Hong Kong to Vietnam Rally
The second start of the Hong Kong to Vietnam Rally commenced on 29 October in an easterly breeze of approximately 10 to 12kts. At 1120hrs, the remaining five boats from the IRC Racer division joined the 673nm downwind sail to Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Spectators were treated to an exciting start. With 673nm ahead, both Australian entries – Alive and Hollywood Samurai – pushed aggressively at the pin end of the line. Both were declared OCS and had to return to restart, while Fenice, Neo One, and Chinese entry Tong Ran got off cleanly.
Alive and Hollywood Samurai engaged in a thrilling match race through Victoria Harbour, remaining neck and neck until Shau Kei Wan, where Alive began to edge ahead. Alive was the first to pass through Lei Yue Mun Gap, followed closely by Hollywood Samurai. Meanwhile, Fenice and Neo One were locked in a chase from behind, with Neo One eventually leading the pack out of the harbour.
Conditions intensified near Shek O, with wind speeds rising to around 20kts and swells reaching up to 2m. Both Alive and Hollywood Samurai surged forward in ideal downwind conditions. By 1500hrs, Alive was clocking an impressive 19.4kts, followed by Hollywood Samurai at 17.5kts and Neo One at 12.3kts.
For the boats that started a day earlier, progress was equally notable. Zesst had already covered 249 nautical miles of the 673nm journey to Nha Trang by 1500hrs, demonstrating strong early pace in the rally.
This Category 1 offshore rally, run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, is renowned for its consistently windy and warm sailing conditions. The race finishes in Nha Trang, a coastal city known for its family-friendly resorts and vibrant atmosphere. This year’s fleet features a strong line-up of world-class yachts and experienced sailors.
Returning for their third Hong Kong to Vietnam Rally is Alive, the Reichel/Pugh 66 helmed by Duncan Hine and owned by Phillip Turner. The Tasmanian-based team claimed line honours in the 2017 edition with an impressive elapsed time of 50 hours, 11 minutes, and 56 seconds. Prior to arriving in Hong Kong, Alive completed the gruelling 5,500-nautical-mile double-handed 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Race in just 22 days, 22 hours, 48 minutes, and 15 seconds—securing line honours. This time, Alive is sailing fully crewed with a powerhouse team of 10 elite sailors, including Gavin Brady, Adrienne Cahalan, and Volvo Ocean Race veteran Justin Ferris.
Skipper Duncan Hine, a two-time Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race winner (2018, 2023), shared his enthusiasm: “This is one of the most exciting races you can do. The Transpac is downwind too, but it’s longer. The Vietnam race is 670 nautical miles— reliably fast, downwind, and incredibly fun. It’s arguably the most exciting downwind race in the world. We’re sailing with just 10 crew, which is light for a boat of this size, and we’ve kept the weight down. Hopefully, that pays off and we go fast.”
Also representing Australia is Ray Roberts’ Cookson 50 Hollywood Samurai. A seasoned yachtsman on the international grand prix circuit, Roberts has raced everything from Etchells to TP52s and first joined the Rolex China Sea Race in 2010. His professional crew recently won the IRC Open Class at the Samui Regatta in May 2025, and now aim to push hard in the Vietnam Rally.
Ahead of the start, technician David Chapman shared his thoughts: “It’s my first time doing this race, and I’m really excited. Our main goal is to finish safely, avoiding fishing boats, pots, and sea life—especially at night when visibility is low. We’ll stay vigilant and let the boat do the hard work. Hopefully, we sail to the boat’s full potential. Honestly, we’d love a bit more wind. The forecast for the first night looks exceptional, gusting to high 20 kts. Ideally, we’d like a minimum of 20kts and a maximum in the mid-30s.”
From Chinese Mainland, Tong Ran, a Dufour 500 from Nansha Yacht Club, joins the rally. Named after owner Jiaqi Wu’s children, TongRan has competed in three editions of the Rolex China Sea Race, taking 1st place in IRC Premier and 4th Overall IRC in 2023.
Jiaqi Wu expressed excitement about their first Vietnam Rally: “These races organised by RHKYC are truly amazing. Our team has enjoyed every event and grown significantly in skill. That’s why we had to sign up for this rally. We’ve kept most of our crew, adding one or two new sailors to give them a taste of offshore racing.”
Among the local entries, competition is expected to be fierce. Stefan Fillip’s Neo 400+ Neo One, runner-up in IRC Division 1 at the 2024 Rolex China Sea Race, will go head-to-head with Franco Cutrupia’s Solaris 60 Fenice, which claimed both Line Honours and IRC Overall in the 2025 Volvo Hong Kong to Hainan Race.
With the northeast monsoon prevailing over the South China Sea, the fleet anticipates consistent northeasterly winds of up to 25kts – ideal conditions for a fast downwind passage to Nha Trang, Vietnam. These reliable trade winds promise exhilarating sailing and challenging tactical decisions as crews optimise their performance in the strengthening breeze.
