As excitement builds, the highly anticipated Volvo Hong Kong to Hainan Race is just around the corner! This exhilarating event makes its comeback after a six-year pause, with eight boats ready to embark on an adventure from Hong Kong’s picturesque Victoria Harbour at 11:20 AM on November 14. This marks the 14th edition of the race, and anticipation is already electric!

Launched in 1997, the inaugural race took place on December 27 to celebrate the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Originally intended to be a biennial event alongside the Hong Kong to Vietnam Race, the race faced disruptions, notably with the cancellation of the 2020 edition due to the Covid pandemic. Now, however, it returns with an impressive lineup and fierce competition.

Competitors in the IRC division are gearing up for an intense showdown. Notable among them is Nicolas Cohen-Addad’s J122e, Jinn, which boasts commendable performances in previous races, including a Line Honours and IRC Overall win in the Volvo Hong Kong to Vietnam Race 2023, as well as a 2nd place finish in the Rolex China Sea Race 2024 IRC Division 2. Jinn will face strong contenders like Stefan Fillip's Neo 400+, Neo One, who also secured a 2nd place finish in IRC Division 1 at the recent Rolex China Sea Race.

Adding to the competitive spirit is Henning Mueller's Sunfast 3600 Zesst, which claimed 2nd in IRC Division 3 of the same race. The entry of Hugues de Saint Germain's A40 RC, Ocean’s Five, could make waves as it's currently in second place overall in the RHKYC Coastal Race Series 2024-25, so expect a dramatic contest on the water.

The battle for Line Honours is expected to be a nail-biter, particularly between Franco Cutrupia’s Solaris 60 Fenice, making its debut in an offshore race, and Thomas Attenborough’s Swan 56, Parnassus. Meanwhile, Carl Wilkinson's Bavaria 56, Lisa Elaine, will bring an unusual twist to the race by competing double-handed – a true test of skill and teamwork against fully crewed vessels.

The event will also feature Johnson Yuen's Zoe in the PHS division, adding further layers to an already competitive field.

Sailors will tackle a challenging 390 nautical mile course, which historically favors downwind sailing, leading them to the tropical paradise of Sanya on Hainan Island. Known as the “Hawaii of the East,” Sanya is not only an idyllic finish line but also a renowned destination for yacht tourism and relaxation. The race holds a record finish time of just 23 hours, 31 minutes, and 52 seconds, a mark set by Seng Huang Lee and David Witt's Scallywag in 2016—can this year’s contenders break it?

With all eyes on the water, the countdown has begun. Get ready for a spectacle of sailing prowess and strategic brilliance at the Volvo Hong Kong to Hainan Race 2024!