Sailing is alive and well in the Philippines

by Jerry Rollin, Chairman – Race and Rules Officiati on 17 Nov 2010 Jerry Rollin, Chairman of the Race and Rules Officiating Committee, Philippine Sailing Association tells us that 'sailing is alive and well in the Philippines - in Puerto Galera, Punta Fuego, on Taal Lake, in Subic Bay, among the Hobie fleet and in Boracay...

November is the traditional start of the Philippines' sailing season, and to get the month away to a great start the Puerto Galera Yacht Club entertained 27 keelboats at their 12th annual All Souls Regatta over the 1 November holiday week-end. Boats raced through the windy Verde Island Passage under IRC and Performance Handicap systems in a pursuit format, so all arrived at the finish close together to make the parties really swing. Race Director Bill Moore was congratulated by all on a job well done once again.

This great event was followed by the ninth Punta Fuego Yacht Club Regatta the next weekend. The small marina was packed with 18 keelboats (racing IRC and Performance Handicap), 18 Hobie 16s, 13 Optimists and a mixture of Hobie Bravoes and Getaways. Racing was run on two separate courses by Punta Fuego’s Jerry Rollin and his team, and by the Philippine Sailing Association. Very unusually for the time of year the wind did not come to the parties as usual - but enough races were completed to give the sailors a healthy thirst and an appetite for the gourmet food laid on by Club Punta Fuego.

Regattas continue throughout the month with the annual Round Volcano Race Series run by Taal Lake Yacht Club on 20/21 November, followed by the Andre Bonifacio Day Regatta in Subic on 27/28 November, organized by SAGS, the Lighthouse Marina and Subic Bay Yacht Club.

Forthcoming Philippine international events include the island-hopping Philippine Hobie Challenge and Keelboat rally (12–18 February 2011, starting in Lucena and ending in Boracay). This will be followed by The Subic to Boracay Race, organized by SAGS, and starting on Saturday 19 February 2011. The premier event will be the Commodore’s Cup which will be held in Subic Bay after the San Fernando Race, 26–30 April 2011.

AsianYachting.com has announced that the premier Philippine event in their Asian Yachting Grand Prix 2010-11 season will be the Commodore’s Cup, which will be held in Subic after the San Fernando Race 26 – 30 April 2011. The Regatta is being run by SAGS with the support of Subic Bay Yacht Club, The Lighthouse Marina and under the auspices of the Philippine Sailing Association.

Meanwhile, inactivity at the Manila Yacht Club continues apace. Before things at the MYC can get going there needs to be a resolution to the suit against the Commodore’s Cup organizers (Subic Bay Yacht Club et al). The recent expulsion of MYC members needs to be addressed, as does the Club's race organization.

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