Standard Insurance sailors overall China Cup champs

Standard Insurance Centennial Sailing Team emerged overall champion in the top IRC A Class in the recent 12th China Cup International Regatta in Shenzhen.

The team skippered by veteran sailor Judes Echauz beat Shawn Kang’s Lighthorse Alpha+ on tiebreak.

It was another tiebreak in IRC A2, where the Soto40 Seamo Racing skippered by Guo Ji Lan lost to Tiffany Koo’s Hero Racing.

Ocean Link-Dalian Maritime University Sailing Team, a Comet 51S skippered by Mu Shijia, dominated IRC B from start to finish, winning all but one race. Nick Southward’s J/109 Whiskey Jack displayed a similar level of consistency to dominate IRC C.

Echauz accepted the trophy while team manager Stephen Tan received the Champagne Trophy from David Zhong, China Cup president. Allan Balladares, Asia’s top match racer, co-skippered the team.

The Standard Insurance-Philippine Sailing Association (PSA) team skippered by Emerson Villena also won the Asian Sailing Federation Far East 28R class by a sweep.

Both Standard Insurance teams are back-to-back winners in Asia’s top regatta tournament, which lured more than 200 yachts.

“We dedicate our wins to PSA’s Donnie Alrura who has passed away,” Echauz said.