Rolex China Sea Race 2024 - Cruiser preview

by RHKYC Media 23 Mar 09:20 UTC 27 March 2024

Tong Ran Jiaqi Wu, owner of Dufour 500 TongRan (named after his children), reports that with an oven, bbq, and refrigerator, the boat is now more attractive to his wife and family, who have started racing with him. This year Wu will be joined by his daughter Xiaotong on board for her first blue water racing experience. Encouraged by Seawolf's IRC Overall 3rd place in the Rolex China Sea Race 2016, Tong Ran entered the 2018 edition as the sole Chinese yacht. Despite being the last finisher on the water, they then bounced back with an impressive performance in 2023, taking out IRC Premier 1st place and 4th IRC Overall.

Rampage 008 Noel Chan, owner of Rampage 008, has been actively racing for 8 years and his fleet of 'Rampage' boats are well known in Hong Kong waters. Fresh from taking the IRC overall win in the Sun Hung Kai & Co. Around the Island Race 2023 and Volvo China Coast Regatta, this semi-pro sailing team are aiming for a win in the Rolex China Sea Race 2024. The first Rampage team joined the Rolex China Sea Race in 2018 onboard Rampage 2 - an HH42. Noel Chan has since acquired Rampage 88, a Judel and Vrolijk designed TP52 - formerly Zerocloud - from Italy, battling it out against IRC 0 TP52’s in the 2023 edition. This year the Rampage team return to race a Beneteau First 45 and put out the challenge in the IRC Cruiser class.

Pacific Sunrise Pacific Sunrise, Sun Odyssey 42ds, is skippered by the experienced Thomas Wiesinger, a six -time China Sea Race competitor. The boat had a full refit in the Philippines in 2022, returning to Hong Kong just in time to take part in the 2023 edition, placing second in class. As a heavy cruising boat, Pacific Sunrise relished the heavy 40kts+ conditions encountered off Pratas Reef in 2023. With an IRC handicap that is quoted by the owner as “the lowest known to man”, the prospect of a race with similar conditions should be an opportunity for the boat to shine again.

The Rolex China Sea Race 2024 takes competitors from Hong Kong, China, across the China Sea to Subic Bay in the Philippines, and will start on 27 March.