called) with the word
'Colombian' in the title.

Citizen have deigned to reply to my emailed enquiries for further
information.

Fair winds and calm seas - but not for racing

C.J.Brady