Rolex China Sea Race 2020 - International entries from afar

Rolex China Sea Race 2018 © Rolex / Daniel Forster

Of the 13 boats currently entered into the 30th edition of Rolex China Sea Race, six international entries hail from as far afield as Russia, Philippines, Japan and the United States and mark the first sign ups for this biennial blue water classic.

Bryon Ehrhart's American entry J/V Maxi Lucky is back for the 565nm Category 1 offshore race having completed the Race before in 2014 on his TP52 and taking 2nd place IRC Overall.

The new 72ft Lucky took part in series of maxi events across the Mediterranean including Rolex Capri Sailing Week, Rolex Giraglia, Palermo to Monaco and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and took Monohull Line Honours in the recent Hong Kong to Vietnam Rally 2019 setting a new course record for the 673nm race in an impressive time of 41h30m20s.

The current Monohull Record in the Rolex China Sea Race was set by RP66 Alive in 2016, finishing the 565nm race in 47h 31m 08s and Lucky will certainly be setting her sights on setting a new race record for the 2020 edition.

Representing Russia is Cookson 12 Megazip owned by Alexey Mashkin. Alexey is a veteran of Rolex offshore races including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Rolex Giraglia, the Rolex Middle Sea Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race. Megazip took 3rd place in IRC Racer division 1 in the 2016 Rolex China Sea Race and are intending on improving on their previous result.

Two Beneteaus from Phillippines and Japan join their first Rolex China Sea Race. The Beneteau First 40 CR Hurricane Hunter from Manila Yacht Club competed in the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex Middle Sea Race and from there the boat was shipped to Hong Kong and subsequently sailed to Manila last January. Owner Albert Altura will be competing in his second China Sea Race, the first China Sea Race he participated in was as a 19-year-old in the 1986 race on Sunset Strip who placed 4th Overall in the IOR division. Japan entry Beneteau First 40.7 Thetis 4 is active in long distance racing around Japan and will extend their journey to Palau in the upcoming 1726nm Japan to Palau Good Will yacht race, China Sea will be their next destination for exploration.

Chinese entry Seawolf 2 return for their fourth Rolex China Sea Race, having completed a series of coastal and short offshore races. This all-Chinese team has shown steady improvement throughout the blue water races, the Ker 42 climbed from 3rd place IRC Overall in 2016 to 2nd Place IRC Overall 2nd place in 2018. Seawolf 2 is on the hunt for their first IRC Overall Championship.

2020 will also see the return of some well experienced Rolex China Sea Race participants including Ambush who has competed in five previous races and Alpha + who took 2nd Place IRC Racer Division 0 in 2018.

2020 will mark the 30th edition of this biennial Offshore Category 1 race, run by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club under the auspices of RORC. The Race will start on 8 April 2020 in front of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Kellett Island clubhouse in Hong Kong's spectacular Victoria Harbour and will finish in Subic Bay, Philippines, hosted by Subic Bay Yacht Club.

The online entry and the Notice of Race for the 2020 Rolex China Sea Race is available online at www.rolexchinasearace.com.