17th President's Cup 2009
AY Race Report 2

Good crew work makes all the difference...
Very crucial in short windward/leeward races is to get a good start with clear air up the first beat and have the crew working smoothly during all the drills and maneuvers. Usually the boats that have these items down pat are the ones on the podium. Racing under the IRC handicap system means timing is of paramount importance. Slow spinnaker hoists or sloppy take downs can cost valuable minutes and as races are won and lost by seconds, good crew work can make all the difference.

The racing class work very hard on bringing together the best crews available. Some are professional skippers and most bring along top bowmen and sail trimmers that make the boat go fast and also make them and the boat look good at the end of the day. Steve Benjamin has managed to do that on Ray Ordoveza's 15 year old Excel 53 Karakoa and no doubt aided by Alan Andrews the boat designer to score first place in race 2 and second place in race 3 to take the overall lead at this stage in proceedings. Neil Pryde's Welbourne 52 Hi Fi has a star studded lineup including Team NZ bowman to propel the boat around the course to second and fourth places today that keeps them in second overall. Frank Pong's R/P 75 Jelik paints a majestic sight at the front of the fleet and his mainly full time Philippine crew have gelled over the years into a formidable team to score third and sixth places. A mere 46 seconds separated first to fourth places in Race 2 and just less than a minute between first and third places in Race 3, shows just how important good crew work can be. Ernesto Echauz's defending champion Sydney 46 Centennial helmed by Aussie Jamie Wilmot jumped back into contention with forth place in Race 2 and first place in Race 3 to keep their defense on track. Andrew Taylor's Mills 41 Ambush has been languishing at the rear of the fleet but third place in Race 3 gives the crew a good confidence boost.

In the Racer/Cruiser class two wins for the defending champion George Hackett's J-35 Team Windshear Rudy Project puts them clearly in the driving seat. George attributes their success to a new number 2 headsail giving them good speed to windward and excellent crew work. Despite being recalled at the start of Race 2, Paul Bankowski's crew on the Kerr 11.3 Jaywalker put their shoulders to the grind and responded with two second places to be tied on points with Team Windshear in the overall stakes. Initially scoring second place in Race 3 Martin Tranco's X 452 Challenge was disqualified after responding to a luff for being to close. This left the way open for everyone to move up a place. Two third places for Allen Burrell's ageing Farr 1104 Rags shows she still has some life in her yet and puts them into overall contention.

The PY class were sent on a circumnavigation of Boracay Island. This time it was Jelle Mann's Oceanic 44 Saipin turn to take the handicap honours. David Mc Kenna's Sun Odyssey 42 Raparee XXX slotted into second place and despite taking line honours David Wheeler's Freewheeler from the UK ended being relegated to third place.

Tomorrow sees the racing boats taking on a marathon around both neighboring Carabao Island and Boracay. The racer/cruisers and PY classes will be doing shorter versions and expect quick times with good prevailing winds.

Sailor chick of the regatta competition.
Casting an eye around just before the start we came across Allen Burrell's Farr 1104 Rags that has a few lovelies perched up on the high side. Jamalia, Aiko and Levi are the names of these smiling faces and why not with twenty knots of wind keeping the boys busy trimming the sails while they bask in the warm sunshine. 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 1: http://asianyachting.com/news/BoracayPC09/5.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.

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