HK boat lands IRC overall title

Jelik, a Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club topnotch boat, emerged the biggest winner in the 15th President’s Cup Regatta as she won four of six races to run away with the IRC Racing Class overall championship in the four-day event closing the e-Standard Insurance Boracay Series yesterday.

Sandoway gained the overall crown in IRC 1 Class while China Rose copped the overall title in PY Cruising Class in the regatta which immediately proceeded the Manila-Boracay Race topped by Irresistible.

Yet to be announced is the inaugural e-Standard Insurance Boracay Series overall winner in the weeklong event backed by 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, Caliber Magazine and Crossover 105.1.

Jelik, the Reichel/Pugh 75 of Frank Pong, however, had made its mark in ruling all but two of six in-shore races for top honors in the premier class of the President’s Cup Regatta (PCR).

Pong and his crew redeemed themselves after their Maiden Hong Kong boat did not finish the Manila-Boracay off-shore race.

Jelik topped Races 1, 3, 4 and 6 and finished third in Race 2 in a dominant showing in PRC performed amidst shifting winds around Boracay.

Race 2 went to Centennial of Judes Echauz and Race 5 belonged to Quantum Racing of Ray Roberts.

Aside from Jelik, Centennial and Quantum Racing, other boats figuring in race honors in IRC Racing Class were Ffree Fire of Sam Chan and Hi-Fidelity of Neil Pryde.

It was Jelik-Centennial-Ffree Fire in Race 1, Centennial-Quantum Racing-Jelik in Race 2, Jelik-Centennial-Quantum Racing in Race 3, Jelik-Ffree Fire-Centennial in Race 4, Quantum Racing-Hi-Fidelity-Centennial in Race 5 and Jelik-Ffree Fire-Centennial in Race 6.

Sandoway, a BH 36 of Klaus Huisjes, swept the last three races to capture the IRC1 Class championship.

Irresistible of Harry Taylor reigned supreme in Race 1, Selma Star of Jun Avecilla in Race 2 and Rags of Alan Burrell in Race 3.

Other yachts gaining race honors in the group were Happy Endings of Jonathan Mahony, Solviento of Jose Aranaz and Salina of Richard Morris.

China Rose of Rainer Blum dominated the PY Cruising Class, winning three of four races.