17th President's Cup 2009
AY Race Report 1

Normal service resumed at Boracay
Bright sunshine, blue sky and 15 to 20 knots of North Easterly breeze, blowing across Boracay Bay greeted the sailors on the first day of racing for the prestigious President's Cup. Course 4 (26NM) was chosen for the Racing class and Course 8 (18NM) for the Racer/Cruiser and PY classes. This took the fleet on a two mile windward beat before close reaching across Boracay Bay. Then splitting on a long windward beat with the racing class rounding a mark of Tablas Island and the cruisers only going half way up to the Carabao Island mark. The return leg to Boracay had the boats surfing downwind and power reaching across the bay to the finish line.

It's conditions like this that Frank Pong's R/P 75 Jelik excels in and took only two hours and thirty three minutes to claim the daily double of line and handicap honours. Keeping them honest was Neil Pryde's Welbourne 52 Hi Fi that secured second place, only one minute and fifteen seconds behind Jelik's corrected time. Steve Benjamin nailed the start line on Ray Ordoveza's Excel 53 Karakoa to give them clear air up the windward beat which no doubt helped them score third place in the opening race. Ernesto Echauz's defending champion Sydney 46 Centennial is usually driven ruthlessly by Aussie Jamie Wilmot but was squashed out at the start by the TP52 brigade that may have contributed to there fourth place at the end of the day.

In the Racer/Cruiser class Paul Bankowski's crew on the Kerr 11.3 Jaywalker had only one thing on their mind. Go out and win the race and that's exactly what they did. Nail the start line, first around the windward mark and extend their lead on every leg there after, to take out the daily double. Not to be outdone Martin Tranco's X 452 Challenge that won the Boracay Race stayed on the pace to secure second place only missing out on first by forty one seconds. Defending champion George Hackett's J-35 Team Windshear Rudy Project was very happy with the speed up the first leg and held on to the leaders to open their account with third place. Only three minutes separated second to seventh places which indicates close racing and we can expect some fireworks during the coming windward/leeward races tomorrow.

In the PY class David Mc Kenna's Sun Odyssey 42 Raparee XXX also pulled off the daily double by a mere fifteen seconds from Jelle Mann's Saipin. When asked the secret of his success Mc Kenna responded with 'Over the years the Philippine crew have got used to all his F's and B's'. David Wheeler's Freewheeler from the UK slotted into third place and seems to be overpowered despite being heavily reefed.

Sailor chick of the regatta competition.
After a regatta break we are at it again and what better place than the delightful Philippines to get going again. Having a media boat that can get close to the action also helps. Casting a quick cursory eye around the fleet at the start we noticed several contenders for the prize over the coming days. Being ready with camera in hand at the right spot at the right time is always the problem. However as Jun Avecilla maneuvered his Beneteau First 36.7 Selma Star around before the start the lovely Kannah Verzosa was noticed on the rail and has entered the competition. The prize for the overall winner is a free pair of AY Gloves which will be announced after the event when the Photo Gallery is posted.

Boracay Race & Presidents Cup Photo Gallery at: http://asianyachting.com/photos/photo.htm?BoracayPC09

Online President's Cup - AY Race Reports with photos can be accessed from:
Race Report 4 & Summary, Overall Results: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/8.htm
Race Report 3: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/7.htm
Race Report 2: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/6.htm
Pre-Race Report: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/4.htm

Online Manila to Boracay - AY Race Reports with photos can be accessed from:
Race Report 3 & Complete Results: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/3.htm
Race Report 2: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/2.htm
Race Report 1: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/1.htm
Pre-Race Report: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/0.htm

AY Race Reports are proudly sponsored by the following advertisers.

AsianYachting Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (Co. No. 627106-T) A 308 PD Perdana Condo Resort, Jln Pantai, 71050, Pt Dickson, Malaysia Tel: 6 06 6477701 Email: info@asianyachting.com Welcome to the Wonderful World of Yachting at http://AsianYachting.com