Short-handed division Preview

Short-handed offshore racing—sailed with either one person (single-handed) or two (double-handed) instead of a full crew—has become one of the most captivating disciplines in modern sailing. Many offshore sailors consider it the purest and most demanding form of the sport, where seamanship, endurance, and self-reliance are tested to the extreme.

Tiger Mok – First‑Ever Solo Entry in the History of the Rolex China Sea Race

The Rolex China Sea Race 2026 welcomes its first‑ever solo entry, Hong Kong sailor Tiger Mok, marking a historic milestone for the event.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Tiger began sailing at the age of eight and later represented Hong Kong at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games. A veteran offshore sailor, he became Hong Kong’s only home‑grown crew member in the 2017–18 Volvo Ocean Race, racing on Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag as both crew and shore manager. Tiger has competed in several editions of the China Sea Race, but 2026 will be his first attempt at the course single‑handed, aboard his Sun Fast 3600 2 Easy.

To prepare for this challenge, Tiger has undergone intensive coaching with Nick Moloney, the Australian professional yachtsman renowned for completing three circumnavigations, including campaigns in the Vendée Globe and Volvo Ocean Race. His training programme includes mandatory safety and survival qualifications, advanced seamanship and technical sailing skills, racing rules, and comprehensive physical and mental preparation.

This solo entry marks the beginning of Tiger’s broader offshore ambitions, with future goals including the Transatlantic races, the Global Solo Challenge, and ultimately, the Vendée Globe.

Tuatahi

This edition brings together two experienced offshore sailors on Philippe Grelon’s Sun Odyssey 47 Tuatahi. Ryan Mann, who competed in double‑handed divisions in the previous two editions of the Rolex China Sea Race, joins Philippe Grelon, a seasoned double‑handed campaigner to take on the 565nm challenge together.

Zesst

After finishing runner‑up in IRC Division 3 in the 2024 Rolex China Sea Race and winning IRC Overall in the inaugural Eastern Asia Offshore Race, Henning Mueller returns with a new challenge—his first China Sea Race sailed double‑handed on his Sun Fast 3600 Zesst.

He will be joined by Adrian Stromski, an experienced offshore sailor who campaigned on Neo One in the 2024 Rolex China Sea Race and has completed offshore race to Vietnam and Kaohsiung. Together, they form a strong and highly experienced partnership.

Juice

Andrew Pidden returns for his second China Sea Race on his J/99 Juice, this time taking on the double‑handed challenge. His co‑skipper is Ian Fleming, Rear Commodore (Sailing) of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and an Etchells rival of Pidden. Fleming brings more than 20 offshore races’ worth of experience, making the duo a formidable entry in the short‑handed division.