From bustling harbour to open ocean racing: Iconic 45km Coastal Rowing Endurance Race Around Hong Kong Island

From the busy waters of Victoria Harbour to the exposed open ocean along Hong Kong’s eastern coastline, the JLB Around the Island Race is one of coastal rowing’s most distinctive endurance challenges, taking on a course that runs from open-ocean swell to one of the world’s busiest harbours.

Since the 1880s, rowers have taken on the challenge of rowing around Hong Kong Island. Today, the JLB Around the Island Race (ATIR) has become one of the most iconic events on the international coastal rowing calendar, blending a historic local tradition with the demands of modern coastal rowing.

Organised annually by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), the 2026 edition takes place on 12–13 December, with record-breaking entries across its Iron, Relay and 10km race categories. More than 600 seat entries, representing 138 boats and 62 clubs from the hosts as well as from China, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand, will take part in this year’s event.

The ATIR’s reputation has grown considerably over the past two decades, particularly following the introduction of purpose-built coastal rowing boats in Hong Kong. Its combination of distance, changing water conditions and challenging navigation has made it an attractive test for some of the world’s leading rowers, including World Champions from both classic and coastal rowing.

A 45km Test around Hong Kong Island

The race spans a challenging 45 kilometres clockwise around Hong Kong Island, starting and finishing at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in Victoria Harbour – the host venue for the 2019 World Rowing Coastal Championships.

The route presents a dynamic spectrum of water conditions. The segment from the eastern harbour to Cape D’Aguilar and Stanley Peninsula includes exposed ocean stretches with steep rocky headlands and large ocean swells.

The southern coast stretches past sandy beaches and beautiful coastline, passing Middle Island towards Aberdeen and Green Island. Crews then enter

the Western approaches to Victoria Harbour, where dense commercial shipping traffic creates very challenging water conditions for all crews over the last sector of the race.

Relay competitors will change crews at Middle Island, the half-way point, whereas Iron crews will race the full distance non-stop.

Different Ways to Take on the Challenge

The 2026 programme offers competitors three ways to experience the ATIR on water.

The 45km Iron Race is the ultimate endurance test, with crews completing the full circumnavigation without stopping. The 45km Relay Race covers the same distance, but allows competitors to change crews at Middle Island, approximately halfway around the course. The timing and execution of that changeover add another dimension of teamwork and race strategy.

For those looking for a shorter challenge, the 10km Harbour Race offers a different experience on the waters of Victoria Harbour.

Whether competing over the full 45km or taking on the shorter harbour course, the event offers a unique opportunity to experience Hong Kong from the water.

Maximising Community Participation | ATIR Erg Challenge

To maximise local engagement and community participation, the race weekend also features an “ATIR Erg Challenge” running concurrently on land. The Erg Challenge includes a gruelling Solo 45km race, this year joined by Great Britain’s Alex Robertson. A 45km Erg Relay format is designed to attract Corporate and School teams and raises money for charity each year.

A third category, featuring a shorter 10km Erg Relay, aims to bring new participants to rowing, welcoming school and community groups new to indoor rowing to enjoy being a part of this big rowing weekend.

International Talent Meets Local Competition

The ATIR has attracted an increasingly international field, with leading athletes drawn by the course’s unique combination of endurance and technical challenge.

In the Women’s Solo, France’s Jessica Berra and Great Britain’s Bass Andre are among those targeting the course record.

The Men’s Solo promises another competitive contest, with Austria’s Iurii Suchak and New Zealand’s Sebastian Fulton among the leading contenders.

The Mixed Double Sculls will also feature an intriguing international match-up. Italy’s Martino Goretti and Sophie Souwer bring extensive experience across classic and coastal rowing, while Spain’s Ander Martin and Esther Britz will provide strong opposition.

Look for the German crew of Jakob Geyer, Eduardo Lineares Ruiz, Anton Finger, Alexander Finger, coxed by Elisa Trog, to figure prominently in the Open Quad competition.

But the ATIR is never simply a contest between the biggest names. The unpredictable nature of the course, shifting water conditions and local knowledge can all play a decisive role, creating opportunities for less familiar crews to challenge the favourites.

A Race with a Remarkable History

With the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s more than 160-year sailing and rowing history, the Around the Island Race is rooted in a tradition that has endured across generations.

The introduction of purpose-built coastal rowing boats helped transform the historic 45km challenge into the international event it is today, attracting elite athletes and recreational rowers alike.

More than a race against the clock, the ATIR tests endurance, teamwork, and the ability to read the water. From the iconic Hong Kong skyline to the open coastline and back again, it offers a rowing experience unlike almost any other.

On 12–13 December, the challenge will begin again. And for every crew taking on the full circumnavigation, the finish line at Kellett Island will represent something earned the hard way: 45 kilometres around one of the world’s most spectacular island settings.

Want to see more?

Check out the event’s Instagram channel for more stunning images and videos.