100 days countdown to 30th edition of China Sea Race

Today marks 100 days until the historic 2020 Rolex China Sea Race - the 30th edition of the 565nm Category 1 offshore yacht race from Hong Kong to Subic Bay in the Philippines.

The countdown to the 2020 Rolex China Sea Race is building substantially, 15 entries have so far been received by the organising authority, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, and six of those are from overseas ports.

2020 marks the 30th edition of this blue water classic; on 7 April 1962 three yachts from Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, one from Manila and one from Japan crossed the line at the start of the first China Sea Race. The yachts were escorted over the first 100 miles of their journey by two minesweepers from the Hong Kong Royal Naval Reserve. Due to no radios being on board the yachts, Chris von Sydow's Reverie only found out they were in first place after six days of racing.

The China Sea Race was subsequently held as a biennial event. In 1964 it attracted 12 entries and in 1966, 13 entries including the famous ketch Stormvogel. With each successive race, the event grew bigger. In 1968, it was included for the first time in the newly organised World Ocean Racing Championships and in 1972 it was officially recognised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

Since then the race has continued to attract interest and, as an undisputed Asian blue-water classic, has served to draw the attention of the international yachting fraternity to Hong Kong and the Southeast. This flagship event has been awarded several accolades including Asian Regatta of the Year at the Asia Boating Awards.

Entries for the 2020 Rolex China Sea Race close on Friday 6 March 2020, the online entry and the Notice of Race are available at www.rolexchinasearace.com.