By Jerome Lagunzad
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE – Fancied Centennial III lived up to its lofty billing by successfully defending its title in the IRC Racing Class 1 of the inaugural Subic Bay around Verde Island Passage Race and the Subic Bay Cup Regatta competitions on Sunday here.
Without its perennial rival Jelik of Hong Kong-based magnate Frank Pong and touted Scallywag, formerly known as Ragamuffin 100 now owned by Malaysian-born Seng Huang Leng, Judes Echauz-skippered Centennial III made a successful title-retention bid with relative ease, topping the centerpiece event in 30 hours, 59 minutes and 11 seconds.
Hong Kong’s Antipodes, captained by Geoff Hill, ended up as bridesmaid with a corrected clocking of 31:43: 12 while local entry Karakoa, helmed by Ray Ordoveza, came in at third overall in 54:57:59, according Zed Avecilla, one of the event administrators.
Hong Kong’s GTS 43 Mandrake, both helmed by Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns, however, proved to be the fastest among all protagonists as it negotiated the 200-mile route in 30 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds to claim the IRC 2 crown.
