Please select your home edition
Edition

Magic start to the Rolex China Sea Race 2024

by RHKYC Media 27 Mar 11:27 GMT 27 March 2024

A lovely 10 to 12kts north easterly breeze made for an exciting start to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Rolex China Sea Race 2024. All 21 boats got off to a clean start today at 1120hrs in the stunning Hong Kong Victoria Harbour.

The fleet gathered before the start at RHKYC's Kellett Island Clubhouse for a lion dance to wish the competitors a safe journey across the ever-challenging South China Sea.

Three of the top contenders in IRC Racer 0 Class, R/P 75 Standard Insurance Centennial V, along with two TP52s; Happy Go and Standard Insurance Centennial III were in a close tussle at the start line but it was Nie Hua's Happy Go which hit the line first at full pace at the sound of the horn. She led the fleet up to Kai Tak from where larger rival Standard Insurance Centennial V overtook her.

First through the Lei Yue Mun Gap (the narrowest part between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon) was R/P 75 Standard Insurance Centennial V, helmed by two-time China Sea Race Overall winner Ernesto Echauz. They were followed shortly after by TP52s Happy Go and Standard Insurance Centennial III.

After the fleet passed the sheltered harbour, they were greeted by big swells of up to 2.5m. Soon Zoe was the first retirement of the Race.

Of the six international entries, two Filipino boats are in the leading pack. Mainland of China entries, Seawolf and Tong Ran, are looking good in the early stages and the same goes for the first-ever Chinese Taipei entry, Mondher Latiri's Gutsy and the first-ever Korean entry, Hojun Song's Random().

As of 1600hrs, Happy Go is at the front of the fleet travelling along at around 8.6kts, followed by the two Standard Insurance team boats, Centennial V and Centennial III.

As the competitors make their 565nm journey across the South China Sea to Subic Bay, they will enjoy the first night reaching down towards the Philippines. A southerly airstream is forecast to fill in by Thursday so the fleet will be beating upwind towards the Philippines.

Race action is being tracked by Yellowbrick Tracking and is being shown live at rolexchinasearace.com - the Race can also be followed on the YB Race Viewer App.

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

Related Articles

Rolex China Sea Race 2024 wraps up in Subic Bay
The wind gradually softened throughout the 565nm journey The final yachts arrived in Subic Bay late afternoon of 2 April, wrapping up the 2024 Rolex China Sea Race. 21 boats took part in the 2024 edition with 191 competitors hailing from 26 territories. Posted on 3 Apr
2024 Rolex China Sea Race concludes
Happy Go finished on 30 March at 05h 20m 53s, a mere five minutes ahead of their rival For the first time in 14 years, the Line Honours winner of the Rolex China Sea Race has 'done the double' and picked up the IRC Overall as well. Posted on 31 Mar
Happy Go takes Rolex China Sea Race Line Honours
It was as nail-biting a finish as one could ever have with close, competitive racing The battle for Line Honours in the Rolex China Sea Race between defending champ Standard Insurance Centennial V and Happy Go was settled in the early hours of the morning when Happy Go edged out her rival by a squeaky five minutes. Posted on 30 Mar
Rolex China Sea Race 2024 Day 2
The Two-Handed Division is being led by A Plastic Ocean The fleet enjoyed a fast-reaching leg during the first night of the Rolex China Sea Race thanks to an easterly airstream which stayed with competitors all the way up to 0700hrs at which time the fleet came to a halt and parked up for at least an hour. Posted on 28 Mar
13 boats so far for Rolex China Sea Race 2020
International entries from afar entered into the 30th edition Of the 13 boats currently entered into the 30th edition of Rolex China Sea Race, six international entries hail from as far afield as Russia, Philippines, Japan and the United States and mark the first sign ups for this biennial blue water classic. Posted on 12 Dec 2019
Rolex China Sea Race overall
Event wraps up under idyllic conditions in Subic Bay The 18 year old multihull record was broken by Karl Kwok's MOD 70 Beau Geste with top speeds of 37kts and her impressive elapsed time of 38h 30m 07s wiped 9h 31m 40s off the previous race record set in 2000. Posted on 1 Apr 2018
Rolex China Sea Race: Mandrake III wins overall
Half the fleet now finished, and half hit winds too light With half of the fleet finished and the other half of the fleet succumbing to light breeze off of Subic Bay, the Rolex China Sea Race leaders have been decided. Posted on 31 Mar 2018
MOD Beau Geste smashes multihull record
In the Rolex China Sea Race Karl Kwok's MOD Beau Geste crossed the finish line early this morning, 30 March, at 01h 50m 07s in Subic Bay, Philippines - smashing the 18 year old multihull record set by Benoit Lesaffre's Crowther 50 Catamaran, Atmosphere, by an incredible 9h 31m 40s. Posted on 30 Mar 2018
Rolex China Sea Race: And they're off!
Hong Kong's iconic skyline provided the perfect backdrop The start line, located in front of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Kellett Island Clubhouse, was a bit hectic with most boats favouring the committee boat end of the line Posted on 28 Mar 2018
China Sea Race: Father and son Double-handed entry
30 entries have been received from eight territories, including double-handed entry With just under a month to go before the start of the 56th Anniversary of the Rolex China Sea Race, 30 entries have been received from eight territories, including one double-handed entry. Posted on 18 Mar 2018