Line honours for Pong

Lindsay Lyons updates us on the China Sea Race

Frank Pong sailed Jelik across the line at Subic Bay to claim China Sea Race line honours, however his 50.5 hour elapsed time was over two hours short of Karl Kwok's 2000 record set in Beau Geste. Ffree Fire was the second boat to finish, nearly four hours behind, having kept south of the rhum line and avoided any holes in the breeze - her IRC rating will mean she finishes ahead of Jelik in the overall IRC Racing division placings, however her final position will not be known until the remaining IRC Racing entrants have completed the race.

Maverick II is expected to finish shortly, having only 15 miles to go at the 1800hrs radio sched, followed a couple of hours later by Hi Fidelity. Based on today's performances, Fred Kinmonth is coaxing a steady 7.3 knots out of Stella Minter Ellison and, providing he manages to avoid the hole that Jelik found on the Luzon coast, he has a very good chance of finishing high enough up in the IRC Racing division to snatch the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit title from Pryde.

Many of the fleet are expected to finish overnight, and the 0800hrs sched should be limited to the HKPN fleet, however the China Sea Race Trophy, originally donated by RHKYC legend Noel Croucher, is awarded for the HKPN overall title. Won in 2002 by Roly Schmidt on Red Baron the front runner for the 2004 award is John Lampl, sailing double handed on Moxie