Seawolf takes IRC Overall in the 2026 Rolex China Sea Race

HONG KONG, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Rolex China Sea Race organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) has come to a close, with William Liu’s Ker 42 Custom Seawolf crowned IRC Overall Champion, Philip Turner’s R/P 66 Team Alive–Rampage taking Line Honours and Tiger Mok marking history as the first solo competitor. For this edition, the start was brought forward by a month to take advantage of the north–east monsoon.

In one of the fastest and most demanding editions of the Rolex China Sea Race, Seawolf secured a historic triumph, finishing on Friday at 21:30:20 and winning IRC Overall on a corrected time of 71h 43m 35s. This marks the first time a Chinese Mainland yacht has won the IRC Overall title in the race’s history.

Competing for the fifth time, Seawolf has steadily improved, including an IRC Overall second place in 2024. Skipper Yan Yu Ye reflected on the breakthrough, saying: “We’ve always believed we could win. After five attempts, each with lessons learned, this victory means a lot. The conditions were tough with strong winds and some damage, but we were lucky to have a steady breeze most of the way. Only near the finish did we fall into a wind hole, but the team pulled through.”

Navigator Campbell Murray Field highlighted the team’s preparation and diverse crew: “We had a multinational team that worked well together. We studied the course, set a clear strategy, and mostly stuck to it. The final approach required a few adjustments, which was frustrating after a fast crossing, but nothing caught us off guard.”

IRC Overall second place went to Franco Cutrupia’s Solaris 60 Fenice in their debut in the Rolex China Sea Race. “This was our first China Sea Race and it was very interesting. There were many boats and a truly international crew, which made us excited. Above all, we had fun: the wind was good, everyone was safe, and there were no major damage.”

IRC Overall third place was grabbed by Stefan Filip’s Neo 400+, Neo One, improving on their strong 2024 performance. Navigator Cameron Ferguson described their crossing as: “It was an awesome trip down — a fast blast reaching across the China Sea, so it was really fast and furious. Getting out of the harbour was a bit slow — you fight to get out of there. Once we settled in it built up to about 20 to 30 knots, gusting at times. A pretty straightforward crossing, to be honest.”

Double–handed honours went to Sun Fast 3600 Zesst (Henning Mueller / Adrian Stromski), finishing as the only boat in their division and taking an impressive IRC fourth overall.

Henning was delighted to record the fastest elapsed time as a double–handed entry. He said, “We went into the race with confidence — Adrian and I have sailed double–handed in Hong Kong for many years. Although we planned to rely on the autopilot, we ended up hand–steering almost the entire time. The autopilot struggled in the waves and wasn’t set up for such conditions, so one of us had to be on the helm and mainsheet constantly. It was exhausting, but we managed it together.”

The race also celebrated it’s first–ever solo finisher, Tiger Mok aboard 2 Easy, who finished the 565nm crossing on his own in 3 days 6 hrs 30 mins.

“To be the first person to race the Rolex China Sea Race solo is really unique. This race is tough enough double–handed; doing it single–handed this edition wasn’t easy but it exceeded my expectations. Things aligned and I made it. It’s very hard but achievable. I’m glad I made that decision six months ago.

The mental challenge was the biggest. Physically it was manageable because I tried to be safe and take small steps — doing things one at a time before the weather hit. But mentally it was really stressful: the weather and unexpected gear malfunctions always seem to happen during a race, no matter how much you test. You fix something and then you wonder what will fail next. That keeps your head racing.

When I saw the finish line approaching, it felt unreal. Logically I knew I could do it, but emotionally it was a mix — I’m still processing it.”

The 2026 Rolex China Sea Race delivered three days of dynamic offshore competition as twenty yachts set off from Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour on 4 March, embarking on the iconic 565 nautical mile passage to Subic Bay, Philippines. Throughout the race, yachts reported sustained winds of 25–28 knots with gusts reaching 30 knots, accompanied by big sea conditions that contributed to one of the fastest editions in recent memory.

Australian yacht entry Team Alive-Rampage with skippers Philip Turner and Noel Chan crossed the finish line in Subic Bay at 13:15:46 on 6 March, claiming Line Honours with an impressive elapsed time of 49 hours, 55 minutes, 46 seconds—just shy of surpassing their long–standing 2016 record.

In IRC Division 0, William Liu’s Seawolf, Stefan Filip’s Neo One and Hie Hua’s Happy Go secured the podium positions after a highly competitive crossing. IRC Division 1 was topped by Henning Mueller’s Zesst, followed by Johnson Yuen’s Zoe’s Guard and Fraser and Glenn Smith’s Wild Card. In the IRC Premier Division, Franco Cutrupia’s Fenice claimed first place, ahead of Peter Churchhouse’s Moonblue 2 and Tom Attenborough’s Parnassus.

In the double–handed and PHS divisions, victories went to Henning Mueller’s Zesst and Bradly Wilkins’ Blowers Daughter, respectively.

Race Chairman Hugues de Saint Germain said: “I think the event was a great success and very well organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Although three boats retired, all remaining boats finished within two to three days — much faster than in previous years. We’re very pleased that moving the race forward by a month delivered the improved conditions we hoped for.”

Several teams praised the conditions, calling this the fastest China Sea Race they had ever experienced. Veteran sailor and Moonblue 2 owner Peter Churchouse remarked, “I’ve been doing this race since 1982 — for so many years. I think this is the fastest race we’ve ever done.”

The physical and mental demands of the race were felt across the fleet, as described by Zoe’s Guard skipper Johnson Yuen: “This race was tough for us—it really made me question why I put myself through this kind of suffering. But I’m looking forward to joining more offshore races in the future.”

Olympic gold medallist Lijia Xu (Lily), racing aboard Happy Go in her first Rolex China Sea Race, shared her aspiration: “I also have a small dream for the future — to form an all–women’s team and come back to compete in the Rolex China Sea Race.”

Photos credit: ROLEX / Andrea Francolini

ABOUT ROYAL HONG KONG YACHT CLUB (RHKYC)

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is one of the oldest and largest sports clubs in Hong Kong, with a rich, colourful history that spans over 170 years of community and competitive sailing and rowing. RHKYC provides training programmes for practitioners of all abilities and ages – both members and non-members – to nurture their development, produce elite athletes capable of competing at the highest levels, and contribute to the growth and popularity of these great pastimes. The Club also organises a full calendar of high-profile local and international race events, helping place Hong Kong firmly on the global sporting map.

ROLEX AND YACHTING

Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing the journey marked by milestones and emotions that culminates in defining moments – determined by a path followed, not just a trophy. Since the late 1950s, Rolex has championed perseverance and resilience in yachting across all its forms – from prestigious yacht clubs to pioneering feats of exploration, legendary offshore races, and its most successful sailors. Today, the Swiss watchmaker supports the innovative future of sailing through its Title Partnership of the Rolex SailGP Championship, the world’s leading sailing league where the best athletes compete on identical supercharged foiling F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous stretches of water. Furthermore, the brand is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events, from the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. Rolex also partners institutions that share its enduring commitment to sailing, including the New York Yacht Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Malta Yacht Club. Integral to this relationship are the towering figures in the sport and Rolex honours their unrelenting determination in the pursuit of excellence. From groundbreaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester to modern-day sailors, Rolex celebrates the individuals who embody adaptability, teamwork and precision. The Rolex family of Testimonees includes legends Paul Cayard and Robert Scheidt, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie, and the heroes at the heart of the Rolex SailGP Championship, Hannah Mills, Tom Slingsby and Martine Grael.

ABOUT ROLEX

AN UNRIVALLED REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND EXPERTISE

Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Perpetual watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization. The word ‘Perpetual’ is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 600 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components. A fifth site, also in Switzerland, is under construction and is expected to open in 2029. Rolex carries out its own manufacturing operations, from casting the gold alloys to machining, crafting, assembling and finishing the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport, and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.

Seawolf takes IRC Overall in the 2026 Rolex China Sea Race

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