| Frontrunners close to the finish line |
| By the Rolex Media
Team. |
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Photos by Daniel Forster for Rolex.
Edited by Peter Andrews. |
| April 3, 2010. |
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The Rolex China Sea Race fleet has been making the most of a strong northeast breeze, force 6 to 7 (21 to 30 knots), ticking off the miles as they make their way toward the Philippine coast.
At 5:00 pm local time, Geoff Hill’s TP52 Strewth (AUS) was 70 nautical miles due west of Santiago Island, making above 11 knots on a southeastly heading, with 135 nauticam miles to the finish. Both Neil Pryde’s Welbourne 52 Custom Hi Fi (HKG) and Ray Roberts’ TP52 Evolution Racing (AUS) have been leading Strewth; however, neither boat has been tracking. Based on an earlier estimated position, Hi Fi is expected to finish around midnight tonight. |
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Geoff Hill's TP52 Strewth leaving Hong Kong Harbour after the
start of the of the Rolex China Sea Race 2010.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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| Local weather conditions are the tricky bit for navigators and tacticians; once the boats approach the coast as the southeasterly sea breeze dominates. But where that transition zone is and how long the breeze sustains into the evening, is the big question. Many a boat has come storming down the race track, only to sail into a hole and sit while another boat finds a lane with breeze to get past them. |
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Neil Pryde's Welbourne 52 Custom HIFI passing some local shipping on Hong
Knog Harbour after the start of the Rolex China Sea Race 2010.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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Ray Roberts on Evolution Racing is a frequent competitor at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race with his Cookson 50 of the same name. And while he is a successful competitor on the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit as well, this Rolex China Sea Race is only the second for Roberts, who previously sailed with Frank Pong on his Jelik.
"This boat is now one year and I’m just starting to get it up to its’ potential," Roberts said prior to the race.
"We had a first at the Singapore Straights and at Royal Langkawi (International Regatta), so those last two races got the boat up to speed, so I’m hoping to continue that process. But this one will be a little more tricky because of the wind and tidal influence. The breeze will be quite hard to read. For those who are a little bit aggressive and read the wind right, they’ll come out in front." |
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Ray Roberts' TP52 Evolution Racing at the start of the Rolex China Sea
Race 2010.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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When asked about Evolution’s competitors, Roberts said, "Hi Fi, Strewth, and the local boys on Mandrake; a lot of experience on that boat, a lot of talent. And then of course, if the breeze shuts down, it could become a 40-footer race. The Achambaults, the Mills 41. Bit of a roll of the dice when you get weather conditions like this."
Greg Kearns’ Avant Garde, and Anthony Root and Kevin Peet’s Red Kite II are the Achambaults Roberts was reffering to; as well as Joachim Isler and Andrew Taylor’s Mills 41 Ambush.
"When I say ‘roll of the dice’ that’s only part of the element, you’ve got to sail well, you’ve got to make the calls on the weather, and get them right. There’s a luck element there, you have to look at all of the factors and if you get it right, you come out looking good," concluded Roberts. |
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Fred Kinmonthand Nick Burns' Mills 51 Custom EFG Mandrake, after the start
of the Rolex China Sea Race 2010.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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| As of the 8:00 am position reports, the leader in IRC Racing A on corrected time, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Ffreefire 70 was leading Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns’ Mills 51 Custom EFG Mandrake (HKG). In IRC Racing B, Ernesto Echauz’ Sydney 46 Subic Centennial (PHI) was leading Ambush (HKG); IRC Racing C saw Simon Powell’s Beneteau First 34.7 Sell Side Dream (HKG) ahead. |
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Greg Kearns' Archambault A40RC Avant Garde, after the start of the Rolex
China Sea Race 2010.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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In IRC Premier Cruising, it was Jon Wardill’s Australian Maid (AUS) leading his division. This is the fourth Rolex China Sea Race for Wardill, who before the start had the following to say about this year’s race.
"I’m looking forward to it. It suits my boat. It’s a very old, wooden boat and we’re still competitive. Long-distance passage racing is where she traditionally does her best. Hopefully we’ll get enough wind to get us down there." |
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Anthony Root's Archambault A40RC Red Kite II, after the start
of the of the Rolex China Sea Race 2010.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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Wardill, along with some of his crew, hail from Darwin, Australia, and he has two Dutchman onboard as well. Wardill said, "We’re a very experienced crew, so we should do pretty well. We usually do the King’s Cup, and every second year we come up and do the China Sea Race, the Commodore’s Cup, and after that we’ll go to Thailand. It’s a pretty big programme and it’s a long way. I keep the boat up in Asia rather than in Darwin these days, it’s a long way to come."
In IRC Cruising, it was CP Wong’s Tipsy Frenz (HKG), ahead in his division. Wong, who’s competed in the race 11 times, sails with an all-Chinese crew, most of whom are doctors. They’ve had a syndicate for over 20 years, campaigning several Tipsys’. |
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Jon Wardill's Cassidy 55 Australian Maid, after the start of the Rolex
China Sea Race 2010.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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This year is the 25th edition of the Rolex China Sea Race, which was first run in 1962, and has been held every two years since then. The 565 nautical mile race runs from the start in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong to Subic Bay, Philippines.
In 1972, the race was officially recognised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and is now run under their prescriptions. The race has continued to attract increased interest and serves to draw the international yachting fraternity to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. |
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Ernesto T. Echauz' Sydney 46 Subic Centennial, after the start of the Rolex
China Sea Race 2010.
Photo © Daniel Forster / Rolex.
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The Rolex China Sea Race joins other prestigious Rolex sponsored events including the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Swan Cup, Rolex Middle Sea Race and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
For more information about the Rolex China Sea Race 2010, including the entry list and divisional splits, please visit www.rhkyc.org.hk/rolexchinasearace.htm. |
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| Outimage and
Rolex © 2010 |
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