Volvo Hong Kong to Hainan Race – New record

by RHKYC Media on 4 Nov 2016 At 12:51:52hrs Hong Kong time today, Seng Huang Lee's 100ft Super Maxi Scallywag sliced 2h 22m 41s off the previous Hong Kong to Hainan Race record.

The previous race record of 25h 54m 33s was set in 2014 by Karl Kwok’s TP52 Beau Geste. The new Volvo Hong Kong to Hainan race record now stands at an impressive 23h 31m 52s!

This is the second record of the season for Scallywag who recently broke the monohull record for the New Caledonia Race. From Sanya Scallywag will continue to Australia to take part in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race starting on 26 December.

Scallywag’s owner Seng Huang Lee commented on the race “We are extremely happy with the result. It was very rough out there last night, we are happy to have made it to Sanya safe and sound. We had sunshine, we had darkness we had rough seas and strong winds. It was a great race. We are now really looking forward to heading to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race now!”

With the rest of fleet having now gybed back towards the rhumb line, the next boat expected to arrive in Sanya is Sam Chan’s TP52 FreeFire. FreeFire is currently tracking along the south-east coast of Hainan with 60nm to go. They are in currently in contention for the win in IRC Overall and the IRC 0, however only 40nm behind is Anthony Root’s Custom Ker 42 Black Baza who is coming in with more breeze from offshore. Standard Insurance Centennial continues to make up ground after they got caught in some fishing nets last night, which can be a common occurrence in the South China Sea.

At the back of the fleet Ymir continues to bring pressure down with them to the finish, with around 220nm to go to the finish.