Hi Fidelity wins it with Pryde

Neil Pryde’s Hi Fidelity emerged as the overall winner after ruling three of the regatta’s six races while defending champion Karakoa came in second at the close of the Smart Infinity-12th President’s Cup Regatta last Saturday in Subic.

Ray Ordoveza’s Excel 53 ruled the fifth and sixth races of the IRC Open Racing Class to finish second overall in this week-long regatta jointly organized by the Manila Yacht Club and the Subic Bay Yacht Club.

This was Hi Fidelity’s first ever title conquest in a local competition following five previous campaigns and formalized its bid to claim the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit crown this year with nine points.

Pryde said the modifications done on his Welbourne 47’s hull and sails a few months back made the difference in the campaign.

"It’s now a lighter boat (carbon fiber hull, Kevlar sails and a rig which is 1.7 meters higher than the last one). It’s faster and sailier. We’re happy. It was a very tough contest with Karakoa," said Pryde.

Pryde’s boat tallied nine points. Karakoa came in next in the overall standings while Fred Kinmonth’s Stella Minter Ellison and Judes Echauz’s Standard Indurance Centennial were third and fourth, respectively, in this event sponsored by Smart Infinity. Standard Insurance is also sponsoring with Philippine Airlines, Tanduay Rhum, the Manila Bulletin, Ralph’s Wine and Spirits and official radio station RJ 100FM.

Paul Bankowski’s Jaywalker and Jelik were fifth and sixth respectively.

Ordoveza said their performance more than made up for their woes in the China Sea Race, where they were forced to retire after Karakoa needed to undergo repairs for a damaged rudder.