Hi-Fidelity cruises to easy win in inshore race

SUBIC – A resurgent Hi-Fidelity steered clear of Jelik’s wake from start to finish yesterday to win the first inshore race of the Smart Infinity-2004 President’s Cup Regatta on a better handicap off the Subic Bay waters here.

The 7,500-kg Welbourne 47 type boat, which is 1,000-kg lighter than the previous one which Neil Pryde used to own, crossed the finish line northwest of Cubi Point after logging a corrected time of three hours, 36 minutes and 53 seconds.

Pryde’s crew took note of the big wind factor which Jelik was creating when it sped away by some 800 meters from the starting buoy and decided to tack left in a bid to gain speed.

It was Hi-Fidelity’s first big win after finishing second in the China Sea Race won by Sam Chan’s Ffree Fire.

Allan Burrel’s Rags was ahead of Jo de Ros of Winshear International’s George Hackett while Vivaldi, skippered by Doni Altura and sponsored by Toyota Shaw, was third in the IRC Cruiser Racer Class.

John Wardill’s Australian Maid was dominating the IRC Ocean Cruising event. Jun Avecilla’s Selma and Ed Limon’s Lhayas took the first two places in the PY Cruising Class.

The regatta is sponsored by Smart Infinity, Standard Insurance and Philippine Airlines. It is supported by Absolute Distilled Water, Tanduay Rhum, Volvo, Manila Bulletin, Ralph’s Wine and Spirits, and official radio station RJ 100 FM.

"We are super happy. It’s been a lot of hard work over a long period of time," said Pryde.

In the end, Jelik was able to cross the finish line first. But it ended up sixth under the IRC handicapping system.

Judes Echauz’s Standard Insurance Centennial was second, finishing behind Hi-Fidelity by a minute and 46 seconds in the event organized by the Manila Yacht Club and Subic Yacht Club.

Fred Kinmonth’s Stella Minter Ellison and Gerry Daughton’s Outrageous are in third and fourth respectively.

The presence of Ray Ordoveza’s Karakoa in the second day’s second and third races is expected to give Hi Fidelity a difficult time.

Karakoa’s crew finally managed to register the newly-repaired Excel 53-class boat for the coming races after undergoing repairs for a damaged rudder at the Hongkong Yacht Club marina.

Karakoa was seven hours into the CSR when its designer Allan Andrews sensed that there was a leak in the boat.