The President's cup regatta
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The President's Cup Regatta (Philippines) One of the highly anticipated sports tourism event in the Philippines is the President's cup regatta, an annual yacht race which attracts competitors from all over the world.
History: In 1993 a local sailing event was organized called The Easter Regatta which drew five local participants sailing from Subic Bay to Caylabne Bay in the mouth of Manila bay. "Merkano" an S&S36 skippered by Azelio Beano won the Racing class, while Airtight Garage a Humprhies halft tonner skippered by Alan Burrel won the Cruising class. The pioneer organizers of the event were Jerry Rollin, Ray Ordoveza, Cynthia Norton and Kelly Zaldarriaga.
The next year in the organizers of the Easter regatta suggested to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club organizers of the China Sea Race (a biannual race from Hong Kong to Manila Bay) to integrate the Easter regatta in their race schedule. A course was made to race from off Manila Yacht club, to Corrigedor island, and then a next leg from Corrigedor to Subic Bay. That sparked the interest of international participants.
In 1995 though a China Sea Race "off year", attracted more international participants as the RHKYC organizes the Hong Kong to San Fernando race. Participants of this race readily sailed down the coast to Subic Bay to participate in the Easter regatta held in Subic Bay. Big names included Neil Pryde, Olympic Yachtsman Grey Gibson, and Andy Lam and "Joy Ride" a J35 which won the previous year's China Sea Race series, as well as others.
In 1996 RHKYC and MYC decided to organize the finish of the China Sea Race at Subic Bay, this meant that there were more boats interested in joining the Easter regatta as well. "Beau Geste" an ILC skippered by Karl Kwok, , as well as local boats "Vida" of Ray Ordoveza and helmmed by Olympic Medalist Steve Benjamin, "Body shots" helmmed by J24 worlds champion David Bedford, "Suicide Blond" a Mumm 36 and another Mumm 36 "Intabinda" chartered by Neil Pryde after his boat Boogie Flash suffered damaged 6 hours after the start of China Sea Race, he returend to Hong Kong and flew to Manila and then to Subic to join the racing.
The President's Cup Then Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, impressed by the sucess of Ray Ordoveza's "Vida" in the China Sea race and Easter regatta, encouraged the Manila Yacht Club to organize an International regatta at Subic in 1997. Thus the Easter Regatta was renamed "The President's Cup Regatta". A perpetual trophy was specially designed for the President's cup. The first President's cup regatta also drew paricipation from one design sportsboats, to dinghies to beach catamarans. All in all 81 boats participated in the event with participants and crew from all over the world including North America, Europe, New Zealand and of course Hong Kong. Local participants included "Vida", "Triple V Centenial" a Bashford 36 skippered by Thomas Hovenshiold. Triple V Centenial became the first yacht name to be engraved on the base of the perpetual trophy of the President's cup regatta.
In 1998 the China Sea Race organizers have decided that the President's cup regatta shall be the inshore series part of the China Sea Race thus scores in the President's cup counted towards the China Sea Race series. This assured international participation in the President's cup from then on. That year saw new boats being raced to contest the coveted perpetual trophy. No less than 3 new Sydney 46s owned by Niel Pryde, Klaus Lienau and the Subic Centential Syndicate.
"Karakoa" Ray Ordoveza's new Excel 53 was the winner of the Perpetual trophy, while "Hocux Pocux" of David Kong won the China Sea Race series. "Tatoosh" won the Cruising class.
For more information about The President's Cup Regatta visit www.prescup.com
