Volvo China Coast Regatta 2024 Preview
by Vivian Ngan 9 Oct 22:09 NZDT
11-13 October 2024
Volvo China Coast Regatta 2023 © RHKYC/ Guy Nowell
The Volvo China Coast Regatta, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's premier 'Big Boat' event, is scheduled to take place from 11 to 13 October. A forecasted freshening northeasterly monsoon is expected to blow throughout the entire regatta, with a quality fleet of 31 boats set to battle it out in the signature autumn sailing conditions of Hong Kong.
Competition will be fierce across all six divisions: IRC 0, 2, 3, Cape 31, IRC Premier, and PHS. In IRC Division 0, an impressive line-up includes three TP52s: Sam Chan's FreeFire, Noel Chan's Rampage88, and Nie Hua's Happy Go, who will be racing alongside the strong team onboard Seawolf, led by William Liu, and Stanley Tse's Kikukie's Dream II.
The Cape 31s, the fastest expanding fleet in Hong Kong, will have their own division this year with four entries, including Andrew Taylor/Denis Martinet's Capitano, which will compete against David Kong's Out of Africa, Noel Chan's Rampage38, and Randy Yeung's Tai Chi by Simplicity.
IRC Race 2 features five formidable teams. Hat trick winners of the event, Nick Burns' King 40 Witchcraft, will line up against Dennis Chien's Mat 1245 Arcturus+, Glenn Smith's Grand Soleil 44 Wild Card, and James Verner's Nightshift. Johnson Yuen's Summit 40 Zoe's Guard will also join for her debut at the China Coast Regatta.
IRC Racer 3 promises to be another hard-fought division, with four strong teams including defending champion Andrew Pidden's Juice, alongside Nick Southward's Admiralty Harbour Whiskey Jack, Hugues de Saint Germain's Ocean's Five, and Henning Mueller's Zesst.
This year's IRC Premier Class comprises Carl Wilkinson's Lisa Elaine, Peter Churchouse's Moonblue 2, Tom Attenborough's Parnassus, and new entry Solaris 60 Fenice helmed by Philippe Grelon. The PHS division (formerly the HKPN class) will feature nine entries, with yachts ranging from a Farr 30 to an Oceanis 50. Notable contenders in recent editions of the regatta include Sunny Leung's Jibulai, Herman Wong/Chris Li's Kiasu, Raymond Wu's Tornado, Bradly Wilkins' Blowers Daughter, Eddy Lee's Generations, Dean Chisholm's Darling, Ming Lou's Coral Harbour, Thomas Wong's DBX2, and Sunny Chai's Simplicity GS, all vying for the title of best PHS boat.
The IRC Racer divisions will compete from 11 to 13 October, while the IRC Premier and PHS Classes will race on 12 and 13 October. Sailors will test their skills across a variety of windward/leeward, geometric, and island courses on the waters to the southeast of Hong Kong Island.
Keep up with the latest news on the Volvo China Coast Race Week visit: www.chinacoastraceweek.com/news
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