RHKYC announces 'replacement' race for Rolex China Sea Race 2020

Rolex China Sea Race 2018 © Rolex / Daniel Forster

The RHKYC Sailing Committee met last night and agreed to an ‘A to A’ Offshore race to be held over Easter this year to replace the Rolex China Sea Race. RCSR, you will remember, has been moved to 2021 on account of the current outbreak of Covid-19 corona virus. At the moment, it would not be permitted for a racing fleet leaving Hong Kong to dock in the Philippines.

The race will take boats from Hong Kong to Pratas Reef, Pedro Blanco and home again, then finishing back in Hong Kong waters - approximately 400nm. There will be staggered starts, with the first start around 1400h on Thursday 9 April and then the rest of the fleet starting on the morning of Friday 10 April.

The race will be a Category 1 World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations, with the usual offshore requirements of 50% of the crew requiring valid Safety at Sea certificates, 30% of the crew with valid First Aid certificates, and the usual scrutineering process.

An NoR will be issued shortly. However, in the meantime RHKYC would greatly appreciate notification from anyone intending to take part. Such indication will not be considered to be a confirmed entry: NoR will state entry and cancellation deadlines. Expect the entry list to open shortly.

Pratas Reef is usually something to be avoided - it's "over there" a little north of the rhumb line when the racing heads for Subic. Something that you feel as a presence, not actually a real threat. It attracts a huge number of fishing boats, so racers will have to keep a sharp lookout at night. 'Back in the day', Pedro Blanco was the short offshore race before the big one to the Philippines. Most of the stories centre on how hard it is to find, but that was pre-GPS so it should be a good deal easier now!