After 104 hours of sailing, the race winner crossed the finish line off the East coast of Luzon in the Philippines. It had been a grey day of heavy rain on Thursday when the international fleet of 29 yachts left Hong Kong’s sheltered harbour and headed for the open waters of the South China Sea. After three nights at sea it was a bright day with strong breezes that carried Hi Fidelity across the finish line at Punta Fuego, just to the south of Manila Bay, 600 miles distant from Hong Kong.

The China Sea Race began back in 1962 and is one of the oldest and least known offshore races in the world. It is also the climax to the four-stop Asian Yachting Circuit, presented by Fortune, that also visits Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. Going into the race Neil Pryde and Hi Fidelity had scored an impressive three victories at three regattas. By winning this fourth and final leg Hi Fidelity's crew have demonstrated that their domination on the Asian Yachtng scene this last season is complete and beyond question. To win at the four regattas means to win four very different regattas that feature overnight passage racing, windward/leeward courses, day races – and now an long distance offshore race.

Neil Pryde said "It’s temendously satisfying to win the 2002 China Sea Race – it's one of the world’s great offshore races with a forty year history. We knew it was going to be a tough race in light winds – and it was very long. Our tactic was to follow the direct route from Hong Kong to Manila and resist the temptation to chart a course that would mean faster speeds but would take us off course. Many other boats gambled on finding winds to carry them back on course but their gamble didn’t really pay off and we got the win. To win all four of the AYC regattas is a real accomplishment and it’s a testament to the boat and crew. We’ve also won the FORTUNE Series of individual races at the regattas and with that we’ve won US$15,000 of advertising in FORTUNE magazine for charity. Personally this adds a new dimension to our win and the whole of Hi Fidelity is proud."

Line honours (the first boat to cross the finish line) went to Frank Pong’s Jelik with a relatively fast time of 92 hours and 14 minutes. To allow yachts of different sizes and speeds to race with one another a handicap system is applied and after the application of the handicap Jelik could only manage a sixth place. In second behind Hi Fidelity was Australia Maid, skippered by John Wardill all the way from Darwin north Australia and third was Outrageous from Hong Kong, skippered by Gerry Daughton. Fourth was Sam Chan’s Ffree Fire and fifth was Australia’s Sorbent Helsall II skippered by Bill Rawson.

Inevitably over a 600 mile race lasting over 3 days there were incidents. Frank Pong, skipper of Jelik, slipped one evening on board and toppled overboard. Falling into the inky sea on a dark night is treacherous - there is no hope of swimming after a fast-moving boat and for the boat to make a U-turn takes time and it’s easy to drift away from the swimming sailor. Once the mark is lost, there’s a big ocean to search and the chances of success slip away fast. On this occasion though a quick-thinking crewman tossed luminous sticks into the sea near to Frank and they were able to re-locate the shaken skipper and pull him safely back onboard. Frank Pong latter commented " I won’t be in a hurry to try that again".

In the Performance Cruising Division, Roland Schmitt's Red Baron recorded a corrected time of 125.01:42 to beat Robert Knight's Rhythm Stick by just under 25 minutes, pushing Stuart Gulliver's Vida into third place. In Performance Handicap, only Groovy and Ocean Girl are still attempting to make it to Punta Fuego under sail and not expected till latter tonight - all other entrants have either retired or have turned their motors on.

This brings to a conclusion a thrilling season on the 2001/02 Asian Yachting Circuit. Neil Pryde and Hi Fidelity will celebrate at tonights prizegiving – and in November it will begin again in Malaysia at the Raja Muda International Regatta and a new season on the Asian Yachting Circuit.

Each event on the AYC is televised for international broadcast to an audience in excess of 140 million homes on five continents. CNN will also be featuring each AYC Regatta in their own show Inside Sailing which reaches another 167 million homes. The Asian Yachting Circuit is presented by FORTUNE for more info go to www.asianyachtingcircuit.com or call Andrew Owen at Proteus Sports on +852 9472 1704 or E-mail:proteus@netvigator.com for your local TV viewing times.

More information? Try the RHKYC official website http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/chinasearace/home.htm

Results for China Sea Race 2002
Racing Division
1. Hi Fidelity – Hong Kong. Skipper Neil Pryde
2. Australian Maid – Australia. Skipper John Wardill
3. Outrageous – Hong Kong. Skipper Gerry Daughton
4. Ffree Fire – Hong Kong. Skipper Sam Chan
5. Sorbent Helsal II – Australia. Skipper Bill Rawson
6. Jelik - Hong Kong. Skipper Frank Pong

Cruising Division
1. Red Baron – Hong Kong. Skipper Roland Schmitt
2. Rhythm Stick – Hong Kong. Skipper Robert Knight
3. Vida – Hong Kong. Skipper Stuart Gulliver
4. Kam Loong – Hong Kong. Skipper Jack Mallee
5. Maligaya – Philippines. Skipper Andres Soriano III

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IT's Jelik - Finish at Last!

Day 5 (AM) 01-April-02
Just after 08:00hrs Frank Pang's Jellico claimed line honours for the first time in the 21st China Sea Race taking just over 92 hours to complete the 609nm course. Although this race was marred by light winds, conditions could have been worse - Jelik's elapsed time is nowhere near the record set by X-Rated back in 1992 of 123:23:17, a true demonstration of patience by Rick Strompf and his crew.

The breeze has picked up to 20 knots and, while those further back in the fleet may not yet be reaping the benefit, Free Fire and Maligaya should be crossing the line in advance of predicted times (10:15hrs and 13:35hrs respectively). Hi Fidelity and Helsall II are still neck and neck on the rhumb line (not to be confused with Rum line) and should cross the finish line later this afternoon or early tonight.

The tail-enders are expected to finish before mid-day tomorrow, if current conditions hold, with Windseeker, Carillon, Groovy and Ocean Girl holding a lone vigil and reported to be facing a real battle with fierce competition expected from the back of the fleet. Happy April Fool's Day! Hope they make it in time for the Presidents Cup which starts on the 3rd of April and runs till the 6th organised by the Manila Yacht Club in the Philippines. More info... http://www.prescup.com
Kindest Regards
Capt Marty Rijkuris

Race Report No 7. China Sea Race 2002

Day 4 (PM) 31-Mar-02

Race Report No 2. China Sea Race 2002

Day 2 (am) 29-Mar-02
By 08:00hrs on 29-March, the fleet had split into two distinct groups with light North Easterly winds still dictating the race pace. In the leading line honours group the magnificent Swan 80 Maligaya that even Grant Dalton would feel comfortable sailing in the Tropics than his smaller Swan V60 was holding off Jelik by a narrow margin, closely followed by Sam Chans heavily modified ULDB Sled Ffree Fire and Hi Fidelity.

Further behind, overseas entrants Australian Maid, Helsall II and Intrigue of Stornaway were battling it out with Red Baron, Rhythm Stick and Vida. After her troubled start, Elektra a First 47.7 had made up ground and was positioned with Hocux Pocux II, Kam Loong and Outrageous just ahead of another cluster of nine boats. Carillon, Irmgard and Body Shots II were bringing up the rear of the monohulls, leaving Beluga Free languishing around 50 miles further back.

After a few weeks of partying and intense preparation the 29 entrants for the 21st China Sea Race celebrated the races 40th anniversary by starting in light winds and rain. Neil Pryde on Hi Fidelity a Sydney 46 and race organising chairman crossed the start line first, followed by Robert Knight on Rhythm Stick, but by the time the leading boats were rounding the windward mark, race favourite Jelik Frank Pongs Wylie 77 ULDB sled had overtaken Hi Fidelity and showing a clean pair of heels to the rest of the fleet.

Last across the start line and 30mins behind the racing pack, was Marcel Leidts in Elektra. Steering problems on the way to Steep Island had caused the delay, but the First 47.7 quickly made ground on Beluga Free, Carillon and Irmgard to pass them well before the mark.

Observing the 8 knot North Westerly breeze, Race Officer Graham Jackson selected a windward start to avoid a scramble for the line. Asked later, he described it as "A gentle start in unpleasant conditions. The majority of the fleet got away in good style".
Ends

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Pre-Race Report 27th March
This year being the 21st China Sea Race organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the Manila Yacht Club celebrates the 40th anniversary since the inaugural race in 1962. The 12:00 hrs starting signal on Mar 28 for this classic 600 nm race from Hong Kong to the Philippines for offshore racing and cruising yachts has attracted a wide variety of International yachts which see's 29 crews lining up. Anything from Sam Chan’s Ffree Fire (winner of last year's San Fernando Race) and Frank Pong's ULDB sled Jelik amongst a strong contingent of 40 to 45ft racer cruisers to the veteran Aussie racers Helsal 11 and Australian Maid who staged a dramatic finish to the 2001 windblown Darwin Bali Race.

 Last held in 2000 the strong winds during the first two days meant the 32 competitors had some exhilarating sailing to become the fastest China Sea Race in history. Hong Kong’s Karl Kwok with Beau Geste a Whitbread 60 smashed the former record by an incredible 28 hours taking line honours and overall IRC division to establish a new record time of 47:43:07
(See the archived 2000 AsianYachting race report at http://asianyachting.com/Archive/chinasea.htm )

Who will it be this time? Will Neil Pryde's HiFidelity be able to record his forth straight victory on the Asian Circuit and can Andy Soriano's magnificent Swan 80 Maligaya hold off the challenges presented by David Kong's Hocux Pocux 2 and the lower rating yachts in the cruising class. Their overall fate rests with the weather conditions and the timing of their arrival in the Philippines where yachts often encounter typical patchy light conditions. In the past those yachts a little offshore seem to get the better of it, allowing them to spinnaker reach in toward the Caponies, but for most the last 20 miles of the race has so often decided their eventual placing. Past Race Reports range from excellent daytime spinnaker runs across the Bay with the afternoon sea-breezes to slow painstaking beats at night.

Many high profile yachts have installed the new Ray-Tec navigation software which allows navigators to overlay forecasted wind and weather conditions over the chart. Which technically means the computer should tell them where to go. We will see!. The 2002 China Sea Race will finish for the first time at the beautiful resort of Punta Fuego on the coast of Luzon and many competitors will stay for the President’s Cup hosted by the Manila Yacht Club starting on the 3^rd April 2002.

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