ERNESTO ECHAUZ’S TP 52 Standard Insurance Centennial III was the overall champion of this year’s Standard Insurance Subic Bay to Boracay Race and Boracay Cup, having won IRC I in both races and IRC Overall in the Subic Bay to Boracay Race.
ERNESTO ECHAUZ’S TP 52 Standard Insurance Centennial III was the overall champion of this year’s Standard Insurance Subic Bay to Boracay Race and Boracay Cup, having won IRC I in both races and IRC Overall in the Subic Bay to Boracay Race.
By the entrance to Subic Bay, Scallywag led the 14-yacht fleet down the coast, only to be thwarted in the lee of every high mountain along the way. It sailed into a rainstorm at the swift passage through the Verde Island Passage and the light northeasterly got Scallywag out of jail. The team went on to claim line honours.
Standard Insurance Centennial III completed the 220nm course in under 24 hours to earn the Racing Class 1 title and the combined Overall IRC title. Ray Ordoveza’s Excel 53 Karakoa sailed through the light spots to slot into second place, while Geoff Hill’s Smith 72 Custom Antipodes corrected out in third.
Taking an inside line down the coast, Steve Manning and Anthony Root’s Ker 42 Black Baza secured Class 2 victory and third in the overall IRC stakes. A couple hours adrift, Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns’ Sydney GTS 43 EFG Mandrake ended up in second, with Bobby Benares Beneteau 44.7 Sabad putting up a big performance for third.
In the Cruising Class, Michiel Brinkers’ Andrews 70 Bella Uno sailed up to their rating. The only Chinese entry, Xiong Ting’s Oceanis 45 Mermaid, is used in a sailing school and the Philippines race as part of the training for the sailors, who were happy with second place.
Standard Insurance Centennial III once again outraced Karakoa to win the IRC I title at the Boracay Cup, while perennial line honours champion Jelik continued to lead the way but missed out in the handicap stakes and settled in fourth overall.
With five wins on the board, Black Baza claimed the IRC 2 title and extended their lead in the AYGP Rankings, while Sabad hung onto second overall and Martin Tranco’s Sydney 46 Centennial II ended up third. In the Cruising Class, Michiel Brinkers’ Andrews 70 Bella Uno outclassed China’s Mermaid.
Significant moves have been made to improve the numbers competing at this regatta, including the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the China Cup to attract boats from China over the winter months.
Another boost was the purchase of six FarEast 28 yachts by Philippine Sailing that will form a one-design class in the country and will be made available for charter to foreign teams.
– With contributions from Captain Marty Rikurjis/AsianYachting.com & Subic Sailing Club
