Centennial III chases Bora regatta record feat

BORACAY, Philippines – With two races left in the blue waters of this beautiful island paradise, Centennial III remained in control and looked headed toward a third straight overall crown in the eighth Standard Insurance Subic Bay-to-Boracay Race and Boracay Cup Regatta here.

Only a major turn of events in the last two races scheduled the whole of Friday will prevent Centennial III of top Pinoy sailor Judes Echauz from ruling the top-level sailing event for the third straight year.

No boat, big or small, has won three overall titles in the eight-year history of the event.

Centennial III, a TP52 Davidson with an all-Filipino crew, ruled the 210-nautical mile Subic Bay-to- Boracay Race last Saturday then continued to strike hard here in Boracay after the long and short races started last Tuesday.

The 15-year-old boat owned by Echauz, president of the Philippine Sailing Association, ruled the first two races then finished second to Karakoa and Antipodes in the next two.

After the last two races are done, the overall champion will be crowned in a beachfront party Friday evening.

Counting its victory over fierce rival Jelik in the Subic-to- Boracay race that lasted just under 12 hours, Centennial III is just two good races away from its third overall title in this event that continued to draw the finest sailors within the region.

Antipodes, Karakoa and Jelik are in a desperate effort to stop Centennial III from achieving the feat as the last two races were being contested as of presstime.

Echauz is not yet in the mood to celebrate, making himself practically invisible to mediamen covering the event sanctioned by the Philippine Sailing Association and part of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix.

Among the major backers are the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Watercraft Venture Corp., the Lighthouse Marina Resort, Seawind Resort and Subic Sailing Club.

Jun Avecilla, who is organizing the event together with Malabon Rep. Ricky Sandoval, said competition this year is as fierce and as exciting as ever.

“Boracay always gives us the good and challenging wind. But to the big boats it didn’t pose a problem,” said Avecilla heading to the last two races Friday.

“The wind is very strong. This is the demolition derby of sailing. As each day passes we have boats being damaged and failing to continue. But that is the normal wind condition in Boracay,” added Avecilla.

In Boracay, six races were lined up, broken down in two – the long race of 30 nautical miles and short races of six to eight nautical miles. In these races, entries race as fast as 20 knots or close to 38 kilometers per hour.