Asia’s Oldest Offshore Classic Returns with Strong Fleet for 2026
As the Rolex China Sea Race 2026 sets sail from Victoria Harbour to Subic Bay, Asia’s oldest offshore contest once again brings together elite sailors and a 565-nautical-mile test of endurance and precision
A historic passage across the sea
The Rolex China Sea Race returned on March 4, with a fleet of offshore yachts departing Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour for the 565-nautical-mile passage to Subic Bay in the Philippines. First staged in 1962, the biennial event stands as Asia’s oldest bluewater race and one of the region’s most exacting offshore challenges.
Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and conducted under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the race has been title-sponsored by Rolex since 2008. The 2026 edition will once again test crews against the shifting conditions of the South China Sea, where strong north-east monsoons can give way to light and unstable winds without warning.
SEE ALSO: Time Well Spent: A Guide to Watches Across Every Tier
A demanding start, a tactical finish
The start in Victoria Harbour is one of the race’s defining moments. Yachts must navigate dense commercial traffic before heading into open water, where punishing seas and sustained winds often shape the early stages of the competition.
The final approach to the Philippines presents a different challenge. Light airs near the coast and the so-called “Luzon Hole” frequently compress the fleet, creating tactical resets that can determine the overall outcome under the IRC handicap system.
As the 2026 fleet departs Hong Kong, the familiar variables remain: shifting wind patterns, strong currents, and the tactical uncertainty of the Luzon Strait. For some, the objective will be records and Line Honours. For others, success will depend on how they manage the final miles into Subic Bay.
The pursuit of double
Two principal prizes are at stake. The Rolex China Sea Race Trophy is awarded to the overall winner after IRC time correction, while the Sunday Telegraph Trophy recognises the first yacht to cross the finish line in real time, known as Line Honours. A specially engraved Rolex timepiece will be presented to the overall IRC winner and to the first monohull to secure Line Honours.
Only eight yachts in the race’s history have achieved the double of Line Honours and overall victory in the same edition.
Defending champions and seasoned campaigners
The IRC Racer division, the largest and most competitive class, features several leading contenders. Defending Line Honours and overall IRC champion from 2024, Nie Hua’s TP52 Happy Go, returns to the start line.
On board is Olympic gold medallist and 2012 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Lijia Xu, known as Lily, who continues to expand her offshore résumé following appearances at the Rolex Middle Sea Race and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
From the Philippines, Ernesto Echauz returns with the Reichel/Pugh 75 Standard Insurance Centennial V. This marks his fourteenth Rolex China Sea Race.
Ernesto, whose name appears twice on the China Sea Race Trophy from victories in 1998 and 2008, made history in 2023 when his yacht became the first Philippine-flagged entry to claim Line Honours. His crew is composed entirely of sailors from the Philippine national team.
A solo first and a global framework
In a significant development, Hong Kong sailor Tiger Mok will attempt to become the first person to complete the race single-handed, marking the first solo entry in the event’s history.
Rolex’s long-standing association with yachting provides the broader framework for the race. Since the late 1950s, the Swiss watchmaker has supported major offshore events and yacht clubs worldwide, emphasising precision and teamwork.
Today, its portfolio spans 15 leading international competitions, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race, as well as the SailGP.
