Mandrake edges Centennial

SUBIC BAY, Philippines — Filipino sail master Judes Echauz steered his celebrated Standard Insurance Centennial III to victory in the off-shore and in-shore races over the weekend but still could not lift the overall title for the fourth straight year.

Winner of the overall title the past three years in Boracay, Centennial III once again showed its class by ruling the IRC Racing Class 1 of the challenging 200-mile Subic Bay Verde Island Passage Race (SBVIPR).

In the Subic Bay Cup Regatta (SBCR), Echauz’ all-Filipino crew once again delivered, sweeping all six races the past two days on the waters off the former American naval base.

Still, Centennial III, a TP 52 Davidson with sail No. PHI226, bowed to Mandrake III of Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth of Hong Kong in the battle for the overall title.

Mandrake III, a Sydney GTS 43 sailboat with sail No. HKG2163, won the overall championship, edging Centennial III by 16 minutes, 18 seconds in the second (based on points) and by a mere point in the SBCR.

“It was a great challenge,” said Echauz after weeklong races that were brought to Subic from Boracay at the last minute due to the environmental issue surrounding the tropical island paradise in Kalibo, Aklan.

Event administrator Zed Avecilla said Mandrake III bagged the overall title this year despite losing seven races to Centennial III after accumulating six points for the two events against the five points of the Filipino pride.

The corrected time of Mandarake III in the SBVIPR spelled the difference in the overall battle.

“As the week progressed, it was difficult to recall that this series was a replacement for the Subic Boracay Race and Cup. As they say in the classics, ‘The Show Must Go On,’ and it did,” said Avecilla.

Everybody is hoping that while Subic provided the excitement to the races, Boracay still remains the preferred destination of the participants, most of them foreigners.

The Philippine Sailing Association (PSA) team led by Emerson Villena ruled the inaugural FarEast 28R competitions of the SBRC.

“The Far East 28R one-design class is not only an excellent opportunity for our Filipino sailors to compete with the best in Asia but also for international teams to visit Subic Bay,” added Avecilla.

“We are very happy with the outcome of the race. We’ve had great weather, very technical course due to a lot of wind shifts. Overall the participants enjoyed their time on and off the water,” said Jie Combalicer, an event organizer.