Rolex China Sea Race 2024 - IRC Double Handed
by RHKYC Media 24 Mar 2024 17:37 PDT
27 Marct 2024
Lisa Elaine. Rolex China Sea Race 2024 © ROLEX / Daniel Forster
Heightened interest in double-handed racing worldwide has seen a shift in all major blue water classic races embracing the trend, and the Rolex China Sea Race is no exception.
Lisa Elaine - Carl Wilkinson and Patrick M Harmon
This year will be the second RCSR outing for the Bavaria 56, Lisa Elaine, with skipper Carl Wilkinson opting to race in the double-handed division.
Carl will be sailing with co-skipper Patrick M Harmon, a regular crew member on board Lisa Elaine. The pair have been very active in the local double-handed race scene in preparation for this Cat 1 offshore race, and will now be putting their wealth of experience on the line to be tested by the conditions thrown at them en route to Subic Bay.
Carl is passionate about the opportunity to race in the two-handed format. “I have always been attracted to the idea of double-handed racing, and this is an opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine.”
Carl will also be sharing the race to a wide audience of new enthusiasts. "I work in the outdoor and experiential education industry, and we will be providing updates and interviews to a local school in Hong Kong about our experience during the race. I hope this is an exciting way to get students interested in blue-water sailing, and to encourage them to pursue their dreams.”
A Plastic Ocean - Philippe and Cosmas Grelon
This father-and-son team of Philippe and Cosmas Grelon return for a third time as a double handed entry in the Rolex China Sea Race. The pair were the sole double-handed entry in the 2018 edition on their 35-foot boat Decathlon Aya and returned in 2023 on a Beneteau Figaro 3, a high-performance sailing yacht designed specifically for short-handed offshore racing. Despite the auto pilot system failing midway through the 2023 race, they won the double-handed division and placed 2nd in IRC Overall.
The Grelons have extensive short-handed racing experience, including the inaugural Hong Kong to Puerto Galera Yacht Race. Philippe owns the world speed sailing record in monohull between Taipei and Hong Kong 2006, while Cosmas was RS500 world champion in 2011.
This pair of lifelong sailors are passionate about connecting people to the ocean and raising awareness of the urgent need to mitigate against pollution. This year their boat is named to show their support to A Plastic Ocean Foundation.
Daybreak – Ryan Mann / Casey Benjamin
Ryan Mann and Casey Benjamin return for their second Rolex China Sea Race on board the Taswell 56, Daybreak. Last year they encountered technical issues just six hours into the race, and were obliged to return to Hong Kong for repairs. Resuming racing a full day after the main fleet, the experience has spurred them on to be there on the start line for 2024.
The Rolex China Sea Race 2024, taking competitors from Hong Kong to Subic Bay in the Philippines, on 27 March.
https://www.rhkyc.org.hk/rolexchinasearace