hong kong yacht race

Rolex China Sea Race 2024: A Contest Of Fortitude

BY Mawi Fojas De Ocampo

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Rolex China Sea Race 2024 is a 565 Nautical-Mile Category 1 Offshore Race running under the auspices of Royal Ocean Racing Club. The event takes competitors from the waters of Hong Kong, China all the way to Subic Bay, Philippines.

It was a festive moment as the fleet gathered at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s (RHKYC’s) Kellett Island Clubhouse before the start of the Rolex China Sea Race 2024 on March 27, 2024. Here, competitors, family members, and other supporters witnessed the vibrant lion dance. This custom wishes participants to have a safe journey as they cross the perpetually challenging South China Sea. This year marks the 62nd anniversary of the prestigious Asian blue-water classic.

The 10 to 12kts north easterly breeze offered an exciting commencement to the China Sea Race 2024. At 1120hrs, the 21 boats enjoyed a clean start with spectacular views of the Hong Kong Victoria Harbour. Three of the top contenders in the IRC Racer 0 Class went head to head at the start line. These were R/P 75 Standard Insurance Centennial V , together with two TP52s. Meanwhile, Happy Go and Standard Insurance Centennial III were neck-and-neck, but it was Nie Hua’s Happy Go which prevailed in the line first at full pace during the sound of the horn. Although she took the lead up to Kai Tak, her larger rival Standard Insurance Centennial V overtook her.

Two Filipino Boats Lead Among Six International Entries

Standard Insurance Centennial V was first through the narrowest part between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. This is otherwise known as the Lei Yue Mun Gap. Standard Insurance Centennial V was helmed by two-time China Sea Race Overall winner, Ernesto Echauz. TP52s Happy Go and Standard Insurance Centennial III followed shortly after.  

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Swells of up to 2.5m welcomed the fleet after passing the sheltered harbour. After this, Zoe was the first retirement of the race. Two Filipino boats were leading among the six international entries. Seawolf and Tong Ran , the Mainland China entries were doing well in the early stages.

Likewise for the first-ever Chinese Taipei entry, Mondher Latiri’s Gutsy as well as the first-ever Korean entry, Hojun Song’s Random ().

At 1600hrs, Happy Go was seen at the front while travelling at approximately 8.6kts. Standard Insurance Centennial V and Centenial III were both following behind. Competitors continued to make their 565 journey through the South China Sea to Subic Bay while enjoying the first night. A southerly airstream was forecast to fill in by Thursday, beating upwind towards the Philippines.

A Fierce Battle Towards Subic Bay

On the afternoon of April 2, the final yachts arrived in Subic Bay. A total of 21 boats participated in the 2024 edition, with 191 competitors from 26 territories. The battle was fierce between TP52 Happy Go and Standard Insurance Centennial V.

However, it was Happy Go that finished the race first, a mere five minutes faster than her worthy rival. Happy Go took both Line Honours and the IRC Overall title.

It was Chinese Entry William Liu’s Seawolf that finished 2nd IRC Overall and IRC Racer 0 2nd place. According to Skipper YY Yan, “We hit two fishing nets on the way down to Subic, but in general we had a pretty good journey down. The whole team performed very well and we hope that our participation can inspire more Chinese boats to join the Rolex China Sea Race.”

Third overall, as well as 3 rd place in the IRC Racer 0 division went to Philippines entry, Ernesto Echauz’s R/P 75 Standard Insurance Centennial V . Echauz shared, “This was the most exciting Rolex China Sea Race that I have ever experienced. It was so exciting from the start on the first day and all the way up to the finish. I am very proud of my team and proud of the other competitors as they are very competitive.” 

Double-handed Division

Father and son double-handed entry, Philippe and Cosmas Grelon’ s A Plastic Ocean took 1st place in Double-handed division and IRC Race 2 division. On arrival, they commented, “This year was a bit difficult because of the weather forecast and because it was totally and absolutely incorrect! No model was correct. Unfortunately, we couldn’t push the boat and we had a max of 16kts of wind. And we work more and more solo now; not necessarily waking up the other one to do a sail change or put the Code Zero on or whatever so that’s much easier.” 

Race chairman Nicolas Cohen-Addad’s Jinn took 2nd place. Meanwhile, the sole Chinese Taipei entry Mondher Latiri ‘s Gutsy got third place. For double-handed division, Carl Wilkinson/Patrick Harmon’s Lisa Elaine took 2nd place and Ryan Mann/Casey Benjamin’s Daybreak was awarded third. 

IRC Racer 3

In IRC Racer 3, Nick Southward’s Whiskey Jack had a tussle with Henning Mueller’s Zesst all the way down to Subic Bay. Whiskey Jack performed really well on April 1, trumping Zesst on corrected time to take the divisional win.  Zesst took 2nd place in their first entry in the China Sea Race, while the first ever Korean entry to the race, Hojun Song’s Random() , took 3rd place.

IRC Premier Division

In the battle for IRC Premier Division, Tom Attenborough’s Parnassus had a great run taking the division win. Tom Attenborough shared, “Our programme is all about inclusivity and taking amazing people skills and blending them together and watching that develop over the five days is always a highlight.”

Peter Churchouse commented about their rivalry with Parnassus, saying, “We have a great friendship and a great rivalry when it comes to sailing. We love sailing against Parnassus, it’s a slightly different boat. Moonblue 2 is a lot heavier and doesn’t like the light weather so much, so the boat does better than Parnassus in strong wind. But in light wind, it does not do so well. So it depends on whether it’s light wind or strong wind. And of course, Parnassus did better this year with the light winds. So congratulations and great competition indeed.” Carl Wilkinson/ Patrick Harmon’s Lisa Elaine came in 3rd place in the division. 

IRC Cruising Division and PHS Division

In the IRC Cruising Division, 1st place went to Noel Chan’s Rampage008 , followed by Yong Yao’s TongRan .

In the PHS Division, while Blowers Daughter was the last boat to arrive at Subic Bay, this first time Rolex China Sea Race competitor took the division win with a corrected time ahead of another first timer Sunny Leung/Alex Yu’s Jibulai . 

Every edition of the race has presented different conditions and that is what keeps attracting sailors back, no matter how hard all the preparation has been. Peter Churchouse said, “We had beautiful sailing and the flat seas, lovely wind, got the spinnaker up with the moon in the sky with the stars, that is what sailing on the China Sea is all about!“  

Cosmas Grelon agreed, declaring, “The Rolex China Sea Race has an element of addiction to it. There is a horrible amount of preparation, but then when you are out there and the conditions are so nice, and the weather is quite warm, everything is smooth, it’s such a good Race! In the lead up you’re like “why do I do it?” and then you do it and then you’re like “ok I’ll probably want to do this again another time.”

Coveted Prizes

There are two main prizes at the Rolex China Sea Race.  The most coveted is the Rolex China Sea Race Trophy for the IRC Overall winner on corrected time (handicap).  The first boat to cross the finish line in real time (Line Honours) receives the Sunday Telegraph Trophy. A Rolex timepiece will be awarded to the first boat under IRC Overall handicap and first Monohull Line Honours.

For more information about Rolex China Sea Race 2024, please visit www.rolexchinasearace.com .

Photos courtesy of ROLEX / Andrea Francolini.

A look back at the first China Sea Race

The China Sea Race began 62 years ago on April 7, 1962. Five yachts journeyed from Hong Kong to the Philippines for the first time. There were three yachts from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), one from Manila, and one from Japan. They were escorted during the first 100 miles of their 600nm race by two Hong Kong Royal Naval Reserve minesweepers. They crossed the finish line in Corregidor Island, formed  by Philippine Navy vessels and met by Manila Yacht Club members, who worked with the RHKYC. At that time, there were no radios, so it took Chris von Sydow’s Reverie six days to learn they came in first place. 

Becoming the undisputed Asian blue-water classic

The China Sea Race became a biennial event, which attracted 12 entries in 1964. Following that, there were 13 entries in 1966, which included the famed ketch Stormvogel. The race continued to grow, with more participants in the following years. In 1968, the China Sea Race was included in the newly formed World Ocean Racing Championships. By 1972, it was officially recognized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). The China Sea Race has since become an undisputed Asian blue-water classic. It continues to capture the attention of the international yachting fraternity in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. During the 2018 edition, Karl Kwok broke the race and multihull record on his MOD Beau Geste. He accomplished this feat with an elapsed time of 38 hours, 30 minutes, and 07 seconds. Currently, the monohull record is held by RP66 Alive with an elapsed time of 47 hours, 31 minutes, and 08 seconds.

About Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC)

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is one of the oldest and largest sports clubs in Hong Kong, with a rich, colourful history that spans 170 years of community and competitive sailing and rowing. The RHKYC provides training programmes for practitioners of all abilities and ages – both members and non-members – to nurture their development, produce elite athletes capable of competing at the highest levels, and contribute to the growth and popularity of these great pastimes. The Club also organises a full calendar of high-profile local and international race events, helping place Hong Kong firmly on the global sporting map.

Rolex and Yachting

Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Yacht Club Italiano, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.

About Rolex – An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise

Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization. The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.

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We welcome you to join our community at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club where we are passionate about our sports of sailing, rowing and paddling as well as our environment, particularly the health of our oceans. 歡迎您加入香港遊艇會的大家庭，一個對帆船、賽艇、划槳運動、以及自然環境；尤其海洋健康充滿熱情的地方。

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Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Kellett Island, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong View location map Tel: (852) 2832 2817 Fax: (852) 2572 5399

We welcome you to join our community at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club where we are passionate about our sports of sailing and rowing (including paddling) as well as our environment, particularly the health of our oceans. 歡迎您加入香港遊艇會的大家庭，一個對帆船、賽艇、划槳運動、以及自然環境；尤其海洋健康充滿熱情的地方。

GET IN TOUCH

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Kellett Island, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong View location map Tel: (852) 2832 2817 Fax: (852) 2572 5399

ROYAL HONG KONG YACHT CLUB  

CHINA COAST REGATTA 2024  - 11 TO 13 OCTOBER  HONG KONG TO HAINAN RACE 2024  - 14 NOVEMBER            

HK TO VIETNAM RACE

The Hong Kong to Vietnam Race is organised by the RHKYC and will be run under the auspices of RORC and the World Sailing Category One Special Offshore Regulations.

It is a challenging, predominantly downwind, 673nm fast passage to Nha Trang, on the south-eastern coast of Vietnam - the race is recognised as a qualifying race for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The Race was first run in 1996 and then regularly since 2004. Both the monohull and multihull race records were broken in the 2019 edition of the race with Bryon Ehrhart's Lucky setting a new monohull race record of 41h 30m 20s and Meitatsu Fukumoto / Seng Huang Lee's SHK Scallywag Fuku settng a new multihull race record of 30h 09m 27s.

A popular tourist destination in its own right, Nha Trang also offers a great revictualling point for boats intending to continue on to other seasonal sailing events in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia.

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Kellett Island, Causeway Bay 香港遊艇會 香港銅鑼灣吉列島

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Tel: +852 2239 0395

CONTACT RHKYC

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62nd ANNIVERSARY OFFICIAL SITE OF THE  ROLEX CHINA SEA RACE Starts Wednesday 27 March 2024 2024年3月27日星期三开赛  

Rolex china sea race 2023 makes its return to victoria harbour on 5 april 2023.

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club today (3 April) announced the much-anticipated return of the Rolex China Sea Race to Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour after 5 years of absence. 19 boats will be on the start line at 11:20am on 5 April 2023 for the Rolex China Sea Race 2023 and the Race takes competitors 565-nautical miles (1,046 kilometers) across the South China Sea to Subic Bay in the Philippines, considered a real test of sailing skill, energy, persistence and team spirit.

First held in 1962, this year marks the 61st anniversary of this offshore classic, the oldest blue water race in Asia. The biennial China Sea Race has been supported by Rolex since 2008 when it became Title Sponsor. The 565nm Category 1 Offshore Race is run under the auspices of Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). As a committed partner of the most prestigious yacht clubs, institutions and regattas in the world, Rolex shares the highest standards of excellence with the custodians of yachting’s finest spirit.

Sailors are drawn to the Race’s elevated standing as well as the stringent examination of skill and endeavor it presents, its underlying Corinthian spirit and traditions. Three TP52 grand prix racing yachts will be pushing the limits in what is expected to be close racing in this year’s Rolex China Sea Race. This highly competitive group features international entrant Standard Insurance Centennial 3 as well as local teams Rampage 88 and Happy Go . TP52 is famous for its fast speed and high performance. Former Hong Kong team sailors Owen WONG and LAW Yat Fung Dominic together with their former Hong Kong Team Sailing Coach Jono Rankine have regrouped as a ‘dream team’ for the first time since their last race at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games to be part of the crew on Happy Go . With good communications already in place between the core team for so many years, the team is confident to do well in the Race.

Ernesto Echauz’s Rachel Pugh 75 Standard Insurance Centennial 5 , will be taking part in the boat’s first Rolex China Sea Race, however Ernesto Echauz is no stranger to this flagship offshore race, having participated in nine editions of the race and having his name twice engraved on the China Sea Race Trophy (1998 and 2008). Ernesto Echauz is President of the Philippine Sailing Association and has been actively supporting sailing since 1994 with his Centennial Sailing Team and participated in numerous international offshore races. He said at the press conference that it was great to have the Rolex China Sea Race back after the pandemic. The Rolex China Sea Race is particularly important to sailors in the Philippines because this Race is on most of the sailors’ bucket list.

In terms of Multihull, Meitatsu Fukumoto and Seng Huang Lee’s ORMA 60 sailing trimarans SHK Scallywag Fuku is also set to join their first Rolex China Sea Race. Skipper David Witt, who is an internationally renowned offshore sailor, hope his team could beat the Rolex China Sea Race multihull race record of 38h 30m 07s set in 2018 by Karl Kwok on his MOD Beau Geste.

Albert Altura from Philippines will be taking part in his second Rolex China Sea Race on board his Beneteau First 40 CR Hurricane Hunter . His first took part in the Race as a 19-year-old in 1986 racing on Sunset Strip which placed 4th Overall in the IOR division and after that experience he set a personal goal to return to the event as owner/skipper. Altura said that he was given a Rolex Submariner purchased by his father when he turned 25 years old. Since then, this timepiece has been with him in all extreme adventures and throughout all his naval aviation career.

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Commodore Lucy Sutro mentioned in her welcome speech that for several decades Rolex has cultivated close associations with the best-known yacht clubs and organisers of major events in the world of sailing. “We are honoured that this Race was the first Asian sailing event sponsored by Rolex and proud that, with their support over the last 15 years, the Race continues to arouse attention within the international yachting fraternity.” she said.

Rolex China Sea Race 2023 Race Chairman Cameron Ferguson gave his thank you speech at the end, giving his heartfelt gratitude to Rolex for their ongoing support of this event and the other yacht races and regattas round the world. He added that “This year’s race preparation has been particularly challenging. The last race was run back in 2018 with Covid related issues preventing our return until this year. It has taken a huge effort by competitors to prepare the yachts and their crew to race again. But yacht owners and crew have risen to the challenge. Given the long lead times to prepare for such an event and with restrictions only recently being eased, we are delighted to have a wide-ranging list of Hong Kong participants and also entries from mainland China and overseas.”

There are two main prizes at the Rolex China Sea Race. The most coveted accolade is the Rolex China Sea Race Trophy for the overall winner under IRC time correction (handicap). The first boat to cross the finish line on real time (Line Honours) receives the Sunday Telegraph Trophy. A Rolex timepiece will be awarded to the first boat under IRC Overall handicap and first Monohull Line Honours.

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