After a fast start out of Hong Kong and across the South China Sea, the frontrunners in the Rolex China Sea Race encountered a transition into lighter wind as predicted, and any hopes for a record run have slipped away for this edition.

The Philippines land-sea breeze scenario is testing all tacticians in the fleet. Earlier today, several of the lead boats in IRC Racing Division headed towards shore in an effort to find some wind, a strategy that seems to be paying off for the likes of Hi Fi and Fortis Mandrake, which at 1830 were 106 miles and 117 miles respectively at speeds of 6.8 knots and 9.1 knots and due at the finish early tomorrow morning.

Jon Wardill's Australian Maid is leading IRC B division, finally in a bit of breeze, doing 6.5 knots with 180 miles to go. In IRC Premier Cruising Moonblue II is leading, 170 miles from the finish, sailing at 4.7 knots.

Back in Hong Kong, the TP52 Strewth, which lost its' keel in the erly hours Friday, arrived this afternoon under power. The boat was hauled out at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club where it will be inspected and the cause attempted to be determined.

Skipper Geoff Hill was obviously relieved to be safely ashore with his crew, saying, "We were very lucky. I can't think of any other race boat that's come back without a keel after 200 miles." Describing the incident Hill said, "We had just gone past Ffreefire and Hi Fi. We were sailing a bit off the wind doing about 12 knots in 25 knots, sailing about 80 degrees off the breeze. I think we had a number four and the main up. We had most of the crew on the rail and the boat was going really, really well. We weren't pushing any harder, we're very conscious of it and you can't win races if the crew and boat don't get there."

"When the accident happened, there were two cracks and the bolts broke: the first time, the boat shivered and we thought tension or something had happened and we kept on racing. The second one, the boat actually tipped. And because of the big broad stern, it swung around rather than tipped over. Then the guys brought the boat up into the breeze and then we let the sails off so that there wasn't any pressure."

"We did a Sea Safety instruction course before the start of the race so we had a buddy system and everybody had their harness and gear on, and so we had them all on deck within a couple of minutes. We had the sails down, we assessed the situation and got the life raft out and then we started to balance the boat, we put water in down below."

"Then we started to marshal our resources because we realized that we were 200 miles from anywhere. And it was closer to go back to Hong Kong than it was to go to the Philippines. And so we elected -- even though it seemed like a long way to go without a keel -- that we would try. Very stressful night, everyone was on deck awake. Next morning, just before the "sched", we spoke to the race office again and they had been in touch wih some of the other competitors. And we saw Cloud (the Beneteau 44.7, in IRC Racing 2, skipper Olivier Decamps) on the horizon, nicest cloud we've ever seen! They came to our aid and, very unselfishly, gave up their race, and they're a very good boat, they would have done very well (in the race). They escorted us back and I think that is true seamanship. I think that's one of the spirits of racing. I've done quite a few Rolex races, mainly the Rolex Sydney Hobart, but I've done Newport Bermuda too, and I think that is real spirit of competitorship, you give up yourself to stand by, and they escorted us all the way back and that was fantastic."

Hill concluded, "(ISAF) Category 1 safety is very important, crew training is important, and we would not have survived if we had not had that experience. I had just gone and done my course. I had done the course before but I didn't renew it, and the last thing the guy told me was, 'If you are out there long enough, it'll happen to you'. But I didn't think it was going to be that quickly!"

Shore-based fans can follow the action online at www.rolexchinasearace.com as they are using PurpleFinder technology to provide satellite positioning from each boat, which will be updated every two hours during the race.

This Asian blue-water classic has become part of Rolex's distinguished portfolio of international offshore races under a long-term partnership between Rolex and the RHKYC that commenced in 2007. The Rolex China Sea Race joins other prestigious Rolex-sponsored 2008 events including the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Swan Cup, Rolex Middle Sea Race, and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.