LIGHT WINDS STALL BORACAY
WINDSURF RACES
(Special report for Philippine Headline News
Online (PHNO) By Vangie Palacios
Boracay Island, Philippines, Jan 15, 1998 --- Sixty-seven participants from 15 different countries have registered in this year's exciting Boracay International Funboard Cup - an annual windsurfing event organized by Green Yard Beach Resort in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Neil Pryde Sails, and Quiksilver. Official registration was held yesterday at the Laguna de Boracay Resort with the Official Welcome Night Dinner at Titay's South Beach Resort and sponsored by Ms. Mila Lumbo and Aklan governor, Florencio Miraflores.
Neil Pryde Sails professional windsurfer Roberto Hoffman gave a short talk on the Neil Pryde line of 1998 equipment. Art Palacios, event race director and general chairman, gave the official skippers briefing, while Andrew Owen of Action Asia Magazine explained the mechanics of the Action Asia Speed Trials.
Light winds on Monday cancelled the day's race. However, southeasterly winds began to blow maxing at 20 knots. Nine races out of a scheduled 60 were run for the 6 day-event. "If we do not get good winds tomorrow, we will cut down the number of races to 4 heats per round instead of 6," said Race Director Art Palacios.
One race was run for the Open Heavy Finals (80 kilos and above) with American Jeffro Elliott coming in first, followed by Danish brothers Esben and Uffe Hendrichsen coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively. In the Masters (age 40 and above) class Group 1, Joseph Lo of Hongkong came in first in the first heat and Chen Shih-yu of Taiwan bags came in first in the second heat. American George Gesner finished first in both heat run for Group 2 of the Masters Class.
In Junior Masters group 1, Roberto Hoffman came in first in both heats while Eduardo Fajermo came in first in his group.
The top 14 in the Masters and Junior Masters will qualify for the class finals.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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