Rolex China Sea Race 2010- heading for clear skies and blue water

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 2 Apr 2010 It was another of those lack-lustre days that have become all too familiar in Hong Kong. Smog? Fog? Respiratory particulate pollution? Whatever it is called, it ruins the scenery in Hong Kong harbour. No wonder 30 boats loads of sailors opted to high tail it to the Philippines – these days anywhere and everywhere looks better than Hong Kong.

At least there was breeze for the start of the 25th anniversary edition of the China Sea Race. Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, and now a part of the considerable stable of Rolex-sponsored events, the CSR has long been established as an ‘Offshore Classic’, and is run under the auspices of the RORC who are kind enough to give it their blessing.

That’s right, breeze in Hong Kong harbour. Less than 10 knots to be sure, not enough to blow away the atmospherics, but plenty enough to get the fleet cranked up for a charging start at the pin end, right in front of the RHKYC clubhouse. Australian Maid was a bit too enthusiastic and was (substantially) OCS, and Evolution Racing suddenly found the pin end door closed in her face and had to duck out, but for everyone else it was a procession away from the pin on starboard until the tacticians rolled the dice – or consulted their laptops – and the fleet split left and right to avoid butting the worst of a flooding spring tide.

EFG Bank Mandrake, with a steely-eyed Fred Kinmonth on the helm, started well, but after their start line go-round, Ray Roberts and the boys on Evolution Racing got the measure of the fleet, leading the pack out of the harbour through the Lei Yue Mun gap by a substantial margin.

A bit further back in the lists, Drew Taylor/Joachim Isler’s Mills 41 Ambush was snapping at the heels of the big boats – even though a few days ago she lost her rudder when a forklift ran into her whilst up on the hardstanding. McConaghy’s China made a new one, then made another one, and it was fitted just hours before the race start. But there was a leak. So at 1130 hrs (1210 hrs start) Ambush was back in the slings while a small crowd of mildly interested spectators and some very interested crew wondered just how long it takes for the sealant to really ‘go off’. She made the start, but someone is checking the bilge every five minutes for sure!

Sam Chan’s gave his TP52, FfreeFire 52, away to his regular crew, and got back on board his old lady, FfreeFire 70… along with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir John Bond, and charterer Lowell Chang. Sir Robin has raced to San Fernando (twice), but Bond’s last trip across the China Sea ended prematurely with no wind, a business commitment and an engine.

In spite of dire predictions of “no breeze all the way” and Race Chairman Rick Strompf’s fears that there might not be enough boats in Subic for a party on Monday, the PoleStar/SkyWave tracking system (www.purplefinder.com and/or http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/chinasearace/tracking.htm) has the fleet ‘tracking’ nicely, with the front runners moving at 9 knots and more. And a quick look at the synoptic chart shows a lot of of isobars coming down from the north – it could get bumpy out there soon. More race news, as and when.