Pong’s Jelik shows way in Boracay Cup regatta

MANILA, Philippines - Hong Kong’s defending champion Jelik recovered from an earlier setback, leading Judes Echauz’s Centennial III by less than two minutes in the four-day Boracay Cup Regatta Festival backed by Standard Insurance and Cebu Pacific on the pristine waters of Boracay.

The race started with Syd Fischer’s heavily reefed Dubois 90 Ragamuffin 90, skippered by David Witt, pulling off a daring port tack start in front of the assembled IRC 1 fleet and scampered off into the distance.

In hot pursuit, Frank Pong’s Custom Dibley 75 Jelistaye closed in on the leader and by the time they reached the North West shore of Boracay, the fleet was stretched out in order of speed and a close tussle ensued between Echauz’s Centennial III and Geoff Hill’s Smith 72-custom Antipodes.

American race officer Jerry Rollin chose to open proceedings with International Racing Class (IRC) 1 doing a 28nm course to neighboring Tablas Island in Romblon while IRC 2 on a 19nm course to Carabao Island also off Romblon and back.

When they returned to Boracay, Ragamuffin 90 still held the lead with Jelik, 10 minutes behind them.

Based on the IRC ratings, Pong’s Jelik moved into first play, according to Rollin.

The new Dibley designed keel on Echauz’s Centennial III is making a huge difference in performance and after winning the Subic to Boracay race, dropped to second place.

Only one second on corrected time separated Geoff Hill’s Antipodes and Ray Ordoveza’s Excel 53 Karakoa, which finished third and fourth, respectively.

Rollin said Ragamuffin 90 paid the price of a huge IRC rating (1.747) and ended up in fifth place.

Mast track failure prevented Troy Yaw’s all-Malaysian team on Ulumulu skippered by Jeremy Koo to start today but is making repairs and will be back tomorrow.

Despite hitting the pin end of the start line and performing a penalty turn, Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns Sydney GTS 43 EFG Mandrake sailed on to handicap victory.

Helmuth Hennig’s Marten 49 Vineta claimed IRC 2 line honors but slid to second place after handicaps are applied.

Martin Tanco’s Sydney 46 Centennial II and Jun Avecilla’s Beneteau First 36.7 Selma Star found the going tough into an adverse current in the Carabao Channel and settled for third and fourth, respectively.