Subic Bay to host international regatta
Present during the launch of the Subic Bay Cup are, from left, sailing association president Judes Echauz, Jun Avecilla (organizing committee chairman) and Rep. Ricky Sandoval (vice-chairman) and Gerry Rollin, sailing association vice president and principal race officer.
MANILA, Philippines — The Subic Bay Verde Island Passage Race (SBVIPR) and Subic Bay Cup Regatta (SBCR) will deliver the excitement that the sponsoring Standard Insurance has provided in all its previous races the past decade.
“Don’t ever say that this will not be an exciting race. This will be a very exciting race,” said Standard Insurance chairman and CEO Judes Echauz in yesterday’s press launch of the event scheduled Feb. 24 to March 2.
This year’s races were moved to Subic Bay at the last minute after almost 10 years of staging in Boracay, the world-famous tropical island which is facing serious environmental issues.
“We have been racing in Boracay for the past 10 years. And we are with President Duterte in this,” said Echauz amid the President’s threat to close down Borcay if the problems are not solved.
“Hopefully, the island of Boracay is cleaned up and then we can race there again,” said Echauz, who will once again steer his victorious Centennial III against some of the region’s best sailboats.
The SBVIPR is a tough 200-mile voyage from Subic Bay down to Verde Passage in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro and back to Subic Bay on the same day.
Entries confirmed so far are Antipodes of Geoff Hill, Karakoa of Ray Ordoveza, Mandrake III of Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth, Sabad of Bobby Benares, Selma Star of Jun Avecilla, Misty Mountain of George Hackett, Bellatrix of Jun Villanueva, Asia Pacific Sailing of Stephen Wu Shifu and Standard Insurance Centennial III of Echauz.
Verde Island Passage is a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, connecting the West Philippine Sea with the Tayabas Bay in Quezon Province and Sibuan Sea in Romblon.
“This race will be very competitive and very exciting,” said principal race officer Gerry Rollins during the launch also graced by Avecilla, the chief of Subic Sailing Club, and Malabon Rep. Ricky Sandoval.
“The amazing wind conditions in Subic at this time of the year will make this a very exciting race,” said Echauz of the event backed by Tanduay Rhum, Pepsi-Cola, Broadwater Marine, Nato Fixit and JC.
After the SBVIPR, four days of racing off the waters of Subic Bay will take the spotlight.
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