Boracay takes CSR 2006 Line Honours, enroute to Subic
'Boracay, CSR 2006 Line Honours winner' Guy Nowell
After the fleet park-up overnight 13th-14th, Jelik, along with Mandrake and Siren, gambled on taking a route north of the rhumb line, while Boracay 'tacked and tacked and tacked on every puff' as she worked her way south of the line and south of the fleet as well.
The IRC Cruising and HKPN Divisions have stayed with the pack, and eventually the breeze filled in to the 11kt north-easterly promised by Hong Kong Observatory and everyone got moving again.
All through the day of the 14th the fleet tracked pretty much straight towards Subic Bay, with only minor differences in course.
An EPIRB signal was received from Soko. Thanks to the Purplefinder tracking system in operation, it was possible to precisely identify Soko’s position, and also that of the nearest boat in the fleet (Cave Canem) who was then asked to investigate Soko’s situation. The signal turned out to be a false alarm, but the incident did reinforce the usefulness of a tracking system for safety purposes – and not just as a way of ‘interested observers’ watching the progress of the race.
By 1800 hrs 14th the race at the front of the fleet was still on, but overnight the breeze went into the northwest, favouring Boracay who was able to put some miles on Jelik.
Now the calculators were working overtime, and from the 1800 positions it was looking as if Mandrake was well placed on handicap, ahead of Jelik and Robbie Knight’s dk46, Drumstick.
However, never underestimate the vagaries of the soft breeze on the Philippine coast. Local (and ex-Hong Kong) sailor David McKenna said, 'it’s an easy call… stay south of the rhumb line after 1st April, and never, ever, get caught inshore to the north of Capones'. Boracay closed the coast in the early hours of the morning, and then found a hole. 'Somewhere Jelik took 35 nm out of us' said skipper Peter Morton, 'and I haven’t figured out how!' Laurence Mead added, ‘we were parked, and we could see her coming up to us.'
Boracay finished at Grande Island in the mouth of Subic Bay at 05:22:32 hrs, with Jelik just 48 minutes back at 06:10:55 hrs, bringing to and end the Derby Match between Frank Pong’s two 76-footers.
Philippine entry, the X-452, Challenge, was abeam Cape Bolinao at about 1130 hrs Sunday morning – 'This is our first China Sea Race, Challenge, Philippines’ entry, CSR 2006 Guy Nowell
and we are looking forward to finishing in home territory' said owner Martin Tanco.
All the HKPN boats have over half their race still to go, so it's too early to make predictions, however on current forecasts, it is entirely possible that all five boats will make it into Subic Bay sometime on Tuesday.
by Lindsay Lyons, RHKYC / Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia
The IRC Cruising and HKPN Divisions have stayed with the pack, and eventually the breeze filled in to the 11kt north-easterly promised by Hong Kong Observatory and everyone got moving again.
All through the day of the 14th the fleet tracked pretty much straight towards Subic Bay, with only minor differences in course.
An EPIRB signal was received from Soko. Thanks to the Purplefinder tracking system in operation, it was possible to precisely identify Soko’s position, and also that of the nearest boat in the fleet (Cave Canem) who was then asked to investigate Soko’s situation. The signal turned out to be a false alarm, but the incident did reinforce the usefulness of a tracking system for safety purposes – and not just as a way of ‘interested observers’ watching the progress of the race.
By 1800 hrs 14th the race at the front of the fleet was still on, but overnight the breeze went into the northwest, favouring Boracay who was able to put some miles on Jelik.
Now the calculators were working overtime, and from the 1800 positions it was looking as if Mandrake was well placed on handicap, ahead of Jelik and Robbie Knight’s dk46, Drumstick.
However, never underestimate the vagaries of the soft breeze on the Philippine coast. Local (and ex-Hong Kong) sailor David McKenna said, 'it’s an easy call… stay south of the rhumb line after 1st April, and never, ever, get caught inshore to the north of Capones'. Boracay closed the coast in the early hours of the morning, and then found a hole. 'Somewhere Jelik took 35 nm out of us' said skipper Peter Morton, 'and I haven’t figured out how!' Laurence Mead added, ‘we were parked, and we could see her coming up to us.'
Boracay finished at Grande Island in the mouth of Subic Bay at 05:22:32 hrs, with Jelik just 48 minutes back at 06:10:55 hrs, bringing to and end the Derby Match between Frank Pong’s two 76-footers.
Philippine entry, the X-452, Challenge, was abeam Cape Bolinao at about 1130 hrs Sunday morning – 'This is our first China Sea Race, Challenge, Philippines’ entry, CSR 2006 Guy Nowell
and we are looking forward to finishing in home territory' said owner Martin Tanco.
All the HKPN boats have over half their race still to go, so it's too early to make predictions, however on current forecasts, it is entirely possible that all five boats will make it into Subic Bay sometime on Tuesday.
by Lindsay Lyons, RHKYC / Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
10:03 PM
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