MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine team outmaneuvered former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Thailand in two races to win the Thailand Match Racing Cup III recently and seal its entry to the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November.
Aboard Ridgely, the Filipino sailors, silver medalists in the 24th SEA Games behind Thailand, outfought the Thai Navy team, aboard Veerasit, in the first race, which they won by a few meters after both teams fought it out in a close race on the beat and at the bottom mark.
In the second race Veerasit did well in the start, but clever maneuvering allowed the Philippine Team to get out of Veerasit’s control and win the start.
The lighter conditions, which had troubled the Filipinos earlier in the event, presented few worries this time as Ridgely held onto the lead to win the second match and the series.
The Philippine Team, sponsored by Standard Insurance Co., Inc., is composed of skipper Ridgely Balladares, main trimmer Rommel Chavez, jib and spinnaker trimmer Richly Magsanay and pitman Joel Mejarito. The team will be joined by foedeckman Teodorico Asejo in the Asian Games which will be held Nov. 12-27 in Guangzhou, China.
It was also a fierce fight in the semifinals between Jon Eriksson and Balladares.
Erikson, ranked 31st in the ISAF World Match Race Ranking and coach of the Finland National Match Racing Team, was backed by team tactician Janoo, the Thai national coach from Estonia.
It was practically all over on the last beat when Jon went out left, got good wind and pulled into the lead, while Ridgely got stuck in a hole in the middle of the course.
But Ridgely’s excellent spinnaker work allowed the Philippine Team to close the gap on the run. Just before the finish line Balladares gybed onto port to cross the line just ahead of Ericksson on starboard just a few meters behind.