10th Commodore’s Cup Regatta; April 20-23, 2017
10th Commodore’s Cup Regatta; April 20-23, 2017
MARTIN TANCO’S Sydney 46 Centennial II won IRC A at the Commodore’s Cup in Subic Bay, Philippines, an Asian Yachting Grand Prix event held after the San Fernando Race from Hong Kong.
On the final day, Centennial II was tied on seven points with Ernesto Echauz’s TP 52 Standard Insurance Centennial III. George Hackett’s Mills 43 Custom Misty Mountain nailed the start line and Centennial II blocked SI Centennial III’s way.
Both Centennial II and Misty Mountain took the central symmetric spinnaker path down the centre of the course and it paid off as the former pipped Centennial III by a few seconds in the handicap stakes to claim the IRC A title.
Apart from an opening-race navigational error, Jun Avecilla’s Beneteau First 36.7 Selma Star won every IRC B race on corrected time to seal the title. Ricky Sandoval’s Beneteau First 31.7 Selma took second place, having won the first race, while Michael Ashbrook’s Jeanneau 479 Sikta from Hong Kong completed the podium.
David Wheeler’s Cape Carib 31 Freewheeler’s engine problems were terminal, forcing them to retire and end their challenge in Cruising Class. This left the door open for Eric Jurado’s Ultimate 20 Alexa to race away with the title. The only multihull competing, Garry Kingshott’s Fusion 40 Kerida lacks speed upwind, but made up for it on the downwind legs and on the onshore social scene.
– With contributions from Captain Marty Rikurjis/AsiaYachting.com & Subic Sailing Club
