Pierre MAS' (FRA) America's Cup experience helped Frank PONG's (HKG) Jelik get the upper hand as they kept a close cover on Boracay and match raced around the course tacking and gybing in ballet fashion. Further back the 50 footers battled it out and kept each other company to eventually come to the fore on handicap placing over their bigger counterparts.
North Sails' Steve BENJAMIN (USA) helming Ray ORDOVEZA's (PHI) Excel 53 Karakoa scored two wins to climb up to the top of the leaderboard. Yesterdays winner Judes ECHAUZ's (CHI) Sydney 46 Centennial, helmed by Jamie WILMOT (AUS), had to settle for two second places that keeps them in the running. Jelik claimed third spot in race two and Robert KNIGHT's (HKG) Drumstick scored third in race three to share the places around.
Jo de Ros In Control
It was a similar case in the IRC Cruiser Racer Class with George HACKETT's (PHI) Jo de Ros adding two further wins onto his race one victory, to take a commanding overall lead after three races. The remaining places were shared around, with Claudio ALTURA's (PHI) J/35 Vivaldi taking second place in race two and Klaas HUIJIES' (NED) Sydney 36 Sandoway filling second place in race three. Allan BURRELL's (GBR) Farr 1104 Rags stayed in the hunt with a third place in race two, and Vivaldi completed a good day scoring third place in race three.
The Russian Farr 43 Carrera led the Performance Handicap Class by a proverbial mile to pick up another win. Although it seems to be two races in one with the Russians out in the lead and the rest of the fleet battling it out down the order, Edwin ALMEDA's (IRL) Yamaha 36 Manta posted second place and Japanese Seiji KAWAKAMI on the X-99 Fast Exit was third.
Two protests have been lodged by Drumstick in the racing class that may affect the outcome of today's races and the overall standings. Racing continues tomorrow with a further passage or point to point race before another round of windward/leeward races on the final day.
