Hi Fi IN RECORD WIN OF BORACAY CUP SEA RACE

With the previous day’s howling gale mellowing down to around 15-20 knots with a few higher spikes in the gusts, all five racing class yachts sailed out to improve their standings or recover some pride after various breakages and crew errors impeded their progress in the annual regatta.

In a rush to catch an afternoon flight, Neil Pryde and his professional crew on Hi Fi, quickly finished the job to win first race, its 4th in a row, and later notched second place, enough to clinch the Boracay Cup with one race to spare.

Their early exit from the course with the championship in the bag did not deter the remaining yachts from having one last go at each other, however.

Frank Pong again on Jelik III whipped the yacht around the course in record time. In Neil Pryde’s absence, Ray Ordoveza’s Excel 53 Karakoa won the final race, which earned them second overall, much to the amusement of the senior rock stars and statesmen onboard.

Sam Chan’s TP52 Freefire and Ernesto Echauz’s TP52 Jelik V manned by sailors from the Philippine Sailing Association, placed second and third places that had no bearing on their overall standings.

In the combined Subic Boracay Race and Boracay Cup, the winners were Ray Ordoveza’s Excel 53 Karakoa in the Racing Class and Jesus Avecilla’s Beneteau First 36.7 Selma Star C! Calibre ROX in the                                                                                                                    IRC Cruiser/Racer Class.

In an effort to entice yachts to compete on both events, it was decided to use the combined results in the 2011-12 AYGP Championship,  the result of which will be released later. (Asian Yachting MultiMedia)