27:02:2019 Subic Bay, Philippines: Although the keelboat fleet is reduced to six yachts in one combined class, they set off on a 21nm point to point race, that crisscrossed Subic Bay, basked in clear blue sky, with a 15 to 20 knot North Easterly to push them along. The Standard Insurance Centennial III crew have split up into Match Racing teams and once again dominated the Round Robins today.
After winning the start Geoff Hill's Smith 72 Antipodes skippered by Richard Hudson, briefly engaged in a tacking duel with Ray Ordoveza's Excel 53 Karakoa, before breaking away to lead the fleet around the course and claimed line honours in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Subic Bay is often described as the perfect place to race and today turned on the charm, with good wind, flat water and clear sky, which photographically enhanced the hilly slopes in the background. Check out the action in the AY Photo Gallery
Despite claiming line honours by 14 minutes, Antipodes was reduced to 2nd place by Karakoa in the IRC handicap stakes. Over a late lunch helmsman on Karakoa, Allan Andrews explained 'We choose the correct sails for the wind angles on each leg and picked the gusts and wind shifts with perfection, to come out on top by 3 and a half minutes.'
Six minutes further adrift George Hackett's Mills 43 custom Misty Mountain slotted into 3rd place, just in front of Jun Avecilla'sBeneteau First 36.7 Selma Star and Bobby Benares Beneteau 44.7 Sabad.
Stephen Wu Shifu's Oceanis 45 Asia Pacific Sailing is the only entry in the Cruising class and sailed the same course as the racers.
After yesterdays introduction to Match Racing, the pre-starts were very spirited affairs today and several penalties were awarded by the umpires. Two more Round Robins yielded the same results but don't reveal the closeness of the racing or times. Chief Umpire Ewan McEwan complemented the venue with 'Good wind, flat water with advantageous wind shifts, is a perfect location for match racing' and added 'Your not trying hard enough if your not penalised.'
Ridgely Balladares continues on undefeated in all flights. Emerson Villena again lost both flights to Balladares and was penalised 3 times and OCS at the start, but holds onto 2nd place.
Jerene Durana beat Maria Vidoeira twice to be 3rd and 4th respectively.
Tomorrow its straight into the Semi Finals and Finals to finish up this segment of the Subic Bay Cup.
The keelboats continue with two windward/leeward races and always looking forward to the evening presentation of the popular Tanduay Rum prizes.
Results will be posted at http://www.subicsailing.com More on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/subicsailing/
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