Rolex China Sea Race 2026 underway
by Guy Nowell 5 Mar 22:28 AEDT
4 March 2026
Rolex China Sea Race 2026 © RHKYC / Guy Nowell
It started in 1962, when three boats from Hong Kong, one for the Philippines, and a sole Japanese entry, raced from Hong Kong to Manila in what was to become known as the China Sea Race. The first race finished at Corregidor Island, and - without radios - the winners didn't know they were first until they crossed the finish line.
Since then, the race has finished variously at the Manila Yacht Club, Punta Fuego, and Nicholas Shoal, and today ends at Grande Island at the entrance to Subic Bay. The current record stands at some 47 hours for the 565nm race, set in 2016 by Alive (RP66). In 1990 there were 60 starters, but 36 years later the fleet is diminished to just 20 - including Alive, out to break her own record.
The race started yesterday in good breeze, with the fleet well up on the line, and the first and only single-hander, 2 Easy (Tiger Mok) hitting the line with intent at the boat end. At the press conference prior, he promised that he would not be pushing hard for the first 24 hours. "Feeling my way... building confidence." Hmm... right!
2014 winner Happy Go started on the pin and headed off to the north side of the harbour, while Alive was mid-line and fully amped-up, and quickly took a lead over the two TP52s (Happy Go, Centennial 7) and the biggest boat in the fleet, Centenial 5, the RP76 formerly known as Jelik. It looked very much like being a clean drag race down the harbour to Lei Yue Mun, but. Quarry Bay presented a total glass out. Boats absolutely vertical, and pointing in different directions. The back markers caught up and parked, and it was only hard work and lot of wriggling that got the quick boats moving again somewhere down by Shau Kei Wan.
The pain was not over. A reconnaissance run to Cape Collinson in the camera boat found no more than 1 or 2 knots. The Committee Boat on a tourist trip recorded 4 kts, maybe, in Junk Bay. It wasn't until well past Shek O Rock that there was real breeze once more. The front markers crept into it, stepped in the throttle, and departed; it was 25kts+ at Waglan, and a 3m swell, and the back of the fleet was still languishing in limbo at Chai Wan.
And that was that. After an 11.20 HKT start, my last shot at Waglan was taken at 14.03 - 2h 43m and less than 12nm later, before turning for home.
31 hrs later, and Alive has covered 369nm, leading Centennial 5 by 32nm. With 204 nm to finish it is indeed a record-breaking pace, but there is still the Luzon Hole to negotiate. Ducks may be organised into rows, but chickens must NOT be counted. Standing by on 72.