The Philippines’ best bet in the five-day event organized by the Manila Yacht Club and co-hosted by Club Punta Fuego, Maya Maya Yacht Club and Taal Lake Yacht Club is 1998 open class division winner Karakoa.
"It’s going to be tough out there again because we’re not just competing against ourselves, we’re also challenging Mother Nature here," said MYC Commodore Ray Ordoveza, owner of Karakoa.
Expected to put up a strong challenge in the race ending on April 6 at the Manila Bay is Great Britain, which is fielding six boats led by defending open race champion Stella, a Sydney 38 owned by Fred Kinmoth.
The President’s Cup Regatta has five divisions namely IRC open race, IRC ocean cruising (big boat), IRC cruising racer, cruiser and open multihull.
Cruiser racer reigning titlist Jo de Ros of American George Hackett will be up against local bets Vivaldi of Doni Altura and Lethal Weapon of Roberto Banares.
Philippine Navy’s August Pearl hope to improve its second-place finish last year with the absence of champion Kiri, owned by Paul Pichler in the cruiser class. Jose Aranaz’s Trio, which finished third last year, Juan Miguel Zosa’s Margarita and Eduardo Limon’s Lhayas are the other local entries.
Nine boats which took part in the China Sea Race Series in Hong Kong last week are also seeing action in the President’s Cup Regatta which is supported by Smart, Nokia Phils., Philippine Sports Commission, Nestle Phils., Coca-Cola, Philippine Airlines, Tanduay, San Miguel Corp., Nike, ABS-CBN, Harbor Sentry Port Terminal and Neil Pryde.
Andy Soriano’s Maligaya, the lone Philippine entry in the China Sea Race, Ian Nicolson’s Intrigue of Stornoway, Glenn Smith’s Catalina and John Blay’s Windseeker are fielded in the premier cruising class while Neil Pride’s Hi-Fidelity, second-placer in the 1999 and 2000 President’s Regatta, David Kong’s Hocux Pocux 2, Frank Pong’s Jelik, Sam Chan’s Free Fire, Bill Rawson’s Helsall II and Gerry Daughton’s Outrageous are in the racing class category.
"We look forward to another successful staging of the President’s Regatta this year. Both local and foreign sailors are ready for the tough battle ahead and we wish all of you the best of luck," said Ordoveza.