Welcome to the Four International Entrants of the 2026 Rolex China Sea Race

 A total of 20 boats have entered the Rolex China Sea Race 2026, which will start from Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour on 4 March.

Race organiser the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club welcomes four overseas entrants making the journey to Hong Kong to compete. We warmly welcome Australian entry Alive, Chinese Mainland entry Seawolf and two boats from the Philippines — the Standard Insurance Centennial teams.

We are pleased to welcome back Philip Turner’s Reichel/Pugh 66, Alive, for their second China Sea Race. Alive is a renowned Tasmanian yacht, best known for winning the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race overall in both 2018 and 2023.

Fresh from securing the double victory — IRC overall and Line Honours — in the Hong Kong to Vietnam Race, Alive continued its Asian campaign with the Langkawi Regatta. Unfortunately, it was unable to compete in the Raja Muda Regatta after being struck by lightning during delivery.

Often referred to as the Asian equivalent of the Sydney to Hobart, the Rolex China Sea Race holds special significance for Team Alive–Rampage. The team set the current 10‑year race record after completing the 565‑nautical‑mile course in 47 hours, 31 minutes and 8 seconds. This year Alive is joined by Noel Chan’s Rampage team to form Team Alive–Rampage as they attempt to challenge the standing record.

This flagship event remains a must‑race for the Standard Insurance Centennial teams from the Philippines.

Philippine‑based Reichel/Pugh 75 Standard Insurance Centennial V, owned by Ernesto Echauz — the 2023 Line Honours winner and the first‑ever Philippine entry to claim this achievement at the Rolex China Sea Race — returns once again. Echauz is no stranger to long‑distance offshore racing, having competed in the Rolex China Sea Race numerous times and securing overall victories in 1998 and 2008, in addition to his Line Honours triumph in 2023.

Joining them is the TP52 Standard Insurance Centennial VII, formerly known as Celestial. The campaign has generated significant excitement and pride within the Philippine sailing community, with a crew composed of members from the Philippine national sailing team and the Philippine Navy. Helmed by Ridgely M. Balladares, the team is expected to be a strong contender in the battle for Line Honours.

Strong competition is expected from Chinese Mainland entrant Seawolf, owned by William Liu. The Ker 42 Custom delivered an impressive second place in IRC overall in the 2024 Rolex China Sea Race.

Returning to the 2026 Rolex China Sea Race, Seawolf is clearly on the hunt for its first IRC overall victory, backed by a steady record of top‑tier performances across Asia’s premier offshore and inshore events.

These international entries will compete in Division 0 alongside Nie Hua’s TP52, Happy Go — the defending IRC overall and Line Honours champion — and Stefan Filip’s Neo 400+, Neo One, the runner‑up in IRC Division 1 at the 2024 Rolex China Sea Race.