Hong Kong Admiral's Cup ILC 40 yacht Beau Geste is expected to take line honours in the 1996 China Sea Race which casts off from Steep Island close to the Clearwater Bay Marina at 4 pm today.
Karl Kwok's Beau Geste will be under threat for line honours from the Bashford Howison 41s and the Mumm 36s as the yachts close in on the Philippines coast.
Both the Mumm 36 Boogie Flash, owned by Bill Wild and Neil Pryde, and Beau Geste, have high profile international crews on board.
Steve Ellis, aboard his Bashford Howison 41 Wizard The Sequel, which recently won the Vietnam race, will be hoping to make it a double.
This year, 32 yachts will take part in the blue water classic for what is the 18th anniversary of the race.
The Royal Observatory is forecasting 20 knots of breeze for what is expected to be an exciting start. The surge of the monsoon is expected to stay at least for the first three days.