Irresistible tucks in 2nd win

Irresistible once again sailed triumphantly in Boracay’s blue, clear waters, topping the opening race of the President’s Cup Regatta to put herself in strong contention for the inaugural e-Standard Insurance Boracay Series championship.

Crowned the Manila-Boracay Race winner Tuesday night, Harry Taylor’s S&S 36 scored a follow-up victory by ruling the American Express Race, a windward and leeward event kicking off the four-day President’s Cup Regatta around the Boracay and Tablas Strait waters.

Irresistible, a Manila Yacht Club member boat built in the mid-80s but upgraded the last two years, submitted an elapsed time of 3:04:43 and a corrected clocking of 2:54:56 to top the IRC classes. Co-skippered by DB Brizuela, Irresistible was a runaway winner, followed by Selma Star (3:03:22) of Jun Avecilla, Solviento (3:06:21) of Jose Aranaz, Happy Endings (3:06:28) of Jonathan Mahony, Ho Ho Ho (3:10:23) of Jeffrey McClelan and Selma (3:22:56) of Joser Hsieh.

Frank Pong’s Jelik, a Reichel/Pugh 75 out of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, came in eighth overall but No. 1 in the IRC Racer Class at 4:04:50.

Title-holder Centennial of Ernesto Echauz was second at 4:12:01, followed by Freefire Sam Chan at 4:12:57, Quantum Racing of Ray Roberts at 4:13:41, Hi-Fidelity of Neil Pryde at 4:13:26, Karakoa of Ray Ordoveza at 4:18:02, Mandrake of Fred Kinmouth at 4:18:51, Jaywalker of Paul Bankowski at 4:41:48 and Hummingbird of Adam Ng at 4:43:58.

Twenty yachts competed in race 1 of the regatta with PY cruising class bet Sweet Pea of Evangelina Giorgetti not having a sweet time, retiring along the course.

The PY cruising class long race, which attracted only three participants, was ruled by China Rose of Rainer Blum.

The Oakley Race was also set yesterday afternoon with the Infinity Race slated today. Both events are long races for both the IRC and PY cruising classes.

Event organizers said a boat’s series in the IRC class, excluding her worst score, will be the total of her race scores at the end of the regatta tomorrow. Her regatta and Manila-Boracay race scores will then be combined to determine her placing in the inaugural e-Standard Insurance Boracay Series.

For topping the 200-nautical-mile Manila-Boracay race then ruling the American Express in-shore event, Irresistible has further gained headway in the battle for the Boracay Series crown.

The eight-day event is sponsored by e-Standard Insurance, Smart Infinity, American Express, Oakley, Suunto, Johnnie Walker, Fairways and Bluewater, San Miguel Super Dry, Sea Air, Clinique, Asia Pacific Boating, Fragrant Harbour, Asian Yachting, The Philippine STAR, Manifesto, Calibre Magazine and Crossover 105.1.