Sept 2010

Active
Sept./Oct./Nov. 2010
BOATING AND WATERSPORTS
All the Water Sports lifestyle you can handle
SCUBA DIVING:
Verde Island
ACTIVE WATERSPORTS DESTINATION:
SUBIC BAY
SAILING SCHOOL
WITH A PASSION

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Welcome to the home of the active boating and
water sports lifestyle in the Philippines. Our aim is
to provide all of the boating and water sports news and
information, from each of the 7107 islands that make up
the Philippine archipelago.
Every issue will feature an Active Boating And
Watersports destination, plus stories and articles that
introduce the lifestyle and activities that make the
Philippines the most exciting aquatic sports travel
destination in Equator Asia.
From our first front cover you can see that “Active” is the
name of our game. This is a magazine for people who
want to know where, when and how to get involved with
boating and water sports throughout the Philippines.
Our aim is to cover ALL boating and water sports
activities during the coming years: under water, on the
water and sometimes above the water.
We chose September to launch Active Boating And
Watersports Philippines because this month marks the
beginning of the high season. As the amihan spreads
its influence across the islands, the drier weather
encourages more people to take to the water . This
magazine provides the information you need to discover
the Philippines from the perspective of the water.
What’s
INSIDE ?
Scuba Diving - Verde Island
The Dia del Galeon Festival
A Sailing School With A Passion
Rowing on The Pasig River for 115
years
Sports Fishing a Fulfilling Activity
Active Watersports Destinations
Subic Bay
Out of Subic Silanguin Cove Day
Trip
Alone and Lonely A Sea Story
International Philippine Sailing
Selma Star
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8
10
13
15
18
22
27
32
In this issue our featured destination is Subic Bay – one
of the most complete boating water sports destinations,
with virtually everything available except for surfing and
white water rafting. Our lead scuba diving story comes
from Verde Island – the center of the center of marine
biodiversity, at the apex of the famed Coral Triangle.
Corporate social responsibility plays a significant
role in developing sports opportunities in the 21 st
century and we introduce a Philippine sailing school
that has taken the dreams of some of the nation’s
underprivileged youth and turned them into medal
winning achievements.
If this issue is not active enough for you then please
drop us a line and tell us where you think the action is
better.
Sincerely,
Martyn Willes
Consulting Editor
Copyright © 2010 LLI Publishing House Philippines
Cover photograph courtesy Billabong:
Hawaiian Jamie O’Brien semi-finalist at
the 2009 Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational
Surfing Cup
Active
BOATING AND WATERSPORTS
PUBLICATION TEAM
MARTYN WILLES
Consulting Editor
ALLISON MANIS BRUCE CURRAN
Regular Contributors
MARIO NAZARENO
Associate Contributor
BARRY DAWSON
Production Manager
LEVI ECLARINO
Sales & Marketing
MBC CONCEPT PLANNER & ORGANIZER
Design & Lay-out
www.activeboatingwatersports.com
e-mail: info@activeboatingwatersports.com
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Scuba Diving: Verde Island
words and photographs by Allison Manis
Despite more than 200 dives on Verde
Island, I can still feel like a Verde virgin
every time I drop into the pristine turquoise
water. My body is encompassed and wrapped
in a luscious blanket of warmth, which is
teeming with abundant fish life and creatures
beyond imagination. Some days I still have
to pinch myself to make sure that I am really
experiencing all of this. And this is all in a day’s
work . . .
Experts have called The Verde Island Passage
the “centre of the centre” of the world’s marine
biodiversity. Life enhancing nutrients from the
Pacific mix with waters of the South China Sea.
You would never guess that beneath the surface
are spectacular reef formations with more than
300 species of corals and underwater rock
canyons that host nearly 60 percent of the
world’s known shorefish species. The World
Conservation Union describes it as the “marine
counterpart of the Amazon River basin”, and
puts the Verde Island Passage at the pinnacle
of the “Coral Triangle” that extends from the
central Philippines into the Sulawesi and Sulu
seas.
The best and most well known dive site is
the “Verde Island Drop off” or “San Agapito”
about 300 meters offshore. Approaching the
dive site you are greeted by the rough tips of
rocky pinnacles breaking the surface. I imagine
that there must have been a few shipwrecks
on these over the years! From the surface it
doesn’t look like much, but as soon as you drop
in, you’ll see that these pinnacles are like the
icing on top of large colourful birthday cake.
The Drop Off can be described best as steep
slopes with stunning vertical walls that drop
down to 70 meters or more. Numerous nooks
The Verde Island Passage is situated between
the islands of Luzon and Mindoro. A scuba
diving trip to Puerto Galera is not complete
without at least one visit to Verde Island. Just
40 minutes by banka (local outrigger boat) or 20
minutes by speedboat, depending on which dive
operation you choose.
There are more than 30 dive shops in Puerto
Galera and most of them offer trips to Verde
Island; the cost depends on the number of
divers. During the high season (November
to May) numbers are no problem, but in the
quieter times of the year you might have to walk
up and down the beach to find a dive shop that
is running a trip to Verde. The larger operations,
such at Asia Divers, Lalaguna Beach Club
and Atlantis, will usually have at least one trip
going per week. Most of the time I encourage
our divers to get over there early in their stay
because no doubt that they will want to go back
again.
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and crannies are home
to all sorts of reef life
including shrimps, sea
snakes, scorpion fish
and moray eels. Volcanic
bubbles rise up through
the corals and create a
magical effect. Anthias and
red-tooth triggerfish are so
abundant that I tell people
that there are so many fish
on the pinnacle that they’ll
have to push them aside to
see the reef.
Puerto Galera is known
so widely for its macro
photography that I have
to remind divers to pull
out their wide-angle lens for a day on Verde, to take advantage of the spectacular pinnacles and
beautiful gorgonian sea fans. These teamed up with the colourful anemones and reef fishes
make an excellent backdrop and are a great area to shoot wide angle. However, nudibranches
are plentiful and you’re bound to see a gnarly scorpion fish or two, so don’t forget the macro
lens as well.
The currents on Verde can be tricky, but going with an experienced guide you can safely
manage them. The key is to stay tight to the pinnacle and not get pushed over deep
water into the strong currents. As you approach “the corner” you can feel the current
pushing in your face: decision time. With an experienced group I like to go on to the corner
to “watch the show” - larger fish, including schooling jacks, sweetlips, tuna and snapper, all
dancing in the current. I love to be in the mix of this, but if my group is less experienced I
can turn around and miss this corner and keep everyone out of the current.
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A Spanish galleon,
the Nuestra Senora
dela Vida, which
sank in 1620, was
discovered in the
late seventies just
off Verde Island,
by Puerto Galera
scuba-legend
Brian Homan.
Little remains
of the wreck
except for a few
pieces of broken
porcelain - the
larger plates and
terracotta jars are
now long gone.
I like to take my
divers “treasure
hunting” for these
little pieces of porcelain during their surface
interval. If you walk along the beach you
can be sure to find a few porcelain shards -
a nice little souvenir to go home with.
A day trip to Verde Island is a great
experience for our guests. They get to
dive on a spectacular dive site with prolific
fish life and learn a bit of local history;
combined with a beach barbeque there’ll
be a lot of happy people.
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The International Community Supports The Día del Galeón Festival
On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, Senator Edgardo J. Angara presided over a meeting with representatives
from fifteen Embassies at the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Summit Lounge.
Senator Angara broke the news that
plans are underway for the Spanish
Galleon, Andalucia (currently
berthed at the Shanghai Expo), to
dock in Manila as a centerpiece for
the Philippine celebration of the first
Día del Galeón Festival
Among others, representatives
from China, Chile, Brazil and
Mexico were in attendance in the
diplomatic briefing. Embassies
showed their support by pledging
to send representatives to Artes
Talleres: The Workshop (September
20–October 8). Artes Talleres is a
three-week interdisciplinary festival
of workshops, demonstrations,
exhibits, and performances
highlighting the impacts of the
Galleon Trade - the good, the bad, and everything
in between. A culminating activity will include
a theatrical production of Mexican playwright,
Miguel Sabido’s Juana la Loca . The production
will fuse Filipino & Spanish languages and include
indigenous art forms.
Third Secretary of the Mexican Embassy,
announced collaborations with Museo Pambata
for special events on October 8. The festival has
reawakened the cultural connection between
Mexico and the Philippines. The Mexican Ministry
of Education is adding a chapter in all schoolbooks
on Philippine-Mexican ties during the Galleon
Trade.
The festival will focus on the impacts of the Galleon
and it will mirror the three concerns of the United
Nations in 2010: the protection of biodiversity; the
advancement of seafaring concerns; and, Cultural
Rapprochement.
Galleon Andalucia entering Manila Bay
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The UNESCO-approved global observance of Día
del Galeón, scheduled for October 8, remembers
the Galleon’s historic role in connecting continents
and as a vessel of cultural exchange spanning 250
years. For more information visit www.ncca.gov.ph
or e-mail diadelgaleon@yahoo.com

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A Sailing School
With A Passion
Purposeful enjoyment, healthy, competitive recreation
In 2004 the Board of Directors of the Puerto Galera Yacht Club (PGYC)
envisioned a free sailing programme for all of the town’s youth. The idea was
to provide an avenue for the motivated to embrace a sport that offers not only
purposeful enjoyment but also instills high-quality moral values and offers the
chance of a future career. More than 200 student sailors later, the PGYC is
ready for the final step in the process.
When the Small
Boat Program (SBP)
was conceived, the
objectives were to:
introduce the sport
of sailing to the local
school community;
provide local children
with free, healthy, competitive recreation;
and, offer sail training & sailing dinghy hire
opportunities to Members and visitors. A
“Sports serve society by providing
vivid examples of excellence”
George F. Will
wider and longer-term
objective was to pave
the way for a career
in the sport of sailing
for eligible, talented
youngsters by inducting
them into the Philippine
Sailing Association
(PSA), where they would, hopefully, represent
the Philippines at international level and earn a
place as full-time crew on racing yachts.
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DJ and Gambi today
ready to compete for
their country
Many of the
students are now
graduating from
High School and
some have already
started to work with
the yacht club to
train others.
An introduction
to two of the
student sailors
highlights the
original aspiration
embodied in the
Board’s objectives
and illustrates the hidden talent that is probably
lurking in every corner of the Philippine
archipelago. Meet Don John Cabarles (DJ) and
Gabriel Fetizanan (Gabi).
DJ and Gabi were two of the
first local youngsters to join the
program in 2004. They quickly
established themselves as very
talented young sailors. They
have been selected for every
SBP excursion to dinghy sailing
regattas in Manila, Subic Bay
and Puerto Princessa and have
won trophies in every event. DJ
has been to Manila to sail with
members of the PSA and has
already impressed their coaches
with his sailing ability.
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BOATING AND WATERSPORTS
The boys are now both 16 years old and
have graduated from High School. They are
certainly talented enough and highly motivated
to sail with the PSA in Manila. Whether they
can compete for a place in the national squad
remains to be seen, but that is their ambition
and the PGYC’s primary goal.
To sail with the PSA they must be close to
Manila. This means continuing their studies in
the metropolis, funding accommodation and
having enough cash to get to and from the
PSA training area at the Manila Yacht Club
on training days. The money to fund these
expenses will come from donations from
PGYC Members, individuals and companies
interested to support competitive sports through
sponsorship as part of a corporate social
responsibility programme.
Both DJ and Gabi sail locally
every weekend and are rolemodels
for the other youngsters.
They are always competitive,
cheerful, enthusiastic and
hard working. They help with
preparing the boats, cleaning
and maintenance and assist
in sail training courses when
possible. DJ recently competed
with youngsters from the Macau
Yacht Sailing Academy in a
regatta in Puerto Galera, in which he was
paired with their newest and weakest sailor
[name required]. The pair won every race DJ
helmed and he coached [his partner] to win all
but one of hers.
Team PGYC's first victory over PSA Subic Bay 2006
(Gambi and DJ foreground right)
To date, the SBP has been more successful
than the PGYC could have imagined all those
years ago. Its fleet (funded by donation and
sponsorship) has expanded from the original
4 boats to 10 Lawin sailing dinghies, 10 new
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Optimists (arriving in July, 2010), a Laser, a
Hobie 14 and (perhaps) a small keel boat. The
SBP has established the PGYC as the club
of choice for sail training courses and sailing
dinghy hire in the Philippines and has brought
visitors from around the world to learn to sail
in Puerto Galera’s perfect sailing bay; it has
brought in over 3-million pesos in donations for
funding boat acquisition and the construction of
the manager’s house; it has brought the PGYC
much closer to the local community and the
Municipality; it has brought new members to
the club through the Wet Wednesday Sailing
program; it has inspired the PGYC to establish
a sail training centre on Boquete Beach; it has
brought young sailors from Manila, Hong Kong
and Macau specifically to compete with against
the PGYC’s best; recently, it has inspired some
of the youngsters to start a career in marine
engineering in Manila; and, most importantly,
it has introduced over 200 local children to a
sport that they would otherwise have had no
chance to experience.
The PGYC now has the chance to realise its
final objective but requires continued support
and donations to provide for the student sailors
who have no other means at hand. Funds have
been raised through the sale & raffle of the firstgeneration
sailing dinghies and the Board of
Directors has pledged Php76,000 to cover the
full costs for one semester at AMA Computer
College, Manila, for DJ and Gabi to study IT;
they will lodge together and train together with
the PSA.
If you are looking for a meaningful way to apply
corporate social responsibility to the spirit of
excellence through sports then supporting the
PGYC Small Boat Programme is one of the
best. Contact the Puerto Galera Yacht Club for
more information (+63 43 442-0136 or email
info@pgyc.org) about donation and sponsorship
programmes . . . the Nation’s youth will be
forever grateful.
The Puerto Galera Yacht Club can be found on
the Internet at www.pgyc.org
Learn to sail in Puerto Galera's
perfect sailing bay
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ROWING ON THE PASIG RIVER FOR 115 YEARS
The Manila Boat Club
is the oldest existing
Sporting Club in Manila,
founded in 1895.
The current Clubhouse
is based on the banks
of the River Pasig in
Sta. Ana, right on the Makati/Manila border. Easily
accessible from Makati CBD, you can have a
good row before going to the office - changing
facilities are available at the Club. The wonderful
old colonial style
Clubhouse is
also a relaxing
place to end your
day or have a
quiet meeting.
The Club
boasts three
squash courts,
a billiard table, dart-boards and a table-tennis
table together with a classic horse-shoe bar. The
Club-BBQ is available for use by members and
their guests,
offering
an ideal
opportunity
to have a
barbecue
after rowing
at the
weekend or,
just for the
fun of it.
Never rowed before? well now is the time to give it
a go. The Manila Boat Club is keen to attract new
members, whether old or young, and offers free
rowing lessons. All guests are gifted the first three
outings to see if they really want to continue with the
sport.
The Club holds Regattas throughout the year and is
now starting to re-enter international competitions.
We are sending a team to compete in the Hong Kong
International Rowing Regatta in October 2010, there’s
still time for you to be part of it!
For further information see www.manilaboatclub.com
or email info@manilaboatclub.com

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SPORTS FISHING: A FULLFILLING ACTIVITY
Words by Paul Tie and Photo Courtesy Blue Sky Sport Fishing
There is nothing like the auxilirating feeling of a breeze and slight sea spray
in your face as you head out of the bay to that favorite fishing spot, for that
catch of catches. Then the thrill of reeling in the big one!
Well something like this should inspire others to
try their hand at sport fishing, which is always a
very challenging activity.
But be warned you have to have patience and
lots of it! With the distinct possibility of returning
home without a catch.
But let me tell you when you come up with a
waggling trophy on the end of your line, the
effort and the long hours of waiting that you have
exerted makes it all worthwhile.
This is the time when you suddenly realize that
Sports Fishing is not only a very challenging
activity, but is also very rewarding and fulfilling.
I must remind you that anyone planning to
get into this sport that our aim is not always to
catch the huge fish, but to enjoy the sport of the
challenge, the chase and the comradeship.
Some who try this sport don’t seem to realize is
a game that is actual not virtual as the computer
games like play station. Actual Sports such as
fishing are far better in both the psychological
and physical senses. And it also brings out the
best in every sportsman’s character. Unlike the
computer games there is no second chance
or extra life! This is the real deal; it is fun,
challenging, and a very fulfilling activity.
As an avid sportsperson and an avid angler
not only do you enjoy the challenge of the
sport, You also get to see the beauty of the
provinces surrounding the Philippine Islands,
but you also get to meet the local people,
learning their culture and heritage.
This makes it even more fulfilling as you learn
the vast knowledge of the local fishermen and
their way of life. How to catch the best fish and
surviving the challenge!
We could go on about the beauty of the idyllic
Philippine Islands But what we are trying to
say is that all this is there for you to see and
enjoy while enjoying the activity involved in
sports fishing, trying to catch some of the best
fish in these waters, like Trevally, Yellow Fin
Tuna, Sail Fish and Blue Marlin just to name a
few.
Nobody can ever guarantee you will catch a
fish every time you go out to try this wonderful
sport. But we can guarantee you a wonderful
fulfilling activity in the world of Sports Fishing.
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Active Watersports Destinations:
Subic Bay
Photographs and words by Martyn Willes
Subic Bay offers a happy
marriage of commercial
shipping, pleasure boating
and watersports. Here,
container & cargo vessels
rub barnacles with private,
luxury superyachts and
pleasure craft of all shapes
and sizes.
On one day in June, within
the distance of just one
nautical mile, we found:
Cable Retriever, one of
the most advanced cable
laying and retrieval vessels, that ensures
global telecommunications never fail; the
Ensuring global telecommunications never fail
Méduse superyacht for the very rich
fishing boat awaiting repatriation, two cargo
vessels, an oil tanker and about one hundred
sailing and power boats, for pleasure, racing
and cruising around Subic Bay and
beyond, ranging in size from 16 feet
to 100 feet in length.
Why are there so many boats in
Subic Bay? The answer is multifaceted.
Until 1991, US Navy Base Subic
Bay was the Asian home of the US
Seventh Fleet, and the maritime
facility that the US Government
created now provides all of the
198-foot Meduse, one of the most
expensive superyachts in the world,
originally owned by Paul Allen, cofounder
of Microsoft (he has a few
more, and larger); and, Maiden
Hongkong, the most expensive sailing
yacht in Asia, owned by Hong Kong
business tycoon, Frank Pong, without
her mast. There was also: a Korean
Maritime University training vessel,
two floating dry docks, a brace of
trawlers awaiting conversion into luxury
yachts, a coastguard cutter waiting to
be repaired, an impounded Taiwanese
Korean Maritime University visiting
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SCTEx is cut through the
foothills of the Zambales
mountains, with an
almost unbroken vista
of farmland, eucalyptus
& mango plantations,
and semi-cultivated
forest, with the verdant
mountains and valleys as
backdrop.
One of two floating dry docks
infrastructure required to build, service and
maintain virtually any size of boat.
The US Navy officially relinquished the base to
the Philippine Government on 24 th November
1992, and the newly formed Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority envisioned the creation
of the best maritime commerce and leisure
center in Asia - Subic Bay is, after all, at the
geographic center of South East Asia and East
Asia.
The Subic Bay Yacht Club
was built to accommodate
pleasure boats and sailing
yachts because they knew
the rich and famous, and the
simply enthusiastic, would
want a place to play boats
away from the crowded and
relatively polluted waters of
Manila Bay.
Subic Bay is home to the
largest yacht chandler
in the Philippines -
Broadwater Marine - who
offer seven-days-a-week service to the boating
and maritime industry and where you can buy
almost any bit for any boat, with almost all
items imported from Australia or the USA to
guarantee the highest quality.
There are at least three boat builders located
in Subic Bay making power boats and assorted
other pleasure craft, such as Rigid Inflatable
Boats (RIBs). Although the boats are mostly
built for export, a number are purchased by
The grand buildings of
the Subic Bay Yacht Club
stand testimony to this
vision. However, it took
more than a decade, and
the opening of the Subic
Clark Tarlac Expressway
(SCTEx) in April 2008, before Subic Bay and
the yacht club became the desirable, accessible
alternative for Manileños. Now, with a travel
time of around two hours, Subic Bay Freeport
is almost as convenient as Manila Bay to wellheeled
Fort Bonifacio dwellers, and certainly
the journey offers far more beautiful scenery
then a congested Buendia or Quirino Avenue
ever could - after slicing across Clark Field, the
One hundred sailing and power boats
local buyers who have the budget to buy the
best for a little less.
Yacht conversion is also a specialist industry
that has found a home in Subic Bay. Out-ofcommission
trawlers and smaller commercial
vessels are completely stripped and refitted
as luxury motor yachts. In many cases the
structure of the boat is changed as much as
the interior and any likeness to the original
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In Subic Bay Freeport you can rent everything
boat is lost under the expertise of the welder’s
torch. The largest boat builder in Subic Bay is,
Korean, Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction
(HHIC), who manufacture all
kinds of massive cargo vessels
- from containers ships to oil
tankers. The Hanjin shipyard, on
the North shore of Subic Bay,
occupies the huge blue roofed
buildings that can be seen from
almost all vantage points around
the Subic Bay Freeport.
So much for the commercial
side of Subic Bay. Why would
someone choose to travel to
Subic Bay to play boats?
In Subic Bay
Freeport you can
rent: a kayak, a
sailing dinghy, a
sailing yacht, a
power boat, a motor
cruiser, a parasail, a
jet ski or a seaplane
with which to satisfy
virtually any dream.
Or, you can go fishing
off the wharf and go
game fishing outside
the mouth of the Bay.
There is an old adage
that suggests, “all
boats are for sale” and, if you are thinking of
buying a boat, walking along the dock is a good
way to meet people who are selling.
We mentioned the Subic Bay
Yacht Club, which offers a
cost effective place to keep
a boat, that is safe from
typhoons; across the marina
is the Watercraft venture boat storage and
maintenance facility. But what Subic Bay offers,
that no other bay in the Philippines (or arguably
Asia) can, is access to a body of water that:
is largely clean; is sheltered from large waves
and ocean swells; has bays and coves for
secluded picnics; features attractive scenery
from sunrise to sunset; still has large numbers
& variety of fish and assorted marine life; and, a
gentleman’s sailing breeze that starts at around
10am every almost morning and eases into the
evening.
All boats are For Sale
If you get bored with the water fun of Subic Bay,
there are: tennis courts, golf clubs, beaches
for volleyball, swimming pools, running tracks,
ocean aquariums, rain forest adventures,
jungle survival courses and more specialty
restaurants, coffee shops and bars than you
can realistically visit within one week.
Subic Bay is a water sports destination with
all of the facilities that one may expect on
the Australian Gold Coast or in Long Beach,
California, but at a price tag that fits the more
modest Asian budget.
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The best way to get to Subic Bay is to drive
your own car (4-wheel drive not required)
because the public transport infrastructure is
not so frequent or accessible, and taxis are
as expensive as Metro Manila’s yellow airport
taxis. Once “on-base” remember to obey all the
road signs and rules of the road, otherwise you
will be stopped by Subic Bay Freeport traffic
enforcers who are proud of their reputation for
honesty and of being deaf to those who may
have kissed the Stone of Eloquence.
If you choose public transport then there are
air-conditioned buses from Cavite, Pasay and
Cubao (Metro Manila), San Fernando and Dao
(Pampanga) that will drop you in Olongapo
City from where you can take many forms of
transport (taxi, jeepney, tricycle, pedicab) to
the Freeport’s Main Gate. Victory Liner offer
an express, direct-to-the-Freeport service,
that travels the SCTEx, from their Cubao bus
terminal, that takes around two-and-a-half
hours.
If you are in Angeles City then there is a third
option. The Fly The Bus Service from the
Swagman Travel office in Angeles City, will
deliver you to Subic Bay Freeport, and all the
way to the beach resorts of Barrio Barretto,
every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Once “on-base” you can find buses to major
tourist destinations, e.g. the duty free stores and
supermarkets and all the way South to Ocean
Adventure . . . the road to Ocean Adventure
takes you past most of the main, off-water
attractions within the Subic Bay Freeport.
If you want some ideas for where to stay in
Subic Bay Freeport then I can personally
recommend the Lighthouse Marina Resort
Hotel. If you are thinking of staying “off-base”,
in Barrio Barretto, then I can recommend: the
Palm Tree Resort and Harleys Pub & Hotel.
I can offer no personal recommendation for
hotels in Olongapo City proper.
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he plan was to camp overnight on one of the beaches
T inside Silanguin Cove with my buddies from the La Salle
Green Hills Outdoor 70 (LSGH OD70) group - a bunch of
middle-aged men who like to go trekking and camping. Four
members had confirmed (five including me): Rey Adriano,
Bambi Guevara, Johnny Valdes and our honorary member,
Lito Nazareno.
Out Of Subic: Silanguin Cove Day Trip
words and photographs by Mario Nazareno
Mario is the Sales Manager of Watercraft Venture in Subic Bay
As the day approached, one by one they
begged off with some last minute unforeseen
event that popped up. I felt like canceling
the trip, but I had a deadline to meet (this
article) and, as there were no tropical
cyclones forecast within the Philippine Area of
Responsibility, this might be my only chance
before rough seas and stormy weather set in. I
had no choice but to go it alone with “PJ”, one
of our boat operators.
Silanguin Cove (near 120 deg 07’ E, 14 deg
44’ N) is a few miles northwest of the entrance
to Subic Bay, facing the South China Sea.
The cove is surrounded by a 20km by 15km
mountainous area dominated by Cinco Picos
(the five peaks).
The PALMC (Philippine Airline Mountaineering
Club) had plans to create a track that would
traverse Cinco Picos from a jump-off point
near Subic town, to end up in Silanguin Cove
or Nagsas Cove (next cove to the north).
PALMC scaled the Cinco Picos last year but
did not proceed further. So for all intents and
purposes, Silanguin Cove is accessible only
by boat or helicopter . . . or a 2-day hike. This
made Silanguin an attractive destination to me
– hopefully far enough away from the ravages
of commercialism (so far) but close enough to
be accessed by a small speedboat.
After gassing up at our fuel-dock and checking
the few things we needed to bring - like extra
fuel, drinking water, some snacks, life vests
and a small anchor - we headed out of the
Watercraft Venture’s marina. I chose to use
the 14’ SeaRay jet-boat over the 17’ prop-drive
speedboat because it had the advantage of
having a shallower draft and no propeller to
get damaged – charts of the area are not up
to date and when entering unfamiliar waters I
want to minimize the risk of hitting rocks and
reefs lurking unseen below the surface. As we
headed out towards the mouth of Subic Bay,
we caught up with my boss’ crew aboard his 25’
racing sailboat, training a new 15 year old crew
member how to deploy the spinnaker.
I had cruised and sailed Subic Bay quite a few
22

times but had never made it passed Grande
Island - the once-upon-a-time recreational/
resort island developed by the US Navy
during their stay here. Approaching Grande
Island the Cinco Picos, and the Zambales
mountains extending to the North, loomed
large on our starboard side. The water
became choppy as we headed out into the
open sea. We encountered a solitary sailboat
entering the bay heeled over as it sailed
in on a close reach, it’s white underbelly
partially exposed like a whale gliding
smoothly and quietly across the water.
After rounding Sueste Point, where a small
lighthouse marks the coastline and warns
errant ships of
it’s jagged rocks,
our destination
was not far
away. Before our
departure I had
consulted with
Mang Johnny,
our most senior
boat operator,
and he advised
me that at high
tide we could
take a shortcut
through a break
in the southern
arm of the cove,
that would save
us some minutes.
I was glad I sat
at the bow as
we approached
the first break,
Active
BOATING AND WATERSPORTS
I noticed rocks playing peek-a-boo as the tide
ebbed and rose, then I remembered Mang
Johnny pointed on the map to the second
break as the entrance. We proceeded there
and entered at just above idling speed; local
fishermen gave us a thumbs up confirmation as
we proceeded cautiously through the narrow
passage. Because it was about 2-hours short
of the highest tide of the day, we made it
through with what seemed to be between two
to three feet of clear water beneath our hull. If
we were using a boat with a stern drive or an
outboard powered boat, the shortcut would not
be worth the risk for the few minutes saved.
What greeted us was an awesome and serene
sight. Silanguin Cove is about 2-kilometers in
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diameter; several white, sandy beaches mark
its perimeter; flat waters perfect for kayaking,
jetskiing or even wakeboarding; and,
mountains almost completely surrounding the
cove in a protective embrace. It reminded me
of Tinagong Dagat in the Negros Occidental
mountains, an amphitheater like setting, only
much, much bigger.
Only a few people: in one part of the cove,
there were about a dozen floating fish-pens
breeding “Pampano” fish. We arrived just at
feeding time. One of the caretakers told me
that the fish were being sold for export to
China.
Continuing around the cove under power,
nipa-huts sprouted along one beach,
apparently built by enterprising fisherman
to rent to tourists who wanted to take
their packed lunches in the shade. After
determining which beaches were not rocky,
I instructed PJ to beach our boat and lost no
time in diving into its clear blue waters.
What a beautiful place! still unspoiled by too
many people and resorts, perfect for overnight
camping or day picnic with friends and family.
5 minutes and we were at the Causeway - the
entrance to the typhoon shelter that protects
Subic Bay Yacht Club marina and our own
Watercraft Marina; we power down and glide
slowly into the pontoon and tie-up.
After a quick shower, it was time to
download the photos and write my story. I
hope you enjoyed it. I look forward to returning
to Silanguin sometime October or November.
Regards to everyone and see you here in
Subic on any weekend for a day trip around
the bay or, maybe out to Silanguin Cove?
After eating our tuna paella lunch, and taking
our trash with us, PJ stowed our anchor in
the bow locker and we set-off without any
fuss or drama. The ride back into Subic Bay
took five minutes longer than the outbound
trip because the waves were bigger and we
were going against the tide, now on its ebb. It
took 50 minutes from Silanguin Cove to buoy
no.19 - the buoy directly in front of the Subic
Bay Seaport building – the home of Seaport
Traffic Control where Doppler radar and high
powered binoculars are employed to monitor
vessels moving in and out of the port. Another
24

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A Sea Story:
Alone and Lonely
by Bruce Curran
Areal sailboat is a true work of science woven into art. It takes a remarkable
designer to produce something that harness nature to move from one place
to another.
Last Wednesday afternoon, my boat glided
smoothly into waters shallow enough to anchor
off Bagambamgan Island, off the northern
tip of Palawan. She rode at anchor, half a
mile offshore, and I settled down for a classic
tropical sunset and a quiet night in paradise. I
“Cape North
peacefully at
anchor: alone”
“Cape North finally closes on Puerto Princesa”
was all alone on my 43 foot ketch, Cape North,
at peace with myself and at one with nature.
Nature though, had other plans. At 3.30 a.m.
I awoke; the wind had veered around to the
north - it was the amihan with a vengeance. I
could not stay on anchor in these conditions
in my newly exposed position, and the boat
began to toss and turn and heave noisily on
the anchor chain. I had to move.
I hung on literally and metaphorically until
dawn: 5 a.m. I began the ordeal of raising the
anchor. The engine pushed the boat towards
the building seas and I leapt repeatedly
between the cockpit and the foredeck, as the
boat rolled from side to side; I pulled madly on
the rope leading into the murky grey, meanlooking
waters of the Sulu Sea. The anchor
chain appeared out of the water and I placed
it hurriedly over the anchor windlass. Twenty
minutes is an eternity in the heat of a worrying
moment, miraculously the anchor broke away
on a rising wave and the boat immediately
started drifting towards the rocky shore.
The anchor itself appeared like a silvery gift out
of the waters. The hard work done, I ran back to
the steering wheel and headed out to sea, away
from the increasingly angry noise of the waves
on the shore. I stood sweating and puffing and
thoroughly worn out by all the activity. At least
now I could rest before raising sail to carry me
away, towards Dumaran Island to the south
east.
The day had dawned gray & grissly, and
between me and Dumaran lay many islands and
27

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reefs. I checked
the charts and set
a course.
Recovering myself,
I set three small
sails, designed
to minimise the
stress on boat and
boatman in the
stormy conditions.
Under storm jib,
triple reefed main
and mizzen, the
boat ambled
through the seas,
duckling & diving,
and ploughing like
the work horse she
is.
“Another Tropical Palawan Sunset”
I knew that there
where many rocks and shallow shoals in this
area, and since I did not have the detailed
chart, against all my wishes and desires, I
decided to push on towards the darkness of
another night. I dropped all sails and motored
as evening approached.
There I was: shattered, alone and starting to
feel the inner rush of loneliness. No one else to
take on any of the responsibility, and no choice
but to press on. I recalled the many otherwise
glossy images of these tropical islands and
cursed my predicament for which I alone was
to blame. Then the seas subsided and nature
gave me a break.
The boat sat silent for 30-minutes on a flattened
sea, I took the luxury of another cup of tea
with honey & milk. The ordeal before me was
set aside for a moment of intense luxury and
pleasure.
The night came fast; as black as the ace of
spades, the stars were mercifully twinkling in
their thousands and amongst them I recognized
some old friends. At heart, I felt an intense
loneliness; I began singing to myself and talking
to the boat like an old friend.
Keeping yourself awake and on an exact
compass course of 230 degrees, when all you
want to do is lie down and sleep, is an ordeal of
its own. The first hour seemed eternal, but
then there was another 10 to get through
before the sun would give relief again.
Each time my body slipped away, my mind
would fight back and remind me that it was
course 230 degrees or else!
Half images of people flicked before me,
past experience flashed vividly within me
as together, my boat and I, we ambled on
through the night to the regular beat of the
faithful engine.
At last it was time for dawn, but it came
with a chill - with a herd of black clouds and
rain. The sun sat far away and cast only
a little light into the new day. The winds
began to build again and I pressed on
towards my destination.
I had made it into another day, untouched
by shoals or reefs, steady on 230 degrees;
40 miles to go to Puerto Princesa,
Palawan. The day slowly filled with blissful
sunshine. Under the biggest foresail giving,
I had the thrill of a roller-coaster ride -
surfing down the rollers - flying at 8-knots
across a sparkling sea.
In three hours of blissful fantasy I played
with the sea and revelled in the ecstasy of
sailing. It is a boatman’s lot to balance the
28

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agony with this ecstasy . . . there is nothing quite
like it on Earth.
My loneliness turned to life in all its essence;
I smiled and cackled the sweet laughter of life
itself. I faced nature and come through terrified,
defiant, successful, conquering, humbled and
glad the ordeal was nearly over.
I ran through the harbour entrance towards the
anchorage and was met by three foreigners in
a small boat. As my anchor hit bottom and held
fast, they ferried me ashore to a bar full of fellow
sailors.
My tales of ‘how big the sea serpents were’ were
swallowed in the moments of camaraderie and
instant friendships. I had been at sea, alone and
lonely for 39-hours, without sleep or a full meal.
Smelling like a sea serpent, I ate like a horse
before slipping away to a hotel room and falling
into that wondrous sleep - the blissful sleep of
the gods.
“Skipper Bruce Curran”
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International Philippines Sailing:
SELMA STAR
Photographs by Avery Datol
In July, the Philippine yachting team, aboard Jun
Avecilla’s Selma Star (Beneteau First 36.7),
won its fourth-straight crown in the 7th Borneo
International Yachting Challenge (BIYC) held in
Sarawak, Labuan and Sabah, Malaysia. Subic
Bay-based yachting team, Selma Star, posted
a rare feat in the tournament, against 50 of the
Asia region’s best sailing yachts and crews. A
second Philippine yacht, Harry Taylor’s Irresistible
(Mariveles-built S&S 36), was fifth overall.
Lighthouse Marina Resort President, Jun Avecilla,
and Subic Bay Yacht Club Commodore, Ricky
Sandoval, led the 2010 squad in topping the
Challenge’s five individual races.
Jun Avecilla
and wife Lilia
celebrate
the fourth
victory
The Selma Star team ruled the harbor races at Miri
Bay and Kota Kinabalu Bay, as well as the Mirito-Labuan
and Labuan-to-Kota Kinabalu passage
races.
The 36.7-foot Selma Star, sponsored by Calibre,
topped the International Racing Class Division A to
complete its domination against all foreign rivals.
The Philippines won its first championship crown
under Jun’s direction in 2007, and continued its
winning streak in the 2008 and 2009 editions of
the Borneo Challenge, which is “regarded as the
top sailing event off the Malaysian island of Borneo
which promotes its rich waters as a global water
sports mecca.”
According to Jun, most significant factor in achieving
victory, apart from the excellent teamwork of the
crew, was, “the new sails from Hyde Sails of Cebu . .
. in particular the ‘crispy’ jib”.
Jun explained that,
although many
of Selma Star’s
sails were recently
added, the jib “was
crispy and straight
out of the bag for
the first race . . . we
did not know how it
would perform but it
was superb”.
International sail
manufacturer Hyde
Sails have been
producing sails for
racing and cruising
yachts in Cebu for almost a decade. Virtually all of
Hyde Sails’ manufacturing for their global market
comes from their facility on Mactan Island.
Arch rival, Simon Farmer’s, Ulumulu (Sydney
46), that beat Selma Star in the passage race last
year, was out-maneuvered this year by some deft
navigation through the shoals. Saving 30-minutes
with this daring maneuver, Selma Star finished
safely ahead of Ulumulu and the rest of the
otherwise tightly bunched race finishers.
Jun Avecilla is one of the founding members of the
Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailors (SAGS)
group in Subic Bay. The SAGS group aims to sail
whether or not the World is watching and you can
find them in Subic Bay, year-round, on alternate
Saturdays, enjoying the sport of sailing in the way
it has always been intended – with good humor,
camaraderie and driven by a purpose.
Safely back in Subic Bay, Active Boating And
Watersports had the chance to chat with a beaming
Jun Avecilla about his fourth straight win in the
Borneo Challenge. He quipped, “I think the hardest
part was choosing which race to throw away . . .
with five first places we had no choice but to throw
away a first”.
32

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