31 for Rolex China Sea Race

Royal Hong Kong YC classic to Manila sets sail on 1 April

The 25th Rolex China Sea Race, organised by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club with the assistance of Manila Yacht Club and Subic Bay Yacht Club, will start in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour at 1210hrs on Thursday, 1 April 2010.

This Asian blue-water classic will finish in Subic Bay, northwest of Manila in the Philippines, after a grueling 565 nautical miles. The Race is part of Rolex’s portfolio of 'classic 600 milers' and in this case a partnership between Rolex and the RHKYC that commenced in 2007.

The 31 boat entry list combines China Sea Race veterans with many new faces and has attracted several overseas entries, including Jon Wardill’s Cassidy 55, Australian Maid, Fidel/Echauz’s Sydney 46, Subic Centennial and Ray Roberts’ TP52, Evolution Racing.

The Neil Pryde owned Welbourn 52, Hi Fi, will defend her 2008 Line Honours’ title against stiff competition from a healthy racing fleet; the ‘A’ division featuring boats such as FfreeFire 52, Strewth, EFG Mandrake and Evolution Racing. All will be hoping to be the first boat to finish and lift the Daily Telegraph Trophy – and beating the 10 year old Race Record of 47h 43m 07s (set in 2000 by Karl Kwok on his previous Beau Geste) would be a welcome bonus.

Subic Centennial has returned to Hong Kong hoping for a repeat of her 2008 race, when her name was engraved on the China Sea Race Trophy for First Overall on IRC handicap. As this year’s sole Philippine entry, the Sydney 46 will be relying on local knowledge to give her the edge as the fleet enters the notoriously fickle breezes off the Philippine coast.

The 2010 Rolex China Sea Race will continue to offer shore-based fans the opportunity to follow the action online using Pole Star technology to provide satellite-based positional data from each boat, which will be updated at regular intervals during the race.

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