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Omega
Asian Yachting Circuit
The
10th Singapore Straits Regatta
Date: 18 January 2004
Ray
Ordoveza’s Clariden Karakoa is crowned champion of
the 10th Singapore Straits Regatta. The Filipino yacht scored a
record seven straight wins in the regatta to convincingly beat the
best of Asian sailing in this, the third event on the Omega Asian
Yachting Circuit. In second was Stella Minter Ellison from
Hong Kong and in third was Australia’s Hollywood Boulevard.
This result means that Hollywood Boulevard maintains her
place at the top of the Omega AYC championship which she now shares
with Stella Minter Ellison.
A fleet of international yachts has been competing over the last
five days in superb conditions in waters off Singapore and in the
Riau Archipelago of Indonesia. The regatta travelled from Singapore’s
eastern shores to Batam and from there they returned once again
to the Changi Sailing Club for more racing action. Each day saw
superb conditions for sailing, the best ever in the event’s
long history with wind speeds consistent and clocking 25 knots at
their peak. And sweeping all before him has been the famous Filipino
skipper Ray Ordoveza.
A somewhat
unusual second place in the final race of the regatta did nothing
to dampen his enthusiasm as he collected the Singapore Straits Regatta
Trophy and a limited edition Omega Seamaster Watch “We are
very proud winners of this great regatta and it is even more precious
to us as we have successfully defended our Title here against the
best of Asian sailing. We’ve measured ourselves against the
best and we’ve come out on top. Credit should go to our crew
who have worked very hard and as a team. Sailing is a wonderful
sport that combines so many skills, not least an ability to work
together towards a single goal. We can return to the Philippines
very proud of what we have done here in Singapore.”
And
at the close of the third event on the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit
a look at the Championship Table shows that Australia’s Hollywood
Boulevard remains at the top after her third place here. But
now joining her is Hong Kong’s Stella Minter Ellison.
The top of the table is still very close as the yachts will head
next to the final event of the season in Hong Kong in April. Crucially,
after four regattas each yacht will be able to discard their worst
result of the season. So although on current standings after three
events Hollywood Boulevard and Stella Minter Ellison
sit equal at the top, a quick calculation to allow for a discarded
result shows that Clariden Karakoa is in prime position,
just ahead of Hollywood Boulevard. But there is very little
to separate the top four boats and any one of them could be raising
the trophy in April.
In
the other divisions here at the Singapore Straits Regatta Blancing
Act, skippered by John Ramsden from Singapore won Racing Division
B and Daisy, skippered by the UK’s Steven Walker
finished first in the remaining division.
The
Singapore Straits Regatta is a prestigious event in it’s own
right and it fits into the larger Omega Asian Yachting Circuit that
groups together the premier sailing events in the region.
1)
Raja Muda International Regatta, Malaysia (November 2003)
2) Phuket King’s Cup, Thailand (December 2003)
3) Singapore Straits Regatta, Singapore (January 2004)
4) China Sea Race, Hong Kong to Philippines April 2004)
Through
the season the yachts that compete in the elite Racing Division
at each regatta earn points. The best three “final results”
for a yacht from the four regattas count towards an end of season
total; these totals produce the winner and a new Asian Champion
is crowned.
The
Singapore Straits Regatta (and all the events on the Omega AYC)
is being filmed for international television and in all, the event
will reach an audience of over 200 million households around the
globe. The World will be watching as the 10th Singapore Straits
Regatta sets sail from Changi Sailing Club.
The
Omega Asian Yachting Circuit is sponsored by Omega Watches and Malaysia
Airlines.
The
Singapore Straits Regatta is sponsored by the Boat Asia, Panalpina,
Indochine and Brewerkz and the Singapore Tourism Board.
For
more information on the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit contact Proteus
Sports at info@proteus-sports.com
or turn to www.asianyachtingcircuit.com.
Top six places in Racing A Division
| Yacht |
Home
Port |
Skipper |
Total |
| Clariden
Karakoa |
Philippines |
Ray
Ordoveza |
7 |
| Stella
– Minter Ellison |
Hong
Kong |
Fred
Kinmouth |
17 |
| Hollywood
Boulevard |
Australia |
Ray
Roberts |
19 |
| Hi
Fidelity |
Hong
Kong |
Neil
Pryde |
24 |
| Yo! |
Malaysia |
Peter
Ahearn |
33 |
| Foxy
Lady |
Singapore |
Billy
Bremner |
44 |
Top three places in Racing B Division
| Yacht |
Home
Port |
Skipper |
Total |
| Balancing
Act |
Singapore |
John
Ramsden |
12 |
| Jenny
III |
Singapore |
Lee
Sea Yean |
14 |
| Shoon
Fung Too |
Singapore |
Gordon
Maxted |
19 |
Top three places in Racing E Division
| Yacht |
Home
Port |
Skipper |
Total |
| Daisy |
Singapore |
Steve
Walker |
9 |
| Pilar |
Singapore |
Gregory
Parkhurst |
18 |
| Velera
Linda |
Singapore |
Christopher
Nunns |
22 |
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Filipino
skipper Ray Ordoveza at the helm of his 54 foot yacht Clariden
Karakoa, winner of this year’s Singapore Straits Regatta,
the third event on the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit |
Ray
Ordoveza, skipper of Clariden Karakoa from the Philippines,
winner of this year’s Singapore Straits Regatta, the
third event on the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit |
Photos:
www.guynowell.com
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