Blasting across the water at close to 200km/h requires a special type of sportsperson, and a special type of watch. And in the high-octane world of offshore powerboat racing only the most precise, tough and dependable of both sportsperson and timepiece can triumph.

That's why the new partnership between champion Norwegian powerboat racer Pal Virik Nilsen and boutique Swiss watchmaker Edox is a perfect fit.

With 20 years' experience in the toughest sport on water, Pal Virik Nilsen knows success can literally come down to the split-second. The need for a reliable, accurate and rugged timepiece is paramount, which is where Edox delivers with its Chronoffshore-1 collection.

Edox has a long association with technically excellent watches designed especially for water sports, initially with luxury boats and evolving into the adrenaline-fuelled, thrilling world of powerboat racing.

Pal Virik Nilsen, a long-time fan of the Edox range, will wear a new Chronoffshore-1 (Chronoffshore-1 Big Date) while piloting his Gold Coast - Australia boat in the world XCAT Offshore series. He also races in the U.I.M Formula 2 World Series, circuit racing.

XCAT stands for the Xtreme Catamaran and these ultra-powerful carbon-constructed multi-hull craft with two crew inside and powered by two V6 engines can hit speeds of over 200km/h during their dash around a 60 nautical mile course.

Formula 2 racing is just as thrilling, with Pal Virik Nilsen piloting a single-seater, 17-foot, 500kg catamaran capable of reaching over 200km/h. The craft has incredible acceleration of 0-100 km/h in less than three seconds.

In a sport that requires total focus and nerves of steel, Pal Virik Nilsen will face an international contingent of racers in seven rounds of the XCAT Offshore series throughout the globe, with the series culminating in racing off Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on 25-27 November.

Edox president Alexandre Strambini says the company is proud to have Pal Virik Nilsen on board. "Offshore powerboat racing is intense, gruelling and challenging; it's the perfect environment to showcase our Chronoffshore-1 range and Pal Virik Nilsen can put our watches to the ultimate test," he says.

Pal Virik Nilsen says: "I am really grateful and proud to work with such a leading brand as Edox. My personal passion for watches makes this co-operation even more exciting for me. The Edox brand has many of the same values and image that I have as a powerboat athlete."

Pal Virik Nilsen says both he and Edox share three key elements in being leaders in their field: a clear strategy, reliability and total concentration on the task at hand.

The Edox Swiss Made prestigious collection (since 1884) may be viewed at the 202 Jewellery retail outlets in Valletta, Sliema and Fgura.