Jelik takes line honours and Sydney 38 'Stella Minter Ellison' battles for Omega Asian Yachting Circuit title

by Lindsay Lyons, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club on 11 Apr 2004 Frank Pong sailed 'Jelik' across the line at Subic Bay in the Philippines to claim the China Sea Race line honours for 2004, however his 50.5 hour elapsed time was over two hours short of Karl Kwok's 2000 record set with 'Beau Geste'.

'Ffree Fire' was the second boat to finish, nearly four hours behind, having kept South of the rhumb line and avoided any holes in the breeze. Her IRC rating meant she finished ahead of 'Jelik' in the overall IRC Racing division placings, however her final position will not be known until the remaining IRC Racing entrants have completed the race.

'Maverick II' had only 15 miles to go at the 1800hrs radio sched, followed a couple of hours later by 'Hi Fidelity'. Based on today's performances, Fred Kinmonth is coaxing a steady 7.3 knots out of 'Stella Minter Ellison' and, providing he manages to avoid the hole that Jelik found on the Luzon coast, he has a very good chance of finishing high enough up in the IRC Racing division to snatch the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit title from Neil Pryde on ‘Hi Fidelity’.

Many of the fleet are expected to finish overnight, and the 0800hrs sched should be limited to the HKPN fleet; however the China Sea Race Trophy, originally donated by RHKYC legend Noel Croucher, is awarded for the HKPN overall title. Won in 2002 by Roly Schmidt on 'Red Baron' the front runner for the 2004 award is John Lampl, sailing double handed on 'Moxie'.