Hong Kong to Hainan Race

by Suzy Rayment on 26 Oct 2005 The first Hong Kong-Hainan Race was run in 1997, under the Chairmanship of Dr Y K Szeto, who remains very active in its organisation and promotion today. The race is a 355 nm 'sprint' by offshore racing standards, off the breeze to Sanya Bay, sometimes described as 'Hawaii with Chinese characteristics'.

The 1999 race took in a side trip to Macau to mark the return of that territory to China. Nine boats sailed to Macau, including Ray Roberts and Australia Challenge, and then Tropical Storm Eve arrived. Competitors were warned of the expected weather system, and three boats elected to continue with the second stage of the race, to Hainan.

Australia Challenge, Beau Geste (Karl Kwok), and Ffree Fire (Sam Chan) had a blistering run to Sanya, and Beau Geste finished in just over 23 hrs, averaging 14+ knots for the trip and topping out at 28 kts of boatspeed.

In 2000 the Hainan Race became part of China Race Week. Ten boats came to the start, and with Typhoon Xangsane tracking her way across the Philippines it promised to be another quick trip. Ffree Fire set the current standing record for Hong Kong to Hainan at 29h 55m 03s.

Eight competitors took part in the 2001 edition, with Line Honours going to Frank Pong’s Jelik and a corrected time victory for Fred Kinmonth’s Stella.

2002 started off with a good blow, and the race record looked to be under threat. But then the breeze died, but not before Anthony Day’s Siren had lost her rig some 100 miles out of Sanya. Jelik sneaked ahead of the dying breeze and crossed the line after 38½ hrs racing, well outside the record.

One competitor described the Hainan Race 2003 as “a downhill slide, full of gybes”. Victory on corrected time went to Ffree Fire, but they were unable to get even close to their own 2000 record. Entries hit an all time low of six, so it is especially encouraging to see 12 entries in this year’s event.

Ffree Fire will be heading off tomorrow to defend her record against all-comers, and Neil Pryde’s newly refurbished Farr 52, Hi Fi Team Pryde, will be trying to take it away. Mandrake (Mills 50) and Drumstick (DK 46) are the other two principal contenders in IRC Racing, with Patrick Slesinger’s Quest (X-362) making up the numbers.

In the Premier Cruising division Hocux Pocux 2 (X-612, Marcel Leidts), will be looking to add a Hainan victory to her China Coast Regatta. There will be plenty of competition from Peter Churchouse’s Moonblue 2 , Peter Cremers’ Shahtoosh, and the three Beneteaus, Polar Star III (First 47.7), Walawala (First 44.7) and Barnstormer (First 40.7).

Geoff Hill’s Strewth (Lyons 49) constitutes the international entry. Hill has enjoyed a good deal of success racing Strewth in Australia under PHF in recent years, clocking up wins in the Sydney-Mooloolaba Race and the Sydney-Southport Race.

This year the boat raced at Cowes Week, took 10th in her division in the Rolex Fastnet Race, and scored fifth in the last Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race.

Skipper Ben Johnson says 'we are a bit light on crew, but are looking forward to a warm-water race with enough distance between the buoys to stretch our legs.'

After the Hainan Race the boat will continue south to the Raja Muda Regatta and the Phuket King’s Cup, and Hill hopes to complete the Asian Yachting Circuit with the Singapore Straits Regatta and the China Sea Race next year.

The Hainan Race is now run biannually, with the Hong Kong-Vietnam Race (to Nha Trang) in the alternate years.

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