SYDNEY (AP) — The Sydney to Hobart yacht race, first held in 1945, has seen many remarkable moments throughout its history. This year, as the annual ocean classic kicks off in Sydney on Thursday, it will feature a groundbreaking all-Filipino crew of 15 sailors aboard the vessel Centennial 7.
Centennial 7, led by experienced sailor Ernesto Echauz, will undertake the grueling 628-nautical mile (722 miles or 1,160 kilometers) journey. Among the over 100 boats participating, Centennial 7 is one of six international entrants, with its crew composed of members from the Philippines’ national sailing team and the Philippine Navy.
This boat has a history in the Sydney to Hobart race; previously known as Celestial, it gained recognition by winning the overall handicap title in 2022 under skipper Sam Haynes, having also secured a runner-up position the year before. When Echauz’s team faced difficulties importing their own yacht from the Philippines, Haynes facilitated the transition by selling Celestial to them last September, ensuring that Echauz would have a competitive vessel. Haynes himself will race on a newly configured Celestial.
“I never thought it would be this boat,” Echauz shared with the Australian Associated Press. “We jumped at the chance to acquire Celestial as we learned it was ready for the Sydney to Hobart.” He expressed joy in bringing together his entire crew of 15 Filipinos, stating, “It’s a dream come true for all of us. We never expected to be competing together.”
The race takes the fleet down the treacherous coastline of New South Wales, across the notoriously rough Bass Strait, and concludes in Tasmania with the final stretch along the Derwent River in Hobart.
In the previous year’s race, LawConnect triumphed in a thrilling finish, narrowly defeating defending champion Andoo Comanche by just seconds. LawConnect completed the course in 1 day, 19 hours, 3 minutes, and 58 seconds, with Comanche trailing at 1 day, 19 hours, 4 minutes, and 49 seconds— marking one of the closest finishes in the event’s storied history.
Echauz’s crew demonstrated strong capabilities earlier this year, finishing a mere five minutes behind their competitors Happy Go in the China Sea Race after having claimed line honors aboard Centennial 5 last year. “We’ve sailed together for many years, evolving from dinghy sailing to tackling bigger boats,” Echauz noted, highlighting their extensive experience sailing in Hong Kong, a prominent sailing center in Asia. However, he recognizes that the standards in the Sydney to Hobart race are significantly higher.
Earlier this month, the crew placed 12th in the Cabbage Tree Island Race, their first competition in Australian waters. Echauz conveyed their goals for the forthcoming race: “We just want to finish well. Our priority is to avoid any mechanical issues, injuries, and mistakes.”
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
