Rolex China Sea Race fleet sets sail from Hong Kong with records in the crosshairs

The 2026 Rolex China Sea Race got underway this morning from Victoria Harbour, with 20 international teams setting off on the 565-nautical-mile crossing to Subic Bay on the island of Luzon, Philippines. 

First held in 1962, it's Asia's premier offshore race, and this year's edition has a diverse mix of defending record-holders, an Olympic gold medallist, a SailGP grinder fresh off an F50, and the event's first-ever singlehanded entry.

Happy Go sets off as one of the favourites after their double triumph in 2024, taking both line honours and the IRC overall. The TP52 has Olympic pedigree on board this time around, with Lily Xu – gold medallist in the Laser Radial at London 2012 – taking the helm for her first China Sea Race. Also joining the crew is Luke Payne, grinder for the Danish SailGP team, who flew straight from the Sydney event to tackle something totally different. From foiling catamarans to a 565-mile offshore slog... quite the gear change.

Then there's Team Alive-Rampage, the Australian entry that holds the race's monohull record. Back in 2016, they covered the 565 miles in 47 hours, 31 minutes and 8 seconds, a record that still stands a decade later. Skipper Duncan Hine isn't just hoping to protect it – he wants to beat it. "There's a chance we can reset our 2016 race record," he said before the start. "The strategy is to stay safe and preserve the boat, but we're going to push hard – we always do."

The favourite for line honours, however, is Standard Insurance Centennial V, the 75-foot Reichel/Pugh skippered by Filipino legend Ernesto Echauz. This is his 14th China Sea Race, and his crew is drawn entirely from the Philippine national team. Echauz has credited teamwork for the team's consistent success over the years, and has been a vocal advocate for greater inclusion of women in key sailing roles. They became the first Philippine entry to claim line honours when they won in 2023.

The fleet also includes Seawolf from the Chinese Mainland and a second Filipino TP52, Standard Insurance Centennial VII. Perhaps the most intriguing entry, though, is Tiger Mok aboard his Sun Fast 3600, 2 Easy – the race's first-ever singlehanded competitor. Mok compared solo racing to running a start-up: every problem is yours alone to figure out. He won't be pushing as hard as he would with a full crew, and says the first 24 hours will be crucial. "If I get through that, it'll give me the confidence to keep pushing."

This morning the fleet gathered at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Kellett Island clubhouse for a traditional lion dance ceremony before departure, then headed out in 7-9 knots of north-easterly breeze with light rain at the start. Things were cagey early on, with the breeze easing as the boats beat their way up Victoria Harbour. Alive-Rampage was first through the Lei Yue Mun Gap – the narrow channel between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon – followed by Centennial V then Happy Go.

Once clear of the harbour, steadier breeze filled in, and by mid-afternoon the leaders were tracking at around 15 knots. Stronger easterlies are forecast for tomorrow, which could set up a fast downwind run for much of the fleet. Records may well tumble, but right now it's too early to tell.

The challenges ahead include fishing nets, commercial traffic, and the infamous Luzon Hole – the notorious light-wind zone that can stall boats for hours as they approach the Philippines. Regatta chairman Hugues de Saint Germain expects around 25 knots of breeze on average, which might help the frontrunners punch through before the hole becomes a problem.

Two trophies are up for grabs: the China Sea Race Trophy for IRC overall, and the Sunday Telegraph Trophy for line honours. Winners in both categories also receive a Rolex timepiece, which is a classy touch.

Follow the fleet via the tracker at rolexchinasearace.com.