Hi-Fidelity rules PLDT race; Centennial 4th

Hong Kong boat Hi-Fidelity lived up to its pre-race lofty seeding and claimed top honors in last Tuesday’s 25-mile PLDT Race within Manila Bay, the first race of the on-going ninth President’s Cup Regatta.

Skippered by veteran international sailor Neil Pryde, Hi-Fidelity emerged winner in the Open Racing Class with its corrected time of 2:57.21, beating local boat Karakoa of Ray Ordoveza, which clocked 3:20.43, and another Hong Kong entry, Fred Kinmonth’ Stella which submitted a time of 3:23.38 based on provisional results.

Defending overall champion Subic Centennial opened defense of her crown she won in Subic Bay last year with a 4th place finish in 3:24.00 while KD 40, also from Hong Kong finished last in 3:26.36 of the PLDT and Nokia-backed event.

"Great way to start the series, the race was good and the winds came," said Pryde, one of the sponsors of the regatta together with Coca-Cola, Nestle Phils., Maersk-Sealand, Absolute Water, Tanduay Rhum, San Miguel Beer, Boating World Makati, 105.9 DWLA, and Traders Hotel.

Organized by the Manila Yacht Club and supported by resorts Club Punta Fuego, Maya Maya Yacht Club, and the Taal Lake Yacht Club, the regatta also featured races in other classes.

In fact it was a closer race in the Ocean Cruising class with Andy Soriano’s Maligaya, easily the biggest boat in the field, ruling the category with a time of 3:25.53, about a minute ahead of Hong Kong entry Hocux Pocux II, which almost figured in a collision with Maligaya at one point.

The Cruiser Racing class, which attracted the biggest number of boats with seven entries, was also aclose between local boats Rags and Vivaldi. Allan Burrel’s Rags edged out Vivaldi, skippered by Claudio Altura, 3:49.51 to 3:50.25.

Kiri and August Pearl were the only finishers in the PYS Cruising Class as other entries Enamorado and Trio dropped out.

"This is the first time that some of the region’s top regatta sailors have sailed in Manila, and they liked what they saw and now want to promote the regatta to other sailors. And that is our objective, make this event one of the biggest in this part of the globe," said MYC Commodore Peter Capotosto.

As of press time, the 40-mile Nokia Race from Manila Bay to Nasugbu Bay, was still being contested while the rest of the races this week are the Punta Fuego Race, the Maya Maya Race, and the Nasugbu to Manila Bay James Gordon Sr. Race on Saturday.

Also supporting the regatta are the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Tourism.