An international star-studded fleet is assembling to compete in the Rolex China Sea Race, with 100 days to go until the start of the 2024 edition of the prestigious race.

A fleet of 19 boats has so far entered including eight international entries, which includes a first-time entry from Korea (Random), the Philippines (Standard Insurance Centennial 5, Standard Insurance Centennial 3, Hurricane Hunter and Belatrix), the Mainland of China (Tong Ran) and the United States of America (Callisto).

Whiskey Jack – Rolex China Sea Race – photo © Daniel Forster

Returning to the start line is the 2023 Overall winner, Nick Southward’s Whiskey Jack, who lifted the China Sea Trophy for corrected time on IRC handicap and the 2023 Line Honours Winner, Ernesto Echauz’s Standard Insurance Centennial 5, the historic first Philippines entry to have ever taken Line Honours at the Rolex China Sea Race.

Racing is expected to be tight amongst the 52-foot entries. Philippines entry Jun Villaneva’s ICE 52 Belatrix will debut in this flagship Race. American entry Jim Murray’s Pac52 Callisto will compete against a mix of seasoned China Sea Race competitors in Emerson Villena TP52 Standard Insurance Centennial 3 from Philippines and Nie Hua’s TP52 Happy Go from Hong Kong.

 Standard Insurance Centennial – Rolex China Sea Race © Daniel Forster

Amongst the 10 overall winners from the 2023 edition Figaro 3 (ex-Simpson Marine), Juice, Tong Ran, Hurricane Hunter, Jinn, Pacific Sunrise and Neo One also return to race again in this blue water classic in 2024.

2024 marks the 62nd anniversary of this Offshore Category 1 Race organised by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Hong Kong. The Race will start on 27 March 2024 in Hong Kong’s iconic harbour and take competitors 565nm across the South China Sea to Subic Bay in the Philippines.

The Notice of Race can be found on the official Rolex China Sea Race website at the following link www.rolexchinasearace.com/competitors

by Vivian Ngan