RP boats vie in China Sea Race

Three Philippine boats -- the decorated Subic Centennial, Zappler II and Vida --are joining the 20th China Sea Race Series 2000, Asia's biggest sailing event which sails off today in Hong Kong with a fleet of about 33 boats bound for Subic Bay.

The crew of Subic Centennial -- a registered Subic Bay Yacht Club boat, fresh from topping the recent President's Cup Regatta 2000, Zappler II and Vida will pit skills with grizzled seafarers in the biennial Hong Kong-to-Subic marathon.

There are 16 yachts entered in the IRC division and 16 in the HKPN category.

In keeping with its growing reputation as the center of major sailing activities in Asia, Subic Bay Yacht Club, headed by Commodore Victor Villavicencio, has agreed to co-organize the China Sea Race 2000 with the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) and the Manila Yacht Club (MYC).

The China Sea Inshore Series 2000, a much-awaited added highlight of the CSR 2000 proper, is organized by RHKYC and SBYC and is expected to draw at least 20 local and foreign entries.

It was in 1962 when the first China Sea Race was held and the event has grown in stature through the years. The CSR, meanwhile, is the first event in the 75th anniversary calendar of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

The China Sea Inshore Series 2000, made up of five round-the-bay races in geometric courses, will be held on April 22-24 and will have two divisions, the IRC and the HKPN (performance handicap) which will include multihulls.

There will be a dock party for all foreign and local participants on Saturday, April 22 at the Boathouse of the Subic Bay Yacht Club.

The prize-giving ceremony for the inshore series will be held on Monday, April 24 at the SBYC Boathouse before the foreign entries head back to Hong Kong on board a chartered flight.

Aside from Subic Centennial and Zappler II, the other yachts vying for top honors in the IRC Class of the CSR Series 2000 are Beau Geste, Ffree Fire, Hi Fidelity, Hocux Pocux II, Jigonda, Jelik, Kiboko, Moonblue, O'Feeling, Outrageous, Red Baron, Tipsy Free and Wizard.