Ernesto "Judes" Echauz returns to the Rolex Sydney Hobart, this time with his Reichel/Pugh 75, Centennial 5. The Filipino businessman made race history in 2024, skippering the TP52 Centennial 7 (Dr Sam Haynes’ 2022 Overall winner as Celestial) with the first all-Filipino crew to contest the race.

Centennial 5 brings pedigree of its own. In 2023 it became the first Philippine entry to take Line Honours in the Rolex China Sea Race, and it was second across the line in 2026. Echauz also won that race Overall in 1998 and 2008 with Centennial 2.