26 boats to celebrate 50th year of China Sea Race

The spirit of yachting is alive and kicking in the city with 26 boats set to take the rum line from Hong Kong to Subic Bay in the Philippines tomorrow to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rolex China Sea Race.

Organisers said yesterday that new maxi Genuine Risk, owned by Geoff Hill, had a genuine chance of breaking the record for the dash to Subic Bay, established in 2000 by Karl Kwok's Beau Geste.

'I believe Genuine Risk can do it this year. Last year, Neil Pryde and HiFi came close, but this 90-footer is almost twice the size of HiFi and is in with a realistic chance of setting a new course record,' race chairman Richard Strompf said.

Genuine Risk, a Dubois 90 maxi which was commissioned only last month, has to finish the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's flagship event in less than 47 hours, 43 minutes and seven seconds.

Hill (pictured) has already faced a huge challenge in getting the boat ready for its first race. 'We only had limited time to commission the boat and tune her up. The other challenge was to put together an experienced crew and moulding them into a team,' he said. 'I'm fortunate in having a very good nucleus available from my Strewth team here and I have been able to attract some Australian and American sailors with big-boat experience.'

Hill bought the boat last year. Built to state-of-the-art specifications in 2004 for more than US$8 million, the boat had only been lightly raced by its previous owners - less than 50 days. Along with the boat, Hill also got two containers full of equipment and an entire suite of 2011 sails. He is looking forward to his first opportunity to race with his new boat.