BORACAY—Subic Bay to Boracay Race winner Centennial III, skippered by sail master Judes Echauz, again defeated Hong Kong’s Jelik manned by Frank Pong in the first race of IRC Racing Class I of the 8th Standard Insurance Boracay Cup Regatta 2017 in this pristine island paradise.
Powerhouse Centennial III, a TP 52 Davidson, won in race one on Tuesday morning with a corrected time of 4:14:57 in the four-day regatta, a combination of point-to-point and windward/leeward courses, which is part of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix season.
Centennial III, with an all Filipino-crew, arrived in this pristine white beach resort with 11:33:14, nosing out Jelik with 11:50: 02 or a difference of 16: 48 in the Subic Bay to Boracay Race last Sunday.
Pong’s Jelik, a Reichel/Pugh 75, placed second with a corrected time of 4:18:16, receiving line honors in day one of the annual regatta grand prix sanctioned by the Philippine Sailing Association and fully backed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Watercraft Venture Corp., Seawind Boracay Resort, the Lighthouse Marina Resort and Subic Sailing Club.
Coming in third was Great Britain’s Antipode’s, captained by Geoff Hill with 4:19:51, followed by Karakoa, skippered by veteran Filipino sailor Ray Ordoveza, in 4: 26: 55.
“Today, we had an exciting 28-nautical mile race around Carabao Island through Tablas Strait in Romblon and back to Boracay Island with winds blowing 20 knots from the North East,” said Jun Avecilla, chairman of the organizing committee.
For the IRC Racing Class II, Steve Manning and Anthony Root’s Black Baza grabbed first place, followed by Martin Tanco and Ronald Tanco’s Centennial II for 2nd place and Bobby Benares’ Sabad for third place.
For the Cruising Class, Michael Brinkers’ Bella Uno emerged first place and Xiong Ting’s Mermaid placed second.
The Boracay Regatta Cup also offers precious points for the coveted Asian Yachting Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards.
Overall winners in the three classes of the combined Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta series will bring home the impressive hand-crafted solid brass trophy replicas by Fernando Cacnio, a multi-awarded Filipino visual artist.