HONG KONG, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Asia’s preeminent offshore sailing event, the Rolex China Sea Race 2026, delivered three exhilarating days of competition as twenty yachts departed Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour on 4 March, taking on the iconic 565‑nautical‑mile passage to Subic Bay, Philippines. Throughout the race, competitors reported sustained winds of 25–28 knots, gusts up to 30 knots, and powerful sea conditions — factors that combined to create one of the fastest and most demanding editions in recent memory.
This historic biennial race once again drew an international fleet, including Team Alive–Rampage from Australia, Seawolf representing the Chinese Mainland, and Philippine entries Standard Insurance Centennial V and Standard Insurance Centennial VII. Notably, this year marks the first single handed entry, 2 Easy.
After an exciting start outside the Kellett Island clubhouse, the fleet fought for position through the Lei Yue Mun Gap. Once clear of the harbour, a steadier offshore breeze allowed competitors to settle into their rhythm for the long passage across the South China Sea.
Australian yacht entry Team Alive–Rampage with skippers Philip Turner and Noel Chan took the southernmost rhumb line, aiming to avoid a patch of adverse current that could threaten their bid to break the race record. The two TP52s — Standard Insurance Centennial VII and Happy Go — remain locked in close quarters, sticking nearer the rhumb line and continuing an intense match‑racing duel with only a few miles between them.
The Rolex China Sea Race is renowned for its tactical complexity. As the leaders approached Subic Bay, the front‑runners found themselves navigating the notorious “Luzon Hole”, where many promising record attempts have slowed in previous years. Team Alive–Rampage eventually recorded an elapsed time of 49 hours 55 minutes 57 seconds — fast enough for a decisive Line Honours victory, but just short of eclipsing their 2016 record.
Matt Humphries, technician on board Team Alive–Rampage, said that although they finished 18nm short of breaking the race record, the team was still very pleased with their performance. “We wanted to bank a little bit of a southerly route to make sure we didn’t fall into a bad transition or a hole coming into Subic Bay. That part actually went very well for us — we didn’t have to sail upwind at the end. The boys pushed extremely hard; they fought for every mile and every minute. They were on fire, making sure we secured Line Honours and delivered a strong result.”
Second to cross the line was Standard Insurance Centennial V, Ernesto Echauz’s Reichel/Pugh 75 and the 2023 Line Honours winner. Echauz praised the decision to bring the race forward, calling it an excellent move. “It was a very good race — an excellent race. The wind was strong, and we finished in just a little over two days, which is really very fast. There were only about two hours where we didn’t move, or moved very slowly, but after that everything was fine from start to finish. So, it was a good thing the race was moved to March, when the wind conditions are much better. Fantastic.”
As Centennial V and Team Alive–Rampage celebrated their arrivals, the battle further offshore intensified. The defending Line Honours and IRC Overall champion, the TP52 Happy Go, was locked in a dramatic, neck‑and‑neck duel with fellow TP52 Standard Insurance Centennial VII. The two boats traded the lead repeatedly, but in the final two hours Happy Go found an extra gear, ultimately edging out Centennial VII by 41 minutes at the finish.
William Liu’s Ker42 Custom Seawolf secured a historic triumph, finishing on 6 March at 21:30:20 and winning IRC Overall on a corrected time of 71h 43m 35s. This marks the first time a Chinese Mainland yacht has won the IRC Overall title in the race’s history.
Competing for the fifth time, Seawolf has steadily improved, including an IRC Overall second place in 2024. Skipper Yan Yu Ye reflected on the breakthrough, saying: “We’ve always believed we could win. After five attempts, each with lessons learned, this victory means a lot. The conditions were tough with strong winds and some damage, but we were lucky to have a steady breeze most of the way. Only near the finish did we fall into a wind hole, but the team pulled through.”
Seawolf’s navigator, Campbell Murray Field, praised the team’s preparation and teamwork: “Our crew was very multinational, and we gelled well for the event. We sat down before the start to plan how we’d execute the race, and we largely stuck to that game plan. We did have to adapt a couple of times coming to the finish; after a great blast across the South China Sea, those final adjustments were a bit frustrating, but they didn’t catch us off guard.”
IRC Overall second place went to Franco Cutrupia’s Solaris 60 Fenice in their debut in the Rolex China Sea Race. “This was our first Rolex China Sea Race, and it was very interesting. There were many boats and a truly international crew, which made us excited. Above all, we had fun: the wind was good, everyone was safe, and there was no major damage.”
IRC Overall third place was grabbed by Stefan Filip’s Neo 400+, Neo One, improving on their strong 2024 performance. Navigator Cameron Ferguson described their crossing as: “It was an awesome trip down — a fast blast reaching across the China Sea, so it was really fast and furious. Getting out of the harbour was a bit slow — you fight to get out of there. Once we settled in it built up to about 20 to 30 knots, gusting at times. A pretty straightforward crossing, to be honest.”
Double‑handed honours went to Sun Fast 3600 Zesst (Henning Mueller / Adrian Stromski), finishing as the only boat in their division and taking an impressive IRC fourth overall.
Henning was delighted to record the fastest elapsed time as a double‑handed entry. He said, “We went into the race with confidence — Adrian and I have sailed double‑handed in Hong Kong for many years. Although we planned to rely on the autopilot, we ended up hand‑steering almost the entire time. The autopilot struggled in the waves and wasn’t set up for such conditions, so one of us had to be on the helm and mainsheet constantly. It was exhausting, but we managed it together.”
The race also celebrated its first‑ever solo competitor, Tiger Mok aboard 2 Easy, who finished the 565nm crossing on his own in 3 days 6h 30 mins.
“To be the first person to race the Rolex China Sea Race solo is really unique. This race is tough enough double‑handed; doing it single‑handed this edition wasn’t easy, but it exceeded my expectations. Things aligned and I made it. It’s very hard but achievable. I’m glad I made that decision six months ago.
The mental challenge was the biggest. Physically it was manageable because I tried to be safe and take small steps — doing things one at a time before the weather hit. But mentally it was really stressful: the weather and unexpected gear malfunctions always seem to happen during a race, no matter how much you test. You fix something and then you wonder what will fail next. That keeps your head racing.”
In IRC Division 0, William Liu’s Seawolf, Stefan Filip’s Neo One and Hie Hua’s Happy Go secured the podium positions after a highly competitive crossing. IRC Division 1 was topped by Henning Mueller’s Zesst, followed by Johnson Yuen’s Zoe’s Guard and Fraser and Glenn Smith’s Wild Card. In the IRC Premier Division, Franco Cutrupia’s Fenice claimed first place, ahead of Peter Churchouse’s Moonblue 2 and Tom Attenborough’s Parnassus.
In the double‑handed and PHS divisions, victories went to Henning Mueller’s Zesst and Bradly Wilkins’ Blowers Daughter, respectively.
Race Chairman Hugues de Saint Germain said: “I think the event was a great success and very well organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Although three boats retired, all remaining boats finished within two to three days — much faster than in previous years. We’re very pleased that moving the race forward by a month delivered the improved conditions we hoped for.”
Several teams praised the conditions, calling this the fastest Rolex China Sea Race they had ever experienced. Veteran sailor and Moonblue 2 owner Peter Churchouse remarked, “I’ve been doing this race since 1982 — for so many years. I think this is the fastest race we’ve ever done.”
The physical and mental demands of the race were felt across the fleet, as described by Zoe’s Guard skipper Johnson Yuen: “This race was tough for us—it really made me question why I put myself through this kind of suffering. But I’m looking forward to joining more offshore races in the future.”
Olympic gold medallist Lijia Xu (Lily), racing aboard Happy Go in her first Rolex China Sea Race, shared her aspiration: “I also have a small dream for the future — to form an all‑women’s team and come back to compete in the Rolex China Sea Race.”
High resolution photos can be downloaded from the below link: RCSR 2026 wrap up
Photos credit: ROLEX / Andrea Francolini and RHKYC/ Guy Nowell
ABOUT ROYAL HONG KONG YACHT CLUB (RHKYC)
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is one of the oldest and largest sports clubs in Hong Kong, with a rich, colourful history that spans over 170 years of community and competitive sailing and rowing. RHKYC provides training programmes for practitioners of all abilities and ages – both members and non-members – to nurture their development, produce elite athletes capable of competing at the highest levels, and contribute to the growth and popularity of these great pastimes. The Club also organises a full calendar of high-profile local and international race events, helping place Hong Kong firmly on the global sporting map.
ROLEX AND YACHTING
Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing the journey marked by milestones and emotions that culminates in defining moments – determined by a path followed, not just a trophy. Since the late 1950s, Rolex has championed perseverance and resilience in yachting across all its forms – from prestigious yacht clubs to pioneering feats of exploration, legendary offshore races, and its most successful sailors. Today, the Swiss watchmaker supports the innovative future of sailing through its Title Partnership of the Rolex SailGP Championship, the world’s leading sailing league where the best athletes compete on identical supercharged foiling F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous stretches of water. Furthermore, the brand is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events, from the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. Rolex also partners institutions that share its enduring commitment to sailing, including the New York Yacht Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Malta Yacht Club. Integral to this relationship are the towering figures in the sport and Rolex honours their unrelenting determination in the pursuit of excellence. From groundbreaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester to modern-day sailors, Rolex celebrates the individuals who embody adaptability, teamwork and precision. The Rolex family of Testimonees includes legends Paul Cayard and Robert Scheidt, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie, and the heroes at the heart of the Rolex SailGP Championship, Hannah Mills, Tom Slingsby and Martine Grael.
ABOUT ROLEX
AN UNRIVALLED REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND EXPERTISE
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Perpetual watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization. The word ‘Perpetual’ is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 600 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components. A fifth site, also in Switzerland, is under construction and is expected to open in 2029. Rolex carries out its own manufacturing operations, from casting the gold alloys to machining, crafting, assembling and finishing the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport, and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
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