Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

100 days to go until the Rolex China Sea Race 2026

by Vivian Ngan 24 Nov 2025 10:29 GMT 4 March 2026
Rolex China Sea Race 2024 © Rolex / Andrea Francolini

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club proudly announces the official 100-day countdown to the Rolex China Sea Race 2026, one of Asia's most prestigious offshore sailing events.

On 4 March 2026, the race will set sail from Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbour, launching an exhilarating 565-nautical-mile journey across the South China Sea to Subic Bay in the Philippines.

Among the returning competitors is Mondher Latiri's Pogo 36, Gutsy, the historic first-ever entry from Chinese Taipei in the 2024 Rolex China Sea Race.

First held in 1962, the Rolex China Sea Race has earned its reputation as a true test of skill, endurance, and strategy, attracting world-class sailors and yachts from around the globe. This biennial event combines challenging conditions with breathtaking scenery, offering competitors an unforgettable offshore racing experience.

Over the decades, the race has continued to captivate the international yachting community, cementing its status as an Asian blue-water classic. It has garnered numerous accolades, including Best Asian Regatta at the Asia Boating Awards, and remains a flagship event for Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

The 2026 edition marks the 64th anniversary of this Offshore Category 1 Race, organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club—one of Hong Kong's oldest and most prestigious sailing institutions. Competitors will once again face the ultimate challenge: a 565nm passage across the South China Sea, starting from Hong Kong's spectacular harbour and finishing in Subic Bay.

Commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Adrian Pang commented: "The Rolex China Sea Race is more than a competition; it's a celebration of seamanship and adventure. Each edition brings together sailors from around the world to experience the unique challenges and beauty of the South China Sea. We are thrilled to welcome the fleet back to Hong Kong for this iconic event."

For those eager to join this extraordinary adventure, the Notice of Race and online entry system are now available on the official Rolex China Sea Race website. Interested participants are encouraged to submit their applications early to secure their place. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club looks forward to welcoming the fleet in March and continuing the proud tradition of this iconic race.

The Notice of Race can be found on the official Rolex China Sea Race website here.

Related Articles

Rolex China Sea Race 2026 Entries Open
The 565nm offshore race will start on Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbour The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club has announced that entry for the Rolex China Sea Race 2026 is now open. Posted on 16 Dec 2024
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
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024
Magic start to Rolex China Sea Race 2024
The fleet gathered before the start at RHKYC's Kellett Island Clubhouse for a lion dance 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. Posted on 27 Mar 2024
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