| New faces and overseas entries for the April 1 start |
| By Betty Chan, Royal
Hong Kong Yacht Club. |
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Photos by Daniel Forster for Rolex.
Edited by Peter Andrews. |
| March 30, 2010. |
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| Organised by Royal
Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) with the assistance of Manila
and Subic Bay Yacht Clubs’, the 25th Rolex China Sea
Race will start in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour at 12:10
local time, on Thursday April 1, 2010. The fleet in this 565
nautical mile race will cross the China Sea to finish in Subic
Bay, northwest of Manila in the Philippines. |
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The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club prepares for the Rolex China Sea Race.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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| The first China Sea Race was held in Easter 1962 with only 5 yachts. Today the biennial Rolex China Sea Race is one of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s flagship events. The Race is part of Rolex’s distinguished portfolio of international offshore races under a long-term partnership between Rolex and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club that commenced in 2007. |
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Mr. Lowell Chang and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston from FfreeFire
70, at the
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Rolex China Sea Race 2010 Press Conference.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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| The 30 boat entry
list combines Rolex China Sea Race veterans with many new faces
and has attracted several overseas entries that include
Jon Wardill’s Cassidy 55, Australian Maid and
Ray Roberts’ TP52 Evolution Racing, both from
Australia, as well as Fidel and Echauz’s Sydney 46 Subic
Centennial from
the Phillipines. |
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Ray Roberts and his TP52 Evolution Racing from Australia, in Hong Kong
for the start of the Rolex China Sea Race.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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| Neil Pryde’s Wellbourne 52 Hi Fi, will defend her 2008 Line Honours’ title against stiff competition from a healthy racing fleet that include ‘A’ division 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 Sunday Telegraph Trophy. Beating the ten year old Race Record of 47 hours, 43 minutes and 07 seconds set in 2000 by Karl Kwok on Beau Geste, would be a welcome bonus. |
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The 2008 defending line honours champion: Neil Pryde, owner of Hi-Fi, with
the Sunday Telegraph Trophy.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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| Subic Centennial has
returned to Hong Kong hoping for a repeat of her 2008 race,
when her name was engraved on the Rolex 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. |
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The 2008 defending champion on IRC corrected time, Mr. Ernesto T. Echauz,
owner of Subic Centennial.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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Noting the commitment that Rolex has shown to high-profile sailing events and the most prestigious yacht clubs around the world, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Commodore, Warwick Downes expressed his sincere gratitude to the sponsor at today’s press conference.
"The Club is extremely proud that this Asian blue-water classic has become part of Rolex’s distinguished portfolio of international offshore races since 2008 and that it is the first Asian sailing event sponsored by Rolex. The close ties that bind Rolex to the world of sailing date back to the late 1950’s and the spirit and philosophy of the sport are in perfect harmony with values that Rolex holds dear: excellence, precision and team spirit. Rolex has cultivated close associations with the best known yacht clubs and organisers of major events in the world of sailing, and we are honoured to be included as one of these organisations. With Rolex’s support, this Race has further increased its status with the international yachting fraternity." |
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Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Commodore, Mr. Warwick Downes, speaking at
the Rolex China Sea Race 2010 Press Conference.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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| Rolex China Sea Race Race Chairman, Richard Strompf introduced this as a Category One ocean race at today’s press conference, meaning that the competing yachts must have a minimum overall length of 10m (LOA), must be completely self sufficient and able to meet serious emergencies without outside assistance. Five divisions, IRC Racing A, B, C, IRC Cruising and IRC Premier Cruising will compete over the 565 nautical mile course. |
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Jon Wardill’s Cassidy 55, Australian Maid, at the docks of the Royal
Hong Kong Yacht Club.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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| The 2010 Rolex China Sea Race will continue to offer shore-based fans the opportunity to follow the action online at http://www.rolexchinasearace.com. Using Pole Star® technology to provide satellite-based positional data from each boat, viewers will be able to track the fleet as they cross the China Sea with the information updated at regular intervals during the race.
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Jing Lee, co-skipper of Xena, during the Press Conference at the Royal
Hong Kong Yacht Club.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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For more information about the Rolex China Sea Race 2010, including the entry list, please visit: http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/rolexchinasearace.htm.
For more information about the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, please visit their website at: www.rhkyc.org.hk. |
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| Outimage, Royal
Hong Kong Yacht Club and Rolex © 2010 |
