Bank of the Philippine Islands sponsors Busuanga Cup 2022
by Jerry Rollin 22 Jan 2022 12:28 AEDT
17 February 2022
Sunrise at the Black Island finish. BPI Busuanga Cup 2020 © PISF
The Asset Management and Trust Corporation of the Bank of the Philippine Islands has teamed up with the Philippine Inter Island Sailing Foundation to present The Busuanga Cup 2022, incorporating the Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race, the Doni Altura Memorial Races in Busuanga, and the Linapacan Rally.
For the 5th annual event there will be four classes of boats taking part. IRC Racing, IRC Cruising, Cruising, and accompanying power boats. As in all previous events the Start and Finish Boat and Safety Communications boat will be Peter Baird of Broadwater Marine’s ‘Lost in Asia’.
Fierce competition can be expected, with many boats returning including the Overall winner in both 2019 and 2020 - Jun Avecilia’s Selma Star (Beneteau First 36.7) and the race record holder Jun Villanueva’s Bellatrix, (Ice 52). Inter-club competition will be equally peppery, as boats are joining from Puerta Galera Yacht Club, Punta Fuego Yacht Club, Manila Yacht Club, Subic Bay Yacht Club and Subic Sailing. The organisers are not expecting any foreign entries this year due to the Covid International Travel restrictions in place. However, an international fleet is expected in 2023.
The event will start from Club Punta Fuego at 08.00h on Thursday 17 February with l an overnight race to Black Island on the north west coast of Busuanga Island. Participating boats will then anchor at Marina Del Sol Yacht Club in Busuanga Bay for the night. The following day races will take place around the picturesque islands West of Busuanga.
An open air awards party will take place at Marina del Sol where the Donn Altura Perpetual Trophy will be presented to the overall Racing Class winner and trophies and prices will be presented to the class winners.
Social activities will be slightly curtailed this year. All participants are required to be fully vaccinated and to take an antigen test 24 hours before the start of the races. Club Punta Fuego has arranged for antigen testing to be available on site. Participants staying ashore in Busuanga will be required to take a new test when they arrive. This has been arranged by the Busuanga LGU who are supporting the event once again. Participants will be required to adhere to all IATF and DOT requirements throughout the various events.
After the racing comes the Linapacan Rally. This annual event involves three days of cruising in company among the many islands of Northern Palawan. In 2021 the boats visited Culion Island and islands to the east. This year the fleet will be visiting the Linapacan group of islands to the south of Culion.
The Rally will be completed by Tuesday 22 February, when boats return to Busuanga Bay. As in the past it is expected that some boats will return to their home Clubs, while others will remain in Busuanga Bay in order to continue exploring the wonders of Busuanga, Coron and Northern Palawan.