Offshore Sailing Builds Lifelong Friendships

Offshore sailing has a unique way of forging strong friendships. In the Rolex China Sea Race, sailors from around the world come together to take on the challenge of crossing the China Sea— an experience that unites crews through shared adventure, endurance, and passion for the sport. 

This year’s offshore challenge also brings together two powerhouse teams from Australia and Hong Kong. Noel Chan’s Team Rampage, which dominated recent editions of Hong Kong’s premier big‑boat event, the China Coast Regatta, and is a three‑time Overall Champion of the Around the Island Race, will be teaming up with the Tasmanian boat R/P 66 Alive. Together, they will attempt to challenge the standing Rolex China Sea Race record. 

Olympic gold medallist and 2012 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Lily Xu, who transitioned from dinghies to big‑boat racing, has been actively competing in major offshore events, including the Rolex Fastnet Race 2025, Rolex Middle Sea Race 2025, and Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2025. In the Rolex China Sea Race 2026, she will join Nie Hua’s TP52 Happy Go. She will race alongside Nicholas Nigel Ignot‑Johnson, the 2022 World Match Racing Champion, as they work together to help Happy Go defend both their Line Honours and IRC Overall titles. 

Another notable Chinese offshore sailor, Jianghe “Tiger” Teng, who secured 3rd place IRC Overall in the Hong Kong to Hainan Race 2025, will return to the Rolex China Sea Race. This time, he will be crewing on Hugues de Saint Germain’s A40 RC Ocean’s Five—the same competitor he raced against in the Hainan event. 

Korean sailor Hojun Song, who helmed the sole Korean entry Random() in the Rolex China Sea Race 2024, has been actively participating in recent offshore races. He will be back for the 2026 edition, this time joining Carl Wilkinson’s Bavaria Cruiser 56 Lisa Elaine.