BPI Series 2026, Subic Regatta

by Guy Nowell 9 Apr 09:25 PDT 8-11 April 2026

With the breeze out of 110 degrees, RO Simon James set up for a windward/leeward course from near Mayanga to Kalaklan. 1.4 nm for the leg, and two sausages. The IRC division started clean at the pin end, but if your hearing is in good order you would have heard a substantial crunch as Centennial III tried to climb on board Belatrix but found, alas, that there was a bowsprit in the way. It was a very gentlemanly altercation; turns, but no red flags - possibly something to do with Centennial being owned by Judes Echauz of Standard Insurance. Sorry about your mishap, Judes.

Meanwhile, a combined start of the Cruiser and Multihull divisions was making its way up to Baretto by more or less direct routes, before turning round and heading south toward #3 Green at the bottom of the harbour, and passing through the starting area en route.

Line honours in the IRC race went to Ridgely Balladares and Centennial VII after a scant 55 minutes, with Selma Star being last boat home a majestic 34 minutes later - which is the sort of result you get when a rating of 1.394 races against 1.003. That's tough. Winner on corrected time was James Villareal's Raw Honey, leading Belatrix by 22 seconds.

The Cruisers and Multihulls were still exploring the more scenic parts of Subic Bay at this point, and before heading doggedly in towards Vasco's at the eastern end of Olangapo Bay before a final leg out to Mayanga and back to a finish at The Lighthouse.

After moving the windward mark a scant 10 degrees, the second IRC race was a 'rinse-and-repeat'. This went off without further incident, with Raw Honey taking a second bullet for the day ahead of (again) some 44 seconds adrift. The breeze was fading by now, and Selma Star found herself in the unenviable position of beating up to Kalaklan only to turn around and head straight into a quick transition and beating all the way back to the finish. Soul destroying stuff.

At exactly halfway through the regatta, Raw Honey sits on a very healthy 2 1 1 scoreline, in front of Belatrix on 7 2 2. Papaya leads the three-boat Cruiser division, and Estelita del Mar is ahead of the only other Multihull competitor, Carino. These people need some more competition to give them something to race for! C'mon Cruisers and Multihulls... where are you?

Tomorrow starts at 10.00 with another point-to-point race. See you on the start line. Standing by on 71.