Subic Centennial completes record voyage

Subic Centennial, a 46-foot multi-awarded yacht manned by an all-Filipino team, completed the longest distance ever travelled by a Philippine yacht by cruising 4,100 nautical miles from Subic Bay to Suva, Fiji in 28 days and 16 hours.

The yacht averaged six knots in making the circumnavigation eastward starting Jan. 2 this year.

Skipper Ernesto "Judes" Echauz, president of the Philippine Sailing Association, also manned the navigation and controls. Other crew members were first helm Ridgely Balladares, main sheet trimmer Rommel Chavez, bowman and third helm Teodorico Asejo, second helm Clarence Tayong, jib trimmer, communications and assistant navigator Stephen Tan, and chief mechanic and fourth helm Edison Cagampang.

Balladares and Chavez, aside from being Philippine Navy enlisted men, are Philippine sailing athletes who won silver for the 470 class in the last 21st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

Tayong, a merchant marine student and former Optimist champion, had campaigned in the 420 class at the last SEA Games. A former Olympian, Asejo is a professional 420 coach of the Philippine Sailing Association.

Main supporters were Dr. Romeo Echauz, SBYC Commodore Victor Villavicencio, Standard Insurance Co., Inc., Subic Bay Yatch Club, Philippine Navy, Philippine Merchant Marine School and Philippine Sailing Association.