By AsianYachting MultiMedia 02:03:2019 Subic Bay, Philippines: By the 10:30 start time, a brisk 10 to 15 knot Easterly piped in, for the final day showdown. Geoff Hill's Smith 72 Antipodes skippered by Richard Hudson and Ray Ordoveza's Excel 53 Karakoa, were tied on 8 points, accumulated from the same race placing's. A two mile windward/leeward course for the Racing Class and .8 for the one design Far East 28R class, saw them underway, with a close but clear start. Karakoa in the middle of the line and Antipodes at the pin end. Maria Vidoeira's Subic Sailing were first to raise the spinnaker on the Far East 28R course, closely followed by Ridgely Balladares PSA 1. By the top mark Antipodes, Karakoa and George Hackett's Mills 43 custom Misty Mountain had established the order and forging ahead choosing their angles, on the downwind leg. Check out the action in the AY Photo Gallery.
At the end of Race 1, the times were quickly tabulated and announced with Antipodes winning the race by 41 seconds from Karakoa and Misty Mountain, 8 seconds further adrift in 3rd place. As the drop race came into play after five races, both Antipodes and Karakoa drop 4th places and Antipodes held a slender one point lead, coming into the final race. With the Easterly breeze fading to 10 knots, the course was reduced to 1.8 miles and the pressure was on.
Karakoa won the start with speed, as Misty Mountain was recalled for being over the line. Although the order was in place, the timings would determine the overall placing's. When they crossed the finish line, neither crew gave any sign of jubilation. The suspense was broken, when PRO Jerry Rollin announced Karakoa 1st, Misty Mountain 2nd and Antipodes 3rd, missing out on 2nd place by 2 seconds. Antipodes skipper Richard Hudson said 'They ran into a light patch on the first downwind and over stood the finish on the second downwind, that made all the difference.'
All is not lost, as Antipodes is the winner of the combined Verde Passage Race and Subic Bay Cup Regatta, with 10 points over Karakoa's 12 points. The combined results are the points awarded for the AsianYachting Grand Prix (AYGP) Rankings and the score goes towards being crowned with the 2018-19 AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year title, at the end of the season.
Stephen Wu Shifu's Oceanis 45 Asia Pacific Sailing had the pleasure of circulating alone as the only entry in the Cruising class.
The Far East 28R crews were itching to go and showed it. Ridgely Balladares PSA 1 dominated racing yesterday and slammed home two more wins, in the opening races and finished with another win on the fourth race, to claim the SBIR Far East 28R fleet racing title. With five wins under their belt, Balladares and PSA 1 are also the 'HighestAYGP Scorer' at the SBC regatta.
A mixed bag of results followed and despite being recalled at the start, Emerson Villena PSA 2 clawed back to win Race 3 and keeps a handle on 2nd overall. With three boats overlapped at the finish line, a video replay was used to confirm the placing's.
Maria Vidoeira Subic Sailing had moments at the front of the fleet, before being over run and by consistently scoring 3rd places and despite the jury one point penalty, for sailing with the bowsprit extended, end up in 3rd overall.
Jerene Durana PSA 3 scored a couple of 2nd places but a row of 4th places leaves them in 4th overall. They have all benefited from the experience and which ever team gets the gong, for the Philippines, at the 30th SEA Games, will be odds on favourite to win the Gold Medal.
Summary The Race Committees, International Umpires and Jury have all described Subic Bay as one of the best racing venues in Asia. If that isn't enough recommendation to come and race here, nothing is. Although the emphasis has been on preparation for the SEA Games, the local race committee and sailors have all benefited and learnt something from the Match Racing trial run, for future events. The organisers go to great lengths to put this regatta on and would like to invite more international competitors to come and enjoy the racing and friendly Philippine hospitality. At the prize presentation PRO Jerry Rollin urged sailors wanting to return to Boracay 'To put it in writing, to the organising committee' and looking forward to see everyone here for the Chairman's Cup on April 26 to the 30th Email Race Secretariat – Pen Floren Avila @ josephine_floren@yahoo.com
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