ABW Dec 2020-1

PGYC’S ALL SOUL’S REGATTA
BOATING INDUSTRY IN SUBIC BAY
PHILIPPINES’ CORAL REEFS ARE DYING
RTV EXERCISE IN THE TIME OF CORONA
CRUISING IN ANOTHER CENTURY
TYPHOON QUINTA NEAR DISASTER AT CORON
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAILING 2
VENDée GLOBE 2020 - 2021
Destination
VERDE ISLAND
PASSAGE
DEC 2020 Vol. IX Issue 4
ACTIVE BOATING & WATERSPORTS
PhP200

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3

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Another year has gone by so quickly, one wonders what has happened.
They usually say time flies when you are having fun, but unfortunately
2020 was not much fun for anybody with the Pandemic and lockdowns
causing chaos, heartbreak and a major disruption to everything we hold
dear and love.
Watersports was shelved completely and some bureaucrats still think it
is dangerous to swim or go sailing, which of course is a load of codswallop.
But it is good to see we are starting to make a comeback with
the All Souls Regatta still had a showing although the final day was
victim a of our third typhoon in a row. Subic Bay Sailing has also started
some sailing, and Lake Taal are holding sailing Practice for individuals
Because the Batangas bureaucrats still deem it unsafe to have the RTV
Regatta.
This edition we revisited Verde Island and Puerto Galera, But until the
restrictions are lifted to encourage tourism and rekindle the coffers
from the billions of Pesos lost in that area ,hotels and resorts are still
struggling to stay afloat. Let’s hope the government wake up to what is
happening before it is too late, and we can see employment plus all the
good things in life start to resurface.
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Blast From The Past 6
15 Years Of The All Soul’s Regatta
Boating Industry in Subic Bay 14
PGYC’s All Soul’s Regatta 22
Philippines’ Coral Reefs Are Dying 28
RTV Exercise In The Time Of Corona 36
Cruising In Another Century 42
Destination - VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE 50
Typhoon Quinta Near Disaster At Coron 70
Lifesaving And Covid-19 74
Youth Foiling World Cup In Hong Kong 78
Sailing Tips - The Development of Sailing 2 82
Vendée Globe 2020 - 2021 86
We wish all our readers and faithful advertisers and followers the very
best for the festive season and lets look to a Fresh Start 2021.
Barry Dawson Editor
PRINCESS Y85
Cover photo courtesy of RAYOMARINE
Destination - VERDE ISLAND
PASSAGE
Published quarterly by: ABW PUBLISHING
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Publisher: ROSALIE M. BAIRD
Managing Editor & Production: BARRY DAWSON
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Contributing Writers: BRUCE CURRAN & JAMES WEBSTER
Contributing Photographers: TERRY DUCKHAM & JOHNNY MARTINEZ
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No part can be copied or reproduced without the express
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4
The views expressed and advertisements published in Active Boating & Watersports
are those of the authors and advertisers, and not ABW Publishing.
ABW Publishing does not accept any liability whatsoever for errors or omissions.

5

Blast from
the Past
15 15 Years Years of of the the
All All Souls Souls Regatta
Cruiser Cruiser racers racers from various from various
countries countries as well as as well locals as locals
from other from yacht other clubs yacht such clubs such
as those as in those Manila, in Manila, Subic, Subic,
Busuanga Busuanga and Batangas and Batangas sail sail
in and in enjoy and the enjoy activities the activities
and camaraderie and camaraderie that that
come with come the with regatta. the regatta.
6

The Puerto Galera Yacht Club (PGYC) has been the
yacht club of choice for cruising yachts visiting
the Philippines, the natural sheltered harbor of
Muelle Bay and more than 20 visitor’s moorings
and the basic services PGYC provide visitors a serene
glimpse on what island life is like in the Philippines.
The availability of a myriad of activities on and off the
water also gives visitors reasons to stay longer. The dive
spots around Puerto Galera are an excellent showcase of
biodiversity that will enchant any diver, go snorkeling in
the bay or you can go spelunking in the caves or chase
waterfalls found in the vicinity, or just enjoy scenery and
hospitality of Puerto Galera, its people and Mindoro
province. Resorts abound for those looking to give their
sea legs a break, this range from the luxurious to the
classic bed and breakfast vibe.
The visitor moorings in Puerto Galera are usually fully
occupied once a year and mooring overflows are usually
accommodated in nearby sheltered anchorages, such as
nearby Varadero bay, this is for the PGYC Royal Cargo All
Souls Regatta.
The Puerto Galera Yacht Club (PGYC) Royal Cargo All
Souls Regatta has been a mainstay of the Philippine
Yachting scene for the past 15 years. It is one of the
most anticipated regattas for cruising and racing yachts.
Cruiser racers from various countries as well as locals
from other yacht clubs such as those in Manila, Subic,
Busuanga and Batangas sail in and enjoy the activities
and camaraderie that come with the regatta. A week
prior to this, PGYC holds its juniors regatta for locals who
benefit from the club’s year round sail training programs
on boats like Optimists and Lawin dinghies. Awards for
the Juniors regatta are presented during the All-Souls
regatta awarding ceremonies, allowing yachties to mingle
with potential future crew.
PGYC’s sail training program is headed by PGYC’s former
commodore Peter Stephens, it’s a great example of how
local yacht clubs can contribute their resources to benefit
the local community, think of it as a symbiotic relationship,
the locals appreciate and enjoy nature better keeping kids
off bad habits and developing skills and knowledge they
couldn’t have learned anywhere else,. Whilst the club
benefits in many ways, community relations and political
support are only some of them.
All Saints day and All Souls day on the first and second
day of November sometimes turn into long weekends,
allowing weekend sailors time off work and enjoy what
they love. Likewise, that time of the year is usually the
beginning of sailing season in Luzon coinciding with
the shift from the Southwest monsoon or Habagat to
Amihan or Northeast monsoon. Weather forecasts during
Amihan are generally accurate, providing weather ideal
for cruising as well as racing.
Yacht racing is a little more complicated than one-design
racing where all boats are the same. With no boats alike
Words by ROY ESPIRITU
Photographs as Credited
7

the governing body of yacht racing has set rules on
handicap rating boats allowing boats of different shapes
and sizes to race one another competitively, boats that
regularly race usually hold an International Rating
Certificate (IRC) indicating the boats’ handicap rating
allowing it to participate in regattas without having the
need to be measured and it’s handicap calculated each
time. PGYC has tweaked this handicapping concept a
little bit and came up with the Puerto Galera Yardstick
(PGY) handicap system, which rates actual performance
above the sometimes arcane theoretical dimensional
criteria which is more commonly used in yachting. This
regatta uses the ‘pursuit race format’, which means yachts
rated slower in PGY handicap start first and all the others
are released in a timely manner based on their boat’s
handicap rating. If the handicapper got his sums right,
and each boat performs well, the boats should cross the
finish line together. Such an outcome is unlikely, however,
although neck and neck competition is often evident
within the last half mile to the traditional finish fronting
Haligi Beach.
...one social event that
racers look forward to
that is always a hit among
the regatta participants
as well as the attending
sponsors is the Halloween
party...
The yachts are
divided in three
classes: the
Cruising class for
boats bustling
with creature
comforts; the IRC
or Racing class
8

for yachts dedicated to racing or that have been stripped
down to minimize weight and maximize speed; and the
Multihull Class comprising trimaran and catamaran yachts.
Racers usually race across the Verde Island passage (VIP)
rounding islands across the channel before heading for
the finish. The VIP with its flowing tides can be confusing
for newer sailors but big boat veterans know it well and
can handle it with no problems even when the conditions
turn the waters into a washing machine.
The All Souls Regatta is not just about racing, it’s a full
on party every night, but one social event that racers
look forward to that is always a hit among the regatta
participants as well as the attending sponsors is the
Halloween party that happens on the second night of
the regatta. This is where the sailors are more relaxed
primarily because most of the serious racing is out of the
way. Sailors don Halloween attire, them and their spouses
put their make-up skills to good use and try to outdo each

other even in that department. Prizes are awarded for best
in costume before or after the race awards presented from
the first two days of racing. The friendship, camaraderie,
storytelling with hand gestures indicating boat positions
that are comically referred to as sailing kungfu are all part
of the fun that endears the event to sailors and keeps
them coming back year after year.
The All Souls regatta would not have
grown and flourished if not for the
corporate sponsors that support
the event. Regular ardent sponsors
include Royal Cargo, Rayomarine,
Asian Tigers, The Philippine
Retirement Authority and Broadwater
Marine. Sponsors add essential value
At its peak the event
has seen 30 plus yachts
competing making it the
best attended big boat
regatta in the country.
to the event, one essential that is always there is the
welcome beer from Broadwater Marine stand that sailors
look forward to at the end of each race day. At its peak
the event has seen 30 plus yachts competing making it the
best attended big boat regatta in the country.
Like most watersports events affected by the COVID-19
pandemic this regatta was no
exception, participation and sponsor
interest slowed, but in keeping with 15
years of tradition the PGYC pushed on
and made the event happen, looking
forward to the time when everything
is back as it should be and no one
can say that an All Souls regatta was
cancelled.
10

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13

Words by BRIAN CALVERT
Photographs as Credited
Boating
Industry
in
Subic
14

There was a great 60s novel, “Been Down So Long
it Looks like Up to Me”, this became a popular
Boating Industry saying then and now it describes
the mood of so many in the recreational boating
industry, cautious yet beaming optimism abounds.
This industry, like many, has been hard
hit by the pandemic, so I wanted to talk
to some key players in the recreational
boating industry in Subic Bay.
Subic Bay has long been a haven for
shipping and military activity, the
natural harbor and protection provided
by the surrounding mountains keep
things safe and calm in the bay. In
the last decades and the immerging
recreational boating industry has grown
in the shadows of the larger enterprises. Now recreational
boating is a leading industry, creating many good-paying
jobs and supporting small businesses, so let’s take a look.
The first stop was a “virtual” visit to Subic Bay Metropolitan
Authority, Chairwoman Atty. Wilma ‘Amy’ T. Eisma. She
jumped at the chance to talk about her support of the
recreational boating industry in SBMA, stating there are
over 100 businesses in the industry in the area. From boat
building, repairs, and maintenance to supplies and crew,
Subic Bay is the center for pleasure
boating in the Philippines.
Noting the industry has been hit hard
by the pandemic the Chairwoman
was eager to discuss the future
of the industry in Subic Bay, as a
ring of enthusiasm enriched her
predictions. Subic Bay will be the
boating epicenter of the country if
not SE Asia she foretold. Boats from
the entire region can come here for
all their needs then enjoy the over 7000 islands, endless
anchorages, and world-class diving once things get back
to “normal”.
Subic Bay will be the
boating epicenter of
the country if not SE
Asia she foretold.
Subic Bay Yacht Club
Bay
15

BWM Subic Branch 003
So, let’s just see how some of these businesses are fairing
in these trying times. I spoke with Peter Baird, president
of Broadwater Marine, the largest marine chandlery in the
country. Peter said his business was down, mostly from
the walk-in trade at his six locations, the online trade was
holding well. Broadwater
... he hopes that
more Filipinos will
get into boating and
enjoy the wonders
it offers in the
Philippines.
marine has 46 employees,
over 30 are in the Subic
Bay location. He kept
all of them on the payroll
throughout the shutdown
a testament to Peter’s
ethics and optimism. We
talked about the future,
which has some interesting
possibilities. With international travel and tourism out of the
country losing its appeal, he hopes that more Filipinos will get
into boating and enjoy the wonders it offers in the Philippines.
Stay at home and see your wonderful country, and there is
no better way than on a nice boat. Social distancing away
from large gatherings means drop anchor with your family by
a white sandy beach on a remote island, all this adds up to
more boat sales and the gear that goes with them. Good news
for the boating industry.
Watercraft Venture, a full-service boatyard in Subic Bay,
offers recreational boats all that is needed for maintaining
or refitting a cruising boat. The modern travel lift is one
Peter Baird and Branch Managers
16

of the few in the country, allowing multiple boats to be
hauled and worked on at once. From bottom painting
to extensive refits, Watercraft is a needed asset to the
recreational boater. I dropped by the office of Butch
Laboten, the general manager to see how his business is
fairing. Like all others, he reported suffering through the
closing and a slow but rising recovery. With travel by boat
restricted many owners are not preparing their vessels as in
previous years, but the hoped-for easing of restrictions has
spawned a new vitality to the company.
Watercraft has thirty-four full-time employees, ranging
from selling new boats, rigging, and technical assistance
to bottom cleaning and painting. He reported a hint of
recovery in the boat sales department. As with the others
I talked to, he foresees a rise in recreational boating within
the Filipino community. Putting it bluntly, he said Covid
19 has given us a view of our mortality, we must live every
day to the fullest.
Chairwoman Amy
Butch had some great ideas for communicating with the
boating public on the ever-changing rules of popular
boating destinations. Posting contact info for the various
Coast Guard offices would be very helpful. Can I go to
Coron?, El Nido, what are the requirements.
The epicenter for pleasure boating is the Subic Bay Yacht
Club. The largest marina in the area if not the country,
Team-dock
17

offers plush amenities attractive to the cruising yachtsman.
Safe Secure berthing protected by natural barriers and
extraordinary security measures keeps yachts safe from
natural and man-made hazards. The club offers worldclass
amenities, two swimming pools, a small intimate gym,
two excellent restaurants, and a new clubhouse for member
gatherings and events. The true optimists can take a spin
at the new Casino, maybe win enough for that new radar!
I caught the busy marina manager in his flurry to prepare for
the next impending typhoon. Barry Alverado has taken on
the marina and grounds management and is making great
strides to service the
Aw but next year
may well see a surge
in pleasure boating,
which can provide safe,
excellent adventures
right here in the
Philippines.
resident boaters.
He reported the
marina has 178
berths ranging from
fifty feet to one
hundred feet. Today
the marina has
plenty of vacancies
so welcoming new
boats to come in.
The marina is home to well over one hundred good-paying
permanent jobs, boat washers, captains, technicians,
all working in the marina full time. Add to that the vast
amount of small private businesses that service the boats:
electrician, carpenters, sailmaker, air conditioning experts,
mechanics, all earning a living in the Yacht Club.
18
Things are blossoming again at the marina, Barry
enthusiastically reported. One indicator is the motorbike

2nd annual lighted parade
parking lot which was almost empty for the last few months
but now full of bikes which indicate the marina is full of
workers again. The Coast Guard is now issuing permission
to do “sea trial” within the bay, so many boats are casting
off for day trips, we hope this extends to exit permits in the
coming month. When international travel opens, we should
see boating life back to “near normal”.
The boating industry has always operated on a tinge of
blind optimism, and that has always served the industry
well. Life after Covid will see some changes, more tracking,
and a bit less freedom for boaters requiring more planning
and the incumbent paperwork. Aw but next year may well
see a surge in pleasure boating, which can provide safe,
excellent adventures right here in the Philippines.
Covid 19 did give us a glimpse at mortality, an eye-opener
for sure, This is a time to look at one’s life, reevaluate the
time we have, how to use it. When it is all over, which
do you want to remember, time spent at the office or time
spent with your family anchored off of a pristine white
beach enjoying life on your new boat?
19

PGYC’s
All Souls ‘
Regatta
2020
But not in 2020, between
the COVID-19 Pandemic
and the typhoons that
were devastating the
country it was a wonder
that it could be held at all.

Words & Photographs by
TERRY DUCKHAM/ASIAPIX STUDIOS
Not the best of times to try to hold a yacht regatta, but the
Puerto Galera Yacht Club managed to hold their annual All
Souls Regatta recently, despite typhoons and the Pandemic.
F
ive typhoons in five weeks. During which five yachts
anchored off Boquette were pushed onto the beach
or into the mangroves, one yacht, a 42’ Beneteau,
broken up against the seawall at Bacalyan, a massive
steel barge pushed ashore at the southern end of town and
a large tug stranded on a reef just out of town, hundreds of
trees down, roads closed, roofs blown away and of course no
electrical power, except for those with their own generators
or solar systems.
This was Puerto Galera in the weeks leading up to the Puerto
Galera Yacht Club’s 16th All Souls Regatta, held every year on
the All Souls weekend at the end of October since 2004. It is
the biggest yacht regatta of its kind held in the Philippines
and normally fields 25-30 yachts with crews coming from
Manila, Hong Kong and as far away as the UK and Australia
to compete in the three-day event.
But not in 2020, between the COVID-19 Pandemic and the
typhoons that were devastating the country it was a wonder
that it could be held at all.
The Philippine Coastguard had given tentative permission
for the regatta to be held pending storm signals and weather
conditions on the day, and as the scheduled day approached
Typhoon Rolly swept in and the event was moved to the
following week. Race days were now November 6,7 and 8.
On a final count the competing fleet was now down to nine
local yachts, but with newly relaxed travel restrictions some
crews were going to be able to make the journey from Manila
and further north to attend. While another storm was brewing
out in the Pacific, it remained outside the Philippine Area of
Responsibility as race day approached and crews were able to
take their boats out for sea trials to test rigging and equipment
so recently punished by multiple typhoons and storms. It is
worth noting that none of the yachts riding on PGYC moorings
suffered any significant storm damage during these storms,
particularly Typhoon Quinta the most vicious of all.

While everyone kept a weather eye on satellite images and
storm tracking forecasts it looked as if the problem was going
to be, disappointingly, not enough wind on the first race day,
not too much!
However, the wind gods relented and PGYC’s All
Souls Regatta 2020 got off to a brisk start on
Friday morning with the fleet heading out of the
Bay through the Manila
channel with a strong 10-
15 knot Easterly behind
them racing to the new
Minolo mark just west of
Balatero.
One yacht down, as
the Magayon II’s crew
had been delayed
and would not be arriving until Saturday,
the fleet of now eight yachts rounded
the Minolo mark and beat across the
Verde Island Passage to round Chicken
Feather Island at the entrance to
Batangas Bay. These were Seahawk
(previously the PGYC’s sail-training
yacht Genivere II), Tudor Rose
(previously China Rose), Columbus,
Danny II, Karis, Irresistible, Soniya
and Emocean I.
...it looked as if the
problem was going to
be, disappointingly, not
enough wind on the first
race day, not too much!
Danny II ran into difficulties when
its steering gear failed forcing
them to retire from the race and
make the journey back using
their sails only to navigate
home. Well done Martyn and
crew.
The lively conditions
meant the yachts made
swift crossings and were
all across the finish line
off Haligi Beach in just over three hours
with less than 20 minutes between the
first and last yacht. Clive Stamp’s Tudor
Rose took line honours which, under the
PGYC pursuit racing format that has the
start staggered by handicap, is also first
place. Kareem Magill’s ‘party boat’ Soniya
followed in a very close second place with
Colin McLean’s Karis
third.
Day Two saw the
winds swing to the
Southeast and drop
to under five knots
in the morning. The
course to be run
that day was down
to Verde Island and around the southern
mark on the Puerto Galera side of the
island, not around the entire island but
still a long haul in light winds, and so it
proved for a number of yachts.
Seahawk got away first with her new
owner, Mark Amdal, at the helm and
sailed well to hold her position and
round the Verde Mark ahead of the
rest of the fleet. However, Kevin
Moylan’s Irresistible, under the
experienced hand of PGYC’s Peter
Stevens, sailed a fine tactical race to
round just minutes behind them and
overhaul them on the run home to
take first place.
John Quirk’s Columbus was around
next and taking full advantage
of the large Code Zero borrowed
from his vintage 8 metre yacht
Anthea was soon making good
time towards home.
While the rest of the fleet had all
had to tack around Escarecero
Point and make the long leg
down towards Bulabod Beach
24

efore tacking back to the Verde Island mark, Soniya managed
to sail a course directly across from Escarecero Point to the
mark, closing the gap with the rest of the fleet and rounding
the mark just seconds after Tudor Rose and Karis. But the
wind had already been dropping and the current was running
stronger and now against the fleet.
The wind conditions and current that had helped Soniya
catch up now ran against them as they pursued and overtook
Tudor Rose, but also taking a course closer to Escarecero
Point where the current was much stronger.
Bringing up the rear was Michael Rauber’s 63‘ Swan Emocean
I followed by the Grumert family crew, skipped by Miriam
Grumert, in Magayon II. Both now hampered by dropping
winds and strong current.
In the end, the current and wind conditions proved too
much for both Magayon II and Tudor Rose who both retired.
Danny II was still under repair and did not start, leaving
seven yachts to finish.
26
Seahawk followed Irresistible finished across the line to take
second place with Columbus third, leaving the remaining

three yachts to struggle home against the tide and under
light airs.
Day Three dawned with the Storm Signal #1 raised and the
race on hold until the Coastguard reviewed the weather
conditions later in the day, but the wind continued to rise
and was soon blowing at 20-25 knots with rising seas,
leading to the race being cancelled. A disappointment for all,
but particularly of the crew of Danny II who had raced to
make repairs around the clock and where ready to sail.
Overall race honours went to Irresistible with Karis in second
place and Soniya in third.
The following days saw Typhoon Ulysses cut a yet another
swath of destruction across Catanduanes, Camarines Sur,
Bicol, Albay, Laguna and Cavite leaving devastating floods
and damage in its path. All in all, the PGYC sailors were very
lucky to be able to enjoy their two days of regatta and even
luckier that Ulysses passed further north sparing Puerto
Galera this time.
27

Philippines’Coral
Reefs Are Dying
Words by JAMES WEBSTER
Photographs as Credited
28

The worlds beautiful coral reefs are dying due to
the stresses of climate change. The rise in ocean
temperatures triggers coral bleaching and ocean
acidification, making it hard for coral to build shells
and skeletons.
Corals’ stunning coloration emanates from symbiotic algae,
which also nourish them. When rising
ocean temperatures or ultraviolet
light stress the corals, they lose their
colorful algae, leaving only transparent
tissue covering their white calciumcarbonate
skeletons. If the stresses
are sustained, the corals die. Even
small increases in water temperature
can cause coral bleaching.
The intensity and
frequency of coral
bleaching has increased
significantly over the
past 30 years, causing
death or severe
damage to one-third of
the world’s corals.
Since 1950, global mean sea surface temperatures have risen
roughly 1° F (0.6° C) which is enough to cause widespread
damage to coral reefs. The intensity and frequency of coral
bleaching has increased significantly over the past 30 years,
causing death or severe damage to one-third of the world’s
corals.
The second largest coral reef system in
South-East Asia is situated in Philippine
waters shrouding 10,000 square miles
(26,000 square kilometers) of the
Philippines coast. Covering 67,877
acres off the coast of Mindoro is the
Apo Coral Reef which is the world’s
largest continuous reef behind
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The reefs
coralreef.noaa.gov
29

Philippine’s dead corral reef
support extraordinary biodiversity, including more than 400
species of hard coral, 12 of which are unique to the area,
and more than 900 species of reef fish and it is all suffering
more than most due to human activity.
The Philippines relies on this great natural resource for
fishing and tourism which is valued at over US$2 billion
yearly and the reefs certainly do not need humans to add to
their suffering and destruction.
In excess of 80% of
tropical forests and
mangroves have been
cleared allowing an
abundance of sediment
and nutrients to flow
onto and choke reefs.
It is not just illegal
fishing practices (laws
that are not enforced
by authorities)
that are destroying
coral reefs in the
Philippines. While
techniques such as
blast fishing and
poison fishing (where
fisherman use cyanide
to stun fish which also kills coral) are the major cause of the
reefs demise, there are other human factors aiding in the
death of coral reefs in the Philippines.
30
In excess of 80% of tropical forests and mangroves have
been cleared allowing an abundance of sediment and
nutrients to flow onto and choke reefs.

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31

Almost two fifths of South East Asia’s coral reefs have
been totally destroyed with only 10% of Philippines reefs
considered healthy. 98% of Philippines reefs are considered
endangered and 70% are in the high or very high risk
category.
While there is nothing can be done about climate change.
That is something that has been occurring since day
one of planet
It is about time
governments started to
protect coral reefs before
they join dinosaurs as
something from the past...
earth causing
much death and
destruction in a
great variety of
ways. There is,
however, a great
deal that can be
done in preventing
human practices helping to stress these beautiful and
valuable earth resources.
32
It is about time governments started to protect coral reefs
before they join dinosaurs as something from the past that
we just read about.

33

34

35

Roy’s 44 kilometer track around Pulo
In the Philippine sailing regatta calendar, the 3rd
weekend of November has always been reserved for
the Taal Lake Yacht Club’s (TLYC) signature event,
the Round Taal Volcano (RTV) Regatta. Regular
readers of this magazine can always expect coverage of
the RTV gracing the December issue of Active Boating
and Watersports. This was only skipped in 2017, when
the Hobie fleet lost 20 boats in an incident involving a
cargo banca during the Hobie Challenge of the same year.
That void in the regatta calendar was filled in by the first
ever Oz Goose National Championships, allowing the new
sailing dinghy class to rise to a whole new level.
Junard and Joy sailing hard
Junard B
2020 was not a year that was particularly good for TLYC, or
any resorts around Taal Lake for that matter. On 12 January
2012, a second Sunday, and a scheduled monthly race day
at TLYC, Taal Volcano started to erupt, shaking the ground,
spewing steam, smoke and ash for miles around. Residents
around the volcano were evacuated and establishments
had to close for more than a month.
36
Words by ROY ESPIRITU
Photographs by
PETER CAPOTOSTO
& as Credited

During RTV, Geese do not go
around Pulo Volcano island
because of the amount of time it
takes them to complete the trip.
Pulo Volcano Island
Circumnavigation of 8
Oz Geese and a Kayak
RTV Exercise
in the
time of
Corona
On the second Sunday of March, the town of Talisay and
TLYC had recovered enough to allow tourism and racing
to resume, plans were even in the offing to hold the Oz
Goose nationals in the last weekend of that month. Then,
the pandemic put a stop to everything. All establishments
around the lake had to close, tourism, which took a huge
hit from the volcano’s eruption, was now completely
shuttered. Outsiders were not allowed into the province
for months.
Six months later, with lockdowns eased, visitors can
finally visit Batangas, however, tourist establishments
had to remain closed. Government directives prevented
establishments with overnight accommodations and
enclosed spaces to open, TLYC however does not have
either of those, allowing it to open on a limited basis for
members doing boat maintenance and exercise. Sailing,
being a physical activity and a form of exercise is one of
the activities that are allowed, racing and sailing for leisure
however, are not permitted.
Hobie Sailors and Goose sailors started trickling back to
their favorite sailing spot in Talisay, not as often as before
but they at least can scratch that sailing itch if they wanted
to, provided that health and safety protocols were observed.
With RTV still pretty much canceled, a few die hard goose
sailors namely myself, Paulo and Thom decided to have an
impromptu, unsanctioned trip around volcano island on the
same weekend when the RTV was supposed to be. During
RTV, Geese do not go around Pulo Volcano island because
of the amount of time it takes them to complete the trip.
Paulo and I did the trip last year and it took us 6 hours and
20 minutes, the current standing record for Geese, while
Hobie 16s who do go around the volcano during RTV can
complete the trip in less than half that time.
I posted a notice on a viber group to find out who might
be interested in doing the trip and received a few yes’ and
a few maybes. Michael Storer, the designer of the Goose
was initially against the idea because of the wide range
37

of skill levels in the interested group and tried to have a
simpler parallel event, but eventually realized that breaking
up the fleet was not a good idea. When Peter Capotosto,
Commodore of TLYC heard of the plan, he volunteered
on personal capacity to skipper a safety boat that would
follow the fleet. Michael then presented a better idea that
eventually made the trip a success. He volunteered along
with another expert goose sailor Job Ferranco to be spare
skippers on the safety boat to assist
sailors who might be having difficulty
going around Pulo.
Prior to that weekend, three storm
systems battered Luzon namely Quinta,
Rolly and Ulysses with Ulysses leaving the
Philippine area of responsibility just two
days before the planned date of the trip,
this gave some of the newer skippers and
maybe even Michael apprehensions about the exercise. Two
positive things came about from these storms; one, the force
of the wind and waves washed the floating flora of weeds
onto the shore allowing TLYC management and staff to clear
them easily; two, the water level on the lake became a foot
or so higher. The higher water level and the clearing of the
weeds allowed boats to launch and return easier than before.
On the day of the trip we were expecting around five boats
to participate, but when the day came we had nine, 8
Geese and one sea kayak paddled by veteran paddler Eli
Napolitano. The core group of geese sailors were joined by
Joy, a one legged Grab delivery rider with his friend Junard,
and relatively new sailors, Ari and Lito each sailing their
own boats, two surprise additions were Bong, a TLYC staff
member, and former TLYC race officer Jason, who was one
of the best Goose racers among the
...most of the western
side of volcano island
had a thick layer of
volcanic ash, most of
the island was an eerie
gray.
TLYC staff, proven during a time when
races were still allowed on the lake.
Lito had a brand new boat that he was
able to finish just a week prior, and
being the newest sailor in the group
it was only prudent to assign Job to
coach him and join him on this trip. To
ensure that all the boats arrived back
before dark, it was determined that it would be best to leave
at around 08:00. After rigging the boats and a quick briefing
by Peter and the organizers informing the participants of
the planned course, and telling them that this wasn’t a race,
boats with crew were also advised to wear masks. At 08:30
they were off to their boats. I was the last one to leave shore
at 08:43.
A portion of the western side of
Pulo covered in volcanic ash
Bong going through the white
caps on the way back to TLYC
Five of the Six boat Goose fleet weaving
their way through the fish cages
38

Bong, Jason, Lito with Job, followed by Eli headed to the
island first, followed by Ari, then Joy with Junard, then the
core group of Thom, Paul and myself bringing up the rear.
It was an easy broad reach to a run to the start of “fish pen
alley” on the Laurel and Agoncillo side of the lake. Wind was
forecasted to be 5 to 18 knots on that day, upon departure
it was blowing between 7 to 10 knots, perfect cruising
weather for a Goose. It only took the fleet an hour to cover
the eight kilometers to get to fish pen alley on the western
side of the lake.
Eli on hiis kayak
catching up to
Lito and Job
The sea state around the fish cages is usually flat, shielded
from the weather by volcano island and the mainland,
that is the main reason why there are so many fish cages
there. It’s usually an obstacle course going through there
but a relatively easy one because it’s mostly a downwind to
reaching course during Amihan. The first group chose to go
through the channel through the middle but closer to the
volcano, while Bong went on a sightseeing trip, and took a
route closer to volcano island. The second half of the fleet
chose a course a little closer to the mainland, where there
was a little more wind.
Geese navigating the fish cages
while egrets watch
Cruising through the cages the fleet couldn’t help but
notice the devastation brought about by the volcano’s
recent eruption. Vegetation was starting to grow on some
parts but most of the western side of volcano island had
a thick layer of volcanic ash, most of the island was an
eerie gray. The fish cages however were a hive of activity,
some men were feeding the fish or just hanging out in the
small huts and some were even taking videos of us on their
smartphones as we passed through. There was also constant
boat traffic from boats of different sizes, I even thought I’d
collide with one as he was approaching me, then my boat
stopped, he was only going to come to tell me that there
was a rope underwater where I was going to pass. I raised
the daggerboard to clear the obstruction, thanked the man
and was off again.
Half way through the cages Peter caught up to the fleet
and took photos of the Geese, the birds, the island, and life
among the fish cages. Everyone enjoyed the cruise through
fish pen alley’s flat water, videos taken of the scene made
it seem that the sailboats were moving effortlessly through
the water as if with electric motors. The fleet exited the
channel at more or less the same time at around 11:00, Eli
on his kayak hugged the island shore where the water was
paddler friendly, stopping for a break on the island for rest
and nourishment. From here on for the sailors it was the
long upwind slog to Bubuin island on the eastern side of
Pulo volcano island.
The return trip on the other side was upwind in light to
moderate conditions, some boats cruised closer to shore,
some stayed in the middle, while Paulo chose a path with
the least number of tacks and headed for Cuenca on the
southern side of the lake. I chose a relatively efficient
Job and Lito wearing masks to be
consistent with health protocols
Mr. Storer coaching from the
the Safety Boat
39

course in clear air. Light winds are usually shifty, so I rode
the lifters and tacked on the headers. Looking at my gps
track at the end of the trip it did show curves in my tracks
where I stayed on the lifters, I counted a total of 32 tacks
on this trip. (On the last one I did less than 10.) The fleet
was all over the place, as the skippers tried to find their way
back home. This was a challenge for the
rescue boat, but they knew which sailors
to look out for, while I kept tabs on those
who were in front including Paulo and
Thom, their red and blue sails were easy
to spot from miles away.
There will be no lunch stop, the sailors
brought handy lunches to consume while
on the trip, I had corned beef sandwiches
and a couple of bananas. My strategy
seemed to work as I found myself ahead of everyone else
when I got to the south east corner of volcano island at
round 13:00. Then the wind started to pick up, it was
starting to become the exercise session that we justified it
to be, it did take some effort to get to Bubuin island, I could
only imagine the rest of the fleet was having a hell of a
workout too.
When I got to Bubuin at around 14:00 I waited for around
five minutes for Paul and Jason to catch up, while waiting,
I counted the sails that I could see and found all of them,
had a smoke and a snack and bailed out the water in the
boat that came in when the wind picked up on the way to
Bubuin. At around the same time, Eli was able to complete
his RTV trip and was back at the club, he had an equally
challenging time crossing the section between Bubuin and
TLYC. As Paul and Jason passed me I followed them, but it
was already clear that we had to go through white cap city
to get back to TLYC.
It was blowing more than 20 knots in the open section
between Bubuin and TLYC, what was usually a close reach
Bong chose a path close to volcano island
...like almost on cue,
Ari capsized too, his
centerboard kept
falling out of its slot
and he didn’t have
the strength to right
the boat...
to the club turned to a tacking battle against the weather.
The tired skippers were having difficulty sheeting in tight
and were being blown downwind of their objective. We
were in survival mode.
Over behind Pulo the rest of the fleet were having a
challenging time getting through the gap
between Pulo and Bubuin. Bong and Ari
were being ghosted by the safety boat
as it was clear they were having trouble.
Sure enough, Bong capsized first, he was
immediately helped up by the safety boat,
and then like almost on cue, Ari capsized
too, his centerboard kept falling out of its
slot and he didn’t have the strength to right
the boat much less get back in, Michael and
the safety boat helped Ari right his boat and
got him back on board, Storer stayed on with Ari and sailed
all the way back, Ari getting a hands on lesson on heavy
weather sailing from his boat’s designer.
At 15:55 Paul and I arrived at the club, followed by Jason,
then Thom, then Lito with Job, Joy with Junard, then Ari
with Michael and at 16:36 Bong was back on dry ground.
The 10 boat, 8 hour, 45 kilometer adventure around Pulo
Volcano island was complete. Time to break out the grog
and celebrate and plan the next exercise with the Goose.
Thom summarized the trip best when he said ““Rounding
Taal volcano island in a simple small dinghy like a Goose
is a memorable feat. Not only the physical endeavor and
achievement of 7.5 hours non-stop sailing, but also the thrill
of a mile by mile changing lakescape: rounding the baby
Volcano first, shifting into the Mad Max parallel universe
of Fishpen Alley continuing to the lahar domination of the
southside of the Volcano - a wrecked and still uninhabitable
landscape. I was impressed by the dominance of Mt
Makulot, a towering presence over the lake. Glad to be back
safely after the last hour of strong winds I gave initially way
to the physical experience, but now a few days later, it is the
full geography package that impresses me.”
Sunrise at TLYC, complete with a piper on the jetty
40

1948 to 2020
COMBING THE
CORAL CARPET
Revised
Edition
A Tribute to Bruce Curran, a Sailing and Biking Mate.
“Combing the Coral Carpet- Revised Edition”
Sailing tales and the Cruising Guide to the Philippine Islands.
A comprehensive coffee table book with over one hundred spectacular photos of the
Philippines that includes maritime history, seafaring tales, anchorages and facts & facilities
available along the water ways of the fantastic tropical islands of the Philippines with their
wealth of friendly people.
The new “Revised Edition” that updates the previous edition with new pages of updated and
extra information is intended to be available for delivery October 2020.
All proceeds from the book sales will go to Bruce’s three children; Edward Swayn, Shauna Indra
Salina and Edward Bali.
Bruce Malcolm Curran was born in Edinburgh Scotland on the 26 th of November 1948 and sadly
passed due to cancer related complications on the 17 th of April 2020 at the age of 71. Bruce will
be missed by many, but his memory, legend and legacy to everyone he’s shared the magic of
his time with, especially his children, will live on through his many books and writings.
Pre-purchase your copy of
“COMBING THE CORAL
CARPET-REVISED EDITION” via:
WEBSITE:
authortravel.com
EMAIL ADDRESS:
combingthecoralcarpet2020@gmail.com
PAYMENTS CAN BE
MADE THROUGH
MONEY TRANSFERS
OR PAYPAL.
Bruce had three main phases in his life’s Grand Journey:
‘Land Journeys’ that have taken him to 16 countries from England to Pakistan, Europe, the
Middle East and Africa on his Norton Commando 750cc motorcycle he named “Demeter”, the
Greek “Goddess of Life” which he first purchased brand new in the United Kingdom in 1971.
‘Water Journeys’ by sailing some 35,000 miles on a 40 year old - 37 foot wooden ketch which
was rebuilt in Sydney, Australia. Bruce sailed in this ketch for two and a half years starting from
Sydney sailing up to Darwin, then six and a half weeks non-stop to Mauritius Island, on to South
Africa, then to St Helena Island in the South Atlantic, and finally to Brazil.
This amazing adventure continued on into the Philippines when he first arrived in 1988. It was
love at first sight. Bruce often set sail from Hong Kong, where he was based for 10 years, to
explore the Philippines by water. He finally decided to move to Manila in 1997.
Bruce quickly realised that the only real way to experience the Philippines was by boat, and
he did so by sailing some 8,000 miles around his much treasured Philippines Islands. His
unquenchable thirst for adventure and learning never stopped as he was driven by the beauty,
diversity and people of the Islands of the Philippines which inspired him to write the best seller
“Combing the Coral Carpet” and the 2020 sequel “Combing the Coral Carpet-Revised Edition”
He then progressed to what he called his ‘Head Journeys’ writing about his travels, adventures
and experiences of this magnificent thing called life.
“I like to see myself as having developed a keen ‘third’ eye that embroils me in life at all its
vibrant levels. My passion is writing about what I see and how I see. I aim to leave a legacy of
books, and one way or another see this as stamping my mark on the world as a legend!”
-Bruce Curran
Active Boating and Watersports, courtesy of Mr. Barry Dawson, are generously supporting
“Combing the Coral Carpet-Revised Edition” through this article and advertisement free-ofcharge
in memory of Bruce.
The first publication of Active Boating and Watersports was in September 2010. One of the
most amazing characters involved was Bruce Curran who they’ve known as an author, a sailor,
biker, adventurer and philanthropist.
ORDER YOUR COPY
NOW FOR ONLY
$100 (P5,000)
As an avid supporter of Active Boating and Watersports, he was a regular contributor of
stories about the many amazing water adventures around the beautiful Islands and places of
the Philippines.
Thank you for your support to keep Bruce’s memory alive.
We trust you will enjoy exploring the exotic waters of the Philippines whilst being guided by
your copy of “Combing the Coral Carpet-Revised Edition”.
Bruce's Ad layout.indd 39
6/15/2020 12:20:05 P
41

CRUISING
In Another
CENTURY
Words by BRUCE CURRAN
Photographs & Illustrations as Credited
I
n 1755 a remarkable mariner and a man of many
talents cruised through the southern Philippine Islands.
Captain Thomas Forrest, a Scotsman, chose a Philippine
sailboat for his voyages. He created hydrographic charts
and drew meticulous illustrations along his routes.
He had a talent for relating to and befriending local people
on his travels. The Sultan of
Acheh in northern Sumatra
knighted him with the Order of
the Golden Sword in 1764. The
Forrest Strait off the coast of
Myanmar (Burma) is named after
him.
In 1755, in the southern
Philippines, the Sultan of
Maguindanao ceded Forrest the
island of Bunwoot, today’s Bongo island, west of Polloc
Harbor in the Moro Gulf.
He had set out in 1744 in a triple-masted Sulu prahu called
the Tartar Galley from Balambangan, an island off the northwest
coast of Borneo.
He sailed via the Sulu Archipelago through the Moluccas
and eventually to New Guinea.
First, the boat could skirt
the shorelines in waters
that could not be entered
by the much deeper Dutch
schooners that patrolled
these waters.
On the return journey he passed the Moluccas again, with a
prolonged stay in Mindanao, and then on to North Borneo,
and Straits of Malacca and on to Acheh and Bengkulu in
western Sumatra, finishing his epic journey in 1776. His Sulu
prahu was 40 feet long, with a 20 foot long keel, a draft of
3.5 feet, and a weight of 10 tons. It carried four lantakas, or
swivel guns, controlled by his English gunner.
It was crewed by a multi-ethnic
team of 22 people including
Visayan, Hindustani, British,
Maguindanaoan and Moluccan
sailors - this motley crew boasted
names like Rum Johnny, Strap,
Ishmael Jerrybattoo, Andrew,
Marudo, Panjang and his pilot
Tuan Hadjee.
The boat was powered by sails on three masts but it could
be rowed when winds were absent or contrary. The choice
of a shallow draft vessel was deliberate for several reasons.
First, the boat could skirt the shorelines in waters that could
not be entered by the much deeper Dutch schooners that
patrolled these waters. These were also coral waters where
a shallow draft was a tremendous advantage. Charting and
mapping could be made more accurate by passing close to
shorelines.
42

43

Capt. Thomas Forrest
In Mindanao on the return journey, Forrest was the guest
of Rajah Moodo, the heir apparent of the Sultanate of
Maguindanao. He stayed from May 1775 until January 1776,
overhauling his boat, which had been leaking badly. Among
his illustrations
of Maguindanao,
Forrest compiled an
elaborate genealogy
of the sultanate
from the time of its
founding by Serif Ali,
its first Muslim ruler,
who had arrived from
Mecca more than
300 years earlier. In
He had an amazing
rapport with people
from all places and all
outlooks, which must
have played a major part
in his successful journeys
around the region.
all his endeavors Forrest was dependent on assistance from
local people, and he invariably found it. He had an amazing
rapport with people from all places and all outlooks, which
must have played a major part in his successful journeys
around the region. Eventually the Tartar Gallery sailed into
Fort Marlborough (Bengkulu), the British trading post on
the west coast of Sumatra. This was his home base with the
Papua New Guinea
Forrest’s sketches
Triple masted ship similar to the one
used by Capt. Forrest
44

45

East India Company, who funded his expeditions in search
of trading goods. In his later years, Captain Forrest became
a “Free Mariner”, unattached to the British India Company.
It is a sign of those times that he traded in slaves, owning
some himself including one Spaniard. He traded in opium
and harbored stowaways on board. He was shipwrecked
several times during his illustrious career, and even had to
scuttle one of his vessels when confronted with the French
But of course the first
sailors in these waters
had arrived long before
a trading Scotsman
arrived on the scene.
invasions of
Bengkulu in 1760.
Altogether a
remarkable man,
Forrest was a
lifetime and
worthy of the
title First Cruising
Yachtsman in the Philippine Islands. If there is evidence of
earlier boaters cruising these waters, I hope I find out about
them (if you know of people more worthy, please let me
know). But until then. Captain Thomas Forrest is the “main
man”. But of course the first sailors in these waters had
arrived long before a trading Scotsman arrived on the scene.
Seafarers from many lands coursed through these islands,
bringing a sparkling of culture and different peoples. Some
must have stayed, but most returned to a far off land
that was unknown to those whom they had visited. The
beginnings of trade had begun, and from the Philippines
went forest products, beeswax, rice, and sea cucumber
favored by the Chinese palate, some gold in the form of
ornaments and trinkets fashioned by the local people.
The first seafarers here, the tripolante, were the indigenous
coastal dwellers, passing between the islands: fishing,
trading and raiding along the coastlines.
The Butuan archaeological boat site, on the north coast
of Mindanao, reveals a Filipino boat-making method*
with side-by-side (carvel) planking secured with wooden
plugs and curved cross ribs, which are evidence of the
sophisticated methods used long before any European
arrival. This construction method is still practiced by the
Sama and the Ivatans in the Batanes islands today.
These islands have long held an ancient seafaring people
and since time immemorial the coastal waters have been
churned by the movement of paddle and sailcloth.
* Three replicas of this type of boat, the Balangai, have
recently been cruising far and wide in Philippine waters –
there tale is a remarkable one in modern times.
Map of Southern Mindanao
Ubal harbor images
Chart of Bunwoot
46

Victron
Energy
RELIABLE POWER
Victron Energy, a leading provider of electrical systems for
various marine applications is now available in the Philippines
through the country’s leading chandler Broadwater Marine.
Whether you sail for fun or on a professional basis, it is of the
utmost importance to have a reliable power supply for all the
electrical equipment to properly function, especially in the middle
of the sea. Victron Energy offers a broad range of products that
are extremely suitable for your onboard power system/s.
Victron’s products are used in many different kinds of vessels:
sailing yachts, cruise ships, sloops, tugboats, motor boats
as well as container ships. Active Boating and Watersports
Magazine has compiled a limited list of Victron’s products and
their corresponding applications.
MultiPlus
MultiPlus is a charger and inverter in one. It can function as a UPS
(Uninterruptable Power Supply) to ensure power supply when the
input power source fails. The MultiPlus also offers several other
functional advantages such as PowerControl and PowerAssist.
PowerAssist boosting the capacity of shore or generator power.
This unique Victron feature allows the MultiPlus to supplement
the capacity of the shore or generator power. Where peak power
is so often required only for a limited period, MultiPlus will make
sure that insufficient shore or generator power is immediately
compensated with power from the battery. When the load
reduces, the spare power is used to recharge the battery bank. It is
therefore no longer necessary to size a generator on the maximum
peak load. Use the most efficient size generator instead.
Quattro
The Quattro has the same functions as the MultiPlus, but
with an extra addition: a transfer system which can be directly
connected to shore power and a generator.
MultiPlus vs Quattro
The MultiPlus and Quattro products play a central role in both
AC and DC systems. They are both powerful battery chargers
and inverters in one box. The amount of available AC sources is
the deciding factor when choosing between the Quattro and the
Multi. The big difference is that a Quattro can take two AC sources,
48
and switch between them based on intelligent rules. It has a builtin
transfer switch. The MultiPlus can take only one AC source.
Victron’s inverters, Multis and Quattros can be paralleled to
meet higher power requirements. A simple setting with Victron’s
VEConfigure configuration software is sufficient. Configuring
parallel and three phase systems is easy. VEConfigure software
tool allows the installer to put components together, without any
hardware changes or DIP switches. Just using standard products.
Marine MFD Glass bridge integration
Glass Bridge is a MFD (Multi-Functional Display) that
integrates a boat’s systems and navigation status into a large
screen or screens at the helm of the vessel, doing away with
multiple gauges, brackets and wiring complications. A Victron
system can be easily integrated into Glass Bridge presentation
by connecting the display to a Victron GX device with a network
cable. It can also be integrated with navigation and vessel
monitoring systems such as those from Garmin, Lowrance,
Furuno, Raymarine and others.
Functionalities of the Glass Bridge MFD are the following:
● Monitor shore power and generator status.
● Monitor battery status for one or more batteries. By using
the voltage of for example battery chargers, it can also
visualise secondary batteries such as Generator starter
batteries.
● Monitor the power conversion equipment: chargers, inverters,
inverter/chargers.
● Monitor AC loads, and DC loads.
● Control shore power input current limit.
● Control the inverter/charger: switch it off, on, or set it to
charger-only.
● Optionally open the Victron Remote Console panel; allowing
0access to further parameters.
Victron’s systems are composed of various components.
Some of which are specifically designed for specific markets.
Other Victron components are applicable for a wide range of
applications. Some essentials for leisure vessels include:
Battery Monitor
Key tasks of the Victron Battery Monitor are measuring charge
and discharge currents as well as calculating the state of
charge and time-to-go of a battery. An alarm is sent when
certain limits are exceeded (such as an excessive discharge).
Cerbo GX
This all-new communication-centre allows you to always have
perfect control over your system from wherever you are and
maximises its performance. Simply connect through our Victron
Remote Management (VRM) portal, or access directly, using
the separate GX Touch 50, a MFD or our VictronConnect app
thanks to its added Bluetooth capability. This latest addition to
the GXrange combines all the best of connectivity, redefining
smart power solutions in every way.
This is but a shortlist of products and applications available
from Victron Energy should you wish to know more feel free to
visit their website https://www.victronenergy.com/markets/
marine or drop by Broadwater Marine to get a brochure and
talk to a professional to find out how Victron can help manage
your vessel’s power needs.

49

V
erde Island Passage is a strait that separates the
islands of Luzon and Mindoro, connecting the
South China Sea with the Tayabas Bay and the
Sibuyan Sea beyond. It is one of the busiest sea
lanes in the Philippines because it is the main shipping
route between the Port of Manila and the Visayas and
Mindanao in the south. Also, many ferries navigate
the waters, connecting the surrounding provinces of
Batangas, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental
Mindoro and Romblon. The 1.14 million hectare passage
is extremely rich in marine biodiversity, the richest area in
the entire Coral Triangle. It is famous for its scientificallybacked
title as the Centre of the Centre of Marine Shore
fish Biodiversity and as the Centre of the Centre of the
Marine Biodiversity of the World. Various conservation
groups have been pushing for its nomination as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Verde Islan
Words by BARRY DAWSON
Photographs as Credited
It is famous for its scientificallybacked
title as the Centre of
the Centre of Marine Shore fish
Biodiversity and as the Centre
of the Centre of the Marine
Biodiversity of the World. Various
conservation groups have been
pushing for its nomination as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
50

Verde Island is situated along the bodies of Verde Island
Passage between the islands of Luzon and Mindoro,
Philippines. It was in 1988 when a small village was
connected to mains electricity through the effort of a
European project using technologies such as solar panels
for the island’s self-sufficiency. And, is now declared as
one of the country’s marine reserves.
DESTINATION
Verde Island lies south of Brgy. Ilijan, Batangas City and
is separated from Luzon by the North Pass. It takes 1
hour and 30 minutes by a boat or 25 minutes by a ferry
boat from Batangas City Port to reach the island.
One of the famous destinations within the island is
Mahabang Buhangin, a kilometre-long stretch of white
sand beach. Another one is Cueva Sitio, a
cave that leads to the other side of the island.
d Passage
To Mindoro & Puerto Galera
51

Glenn Ituriaga
VERDE ISLAND
Verde Island has been a destination for tourist and
divers in Batangas City since 1999, after the Pastor clan
opened an P80 Million resort at Brgy.
San Antonio.
Isla Verde is no longer the mythical land
as it was seen in the past. It is, in fact, an
island off the coast of Batangas City. It’s
composed of six barangays and is home
to over 7000 residents. Verde Island
shelters enormous riches! It is a treasure
trove of marine life. When we cross Verde
Island Passage on the way to Mindoro & Puerto Galera
you might be lucky enough to see the dolphins that
52
Verde Island
shelters enormous
riches! It is a
treasure trove of
marine life.
frequent the area. When they swim and jump alongside
the boat, it is something magical, but not surprising.
Isla Verde rises in the middle of this
passage, which was described by a 2007
Smithsonian Institute study as one of
the world’s better marine biodiversity
citing the high concentration of marine
species.
The eponymous Verde Island, located
right in the centre of the strait, is one of
the best diving places in the Philippines
due to its pristine clear waters and nice under water view.
Daily trips for scuba divers are made from Puerto Galera.

53

Sites, such as in Puerto Galera, offer diving for all types
of people. From, amateur to professional divers. the
diving depth is very deep.
The wreckage of a Spanish galleon that sunk in 1620 was
found in the southern part of this passage. Most of the
ancient cargo was salvaged from the wreckage in the late
seventies and again in the early 80s. Nothing remains of
the wreck except for a few shards of porcelain and some
larger pieces of terracotta jars. The keel was removed to
Puerto Galera for conservation. The conservation was not
properly carried out and the remaining timbers were left
to rot at a depth of 6 meters in front of Sabang Beach.
Centre of the Centre of Marine
Shore-fish Biodiversity
A team of marine conservationists declared in 2006 that
the Philippines is the Centre of Marine Biodiversity in
the world and Verde Island Passage as the “Centre of the
Centre of Marine Shore-fish Biodiversity”
Many threatened species which include sea turtles like
hawksbills, olive ridleys, and green turtles; humphead
wrasses, giant groupers and giant clams are present in the
Verde Island Passage. However, there are no enforcement
of ordinances and over-fishing is common. A short-lived
‘park fee’ scheme for the Verde Island drop-off dive
54

site was soon dropped when it was discovered that the
revenue was being used to buy better fishing gear and
hence removing fish at a higher rate. Humphead wrasses
are especially threatened and divers often go years
without spotting a single individual. It was particularly
noted the rare red fin wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis)
thrives in Verde Island.
Isla Verde is isolated
from the rest of
the province. While
Batangas City is
developed, the island
is far from it.
There is a complete
moratorium of all
types of fishing in
the Batangas Bays
and around Mindoro
island. The fish sold
in the markets of
Puerto Galera comes
from distance places
such as Romblon.
This is a very healthy sign for the development of the
marine diversity and thanks for the municipal councils
that administer the fishing ban. However, destructive
fishing practices continue in other parts of the strait that
should soon be brought under control.
Isla Verde is isolated from the rest of the province. While
Batangas City is developed, the island is far from it. For
years, the residents of Isla Verde relied on noisy, smoky
55

ILOCOS NORTE
diesel generators that provided electricity for only three
hours every evening. This hindered the island’s growing
tourism industry, driven mainly by foreign visitors and
divers. Thanks to the microgrid, diving hotspot Isla
Verde now offers natural wonders
while delivering modern comforts
and conveniences to local and
international divers alike.
This island is a 90-minute boat ride
from the nearest province, tucked
between Luzon and the Mindoro
panhandle. It has always been
inaccessible to the main national
power grid, until recently.
Meralco solar microgrid system
philstar.com
In February 2019, Isla Verde was energized by a
32-kilowatt (kW) solar panel microgrid, supported by a
192-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery storage facility. This
project was spearheaded by the Manila Electric Co.
(Meralco).
A microgrid facility is a small-scale power grid that can
operate independent of the country’s main transmission
network. A solar microgrid is powered using solar panels
connected to a battery storage facility. Crucially, the solar
microgrid system allows Isla Verde to live up to its name,
to become an island not just verdant but also ecologically
sound.
Cheaper and more reliable to operate than diesel
generators, the microgrid is also far more sustainable.
This guarantees that the island’s tourism industry will
thrive with a minimal environmental impact and a lower
carbon footprint.
In February 2019, Isla
Verde was energized
by a 32-kilowatt (kW)
solar panel microgrid,
supported by a
192-kilowatt-hour (kWh)
battery storage facility.
It also promises to better preserve
Isla Verde’s natural beauty, to
benefit both visitors as well as future
generations of residents.
The Verde Island Passage offers a
great diversion for tourist on their
way to Mindoro’s diving Mecca at
Sabang and Puerto Galera, the home
of the yacht club that each year
thebrokenheartedtraveller.files.wordpress.com
56

57

Puerto Galera Bay
ILOCOS NORTE
has the biggest sailing event on the Philippine sailing
calendar.
Puerto Galera is the ideal venue for windsurfing, especially
during the Amihan season. The inner
bays receive an abundance of breeze
on most days ranging from 10-
20knts. And is ideal for windsurfing.
To really enjoy the pristine waters
of the Verde Island passage, White
White Beach
Beach is a must place to visit, they offer beach goers an
abundance of watersports fun and toys, like banana boat
rides that provides laughter and merriment for hundreds
of beachgoers. This is a great fun ride for non-swimmers
He cleared the sand
away and uncovered the
“dragon jar wreck” that
electrified the scuba diving
community in Manila...
also to enjoy the beach in complete
safety with family and friends. As
well as the great diving the same fun
is also available at Sabang. For the
adrenalin junkie there is also Jet skis
for rent.
58

www.tripfuser.com
Diving in Sabang
Puerto Galera, especially Sabang area, is among the
top diving destinations in the Philippines and in Asia.
Diving sites are found less than 5 minutes from Sabang
Beach. The diving generally focuses around the areas
either side of Escarceo Point. Marine life is diverse.
180+ species of nudibranchs are found in the area and
many species of fish can be seen. A variety of wrecks
have been sunk over the years in addition to the one
wreck of an engine of a WWII Japanese patrol boat.
The major diving federations PADI, CMAS, NAUI and
Technical Diving International - [TDI] are represented in
the area, offering courses from beginners’ open water
to advanced and technical diving (rebreather, trimix).
Diving trips in the Verde Island passage, at the heart
of the Coral Triangle are organised from Puerto Galera.
Many threatened species such as a variety of sea turtles
including hawksbills, olive ridleys, and green turtles,
humphead wrasses, giant groupers and giant clams are
present in the Verde Island Passage.
Diving in Sabang and Puerto Galera came to life in a big
way Brian Homan (now of Vascos Subic Bay) discovered
a circle on the sandy sea floor, near the entrance to the
Manila Channel. He cleared the sand away and uncovered
the “dragon jar wreck” that electrified the scuba diving
community in Manila, and then rapidly spread to nearby
Hong Kong and Brian’s homeland, Australia. This
discovery soon became an icon for Puerto Galera scuba
diving for.
Very rapidly the peaceful and tranquil beaches around
the peninsula came alive with activity.
Dive-shops opened one after the other to satisfy the
demand of the influx of divers keen to explore in the
hope of discovering of more wrecks. By 1994, scuba
divers from all over the world had visited Puerto Galera
to see the latest must-see dive destination.
commons.wikimedia.org
59

ILOCOS NORTE
60
(046) 489-2087
Tamaraw Falls
Discovering Sabang’s two kilometre long reef is undoubtedly
the highlight for most people on holiday in Puerto Galera.
Diving on our amazing reefs brings you face to face with
more biodiversity than the Caribbean and Great Barrier Reef
combined! This is what
makes Puerto Galera
one of the most popular
Scuba Diving destinations
in the Philippines, and
is well known in Scuba
communities all over the
world.
Diving on our
amazing reefs brings
you face to face with
more biodiversity
than the Caribbean
and Great Barrier
Reef combined!
Your Scuba Diving
adventure in Puerto
Galera will immerse you in a colourful underwater world,
filled with an incredible variety of corals, fish and incredible
(and sometimes bizarre) sea creatures. If you are diving or
snorkelling on our house reef, you may be lucky enough to
swim with one of the sea turtles that nest near our resort.
With over 40 dive sites within just ten minutes boat ride
of your resort, you are never far from the action. When
diving remember, Dive centers offering Padi or SSI are the
best in terms of service and value for money, they keep
the fun in diving and their course rates are affordable
plus they always scuba dive with safety in mind.
Sightseeing in Puerto Galera is not to be missed with its
many attractions like the waterfalls the Tamaraw Falls
When one hears about Puerto Galera, the first thing that
comes to mind is the beach. While it is true that tourists

61

usually come there for an island getaway, there’s more to
Puerto Galera than the White Beach. Unknown to many,
there are unspoiled and unexplored sites in town. One of
these is the Tamaraw Falls.
ILOCOS NORTE
Located at Barangay Villaflor, Puerto
Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Tamaraw
Falls stands at 423 feet and never
fails to impress its visitors. It is as tall
as a 5-storey building. The waterfall
has unique Y-shape dropping waters
because of the twin falls merging
together. It is also covered with lush
greens and facing the mountains. For
anyone who needs a break from the
sand and saltwater, Tamaraw Falls is the perfect place to be!
The waterfall has
unique Y-shape
dropping waters
because of the twin
falls merging together.
Unlike other falls, it is very easy to get to Tamaraw
Falls because you don’t need to hike or trek over the
mountains or forests to see its beauty. From the highway,
you can already see its dramatic waters falling to its pool.
But if you want to see it up close, you will need to pay for
the Tamaraw Falls entrance fee which is really affordable.
The falls got its name from a species of buffalo called
“tamaraw” which is endemic in Mindoro. The tamaraw
resembles the carabao but it is smaller with shorter horns
that grow upward in a “V” form.
Years ago, the province was home to so many tamaraws
but as the environment changed—and as humans
interrupted the tamaraws’ territory—the
species started to decrease and soon
became one of the Philippines’ critically
endangered species.
According to the survey of the Mindoro
Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc.
(MBCFI), a tamaraw was last seen on Mt.
Calavite in 1992. And in 2019, after 27
years, the elusive tamaraw was seen again
at Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary (MCWS) in Paluan town.
Talipanan Falls
Feel the solitude among pristine nature, much less
touristy than the area’s famous Tamaraw Falls, Talipanan
Falls is a short walk from the village of Talipanan. Hire a
Mangyan guide (P200) in the Iraya-Mangyan village just
off the main road in Talipanan. From here a track behind
the school winds for about 30 minutes uphill and through
Talipanan Falls
62

Tukuran Falls
forest to the swimmable, two-tiered falls. Early in the
morning you stand a good chance of seeing monkeys.
Talipanan Fall is considered to be a pearl of wild nature. It
should be noted the waterfall is not that high, but water
in the basin is crystal clear and slightly turquoise.
Tukuran Falls
Tukuran Falls is a series of gentle cascades and turquoisetoned
swimming holes accessed from the village of
Calsapa, about 45 minutes south of Puerto Galera.
They are refreshing and photogenic, but go early in the
morning or late in the day to avoid the tour vans that
frequent the place, thanks to a newly sealed access road
to the trailhead. A guide (P300) is mandatory for the
30-minute walk from the trailhead.
The walk involves several river crossings, so wear
appropriate footwear. If you don’t want to walk you can
ride in a carabao-pulled cart (P450). This is a worthwhile
community tourism project but the locals can be overly
aggressive in courting your pesos; one guide is plenty
for a group of four (although you may be encouraged to
take one guide per person).
The turn-off to the falls is clearly signposted on the
National Hwy about 1km south of San Teodoro proper;
from the highway it’s about a 10-minute drive to the
parking area near the trailhead.
One place you need to visit is the PGYC (Puerto Galera
Yacht Club) The club itself nestles comfortably on the
shore of Muelle Bay, a safe, natural haven protected by
Medio and Boquete islands from the wrath of tropical
weather patterns. In November 2004 Puerto Galera was
accepted as a member of ‘The Club of The Most Beautiful
Bays in the World’ and remains the only ‘most beautiful
bays member’ from the Philippines.
While sailing in, and organizing, regattas will always be
what the club is all about; Puerto Galera Yacht Club has
taken steps to become a participant and partner in the
growth and welfare of the local community. In 2005 the
Club launched a Sail Training Programme to foster the
development of sailing as a sport within the secure waters
around Puerto Galera. Associated with the Sail Training
Programme, is the Sailing Scholarship Fund which has
financed and equipped the training of over 100 local
children who might never have experienced the pleasures
and excitement of sailing without the club’s assistance.
These youngsters have rewarded the club with First
and Second place finishes in the 2006 President’s Cup
Regatta and other national dinghy events held each year
where these youngster shine in all participated events.
Sailing yachts and luxury motor yachts from Asia and the
world are welcomed regularly at the Club to exchange
news, experiences, to enjoy Filipino hospitality and chat
about all things nautical. Tie–up at the typhoon–safe
moorings and pull up a stool at the bar for the best
63

Verde Island beach
64
Muelle Bay
www.beachesworld.com
introduction to the Philippines, the sailing center of
Equatorial Asia.
The Puerto Galera Yacht Club maintains 28 Visitor
Moorings very close to the southern end of Muelle Bay,
near the town. If the
White Beach is an
alternative venue
outside Metro Manila
for summer events
and festivals.
visitor moorings are
full on arrival, safe
anchorage can be
found within Boquete
Bay or Dalaruan Bay,
but please take great
care when anchoring
not to disturb the
protected corals and
the indigenous giant clams that flourish locally.
Beaches in and around Puerto Galera
White Beach is one of the 32 beaches located in Puerto
Galera. The beach is 2-hours away from Metro Manila by
bus and 30-minutes by boat from Batangas City port.
Several resort accommodations, restaurants and souvenir/
tattoo shops are available in the beach. Majority of the

accommodations offer the basic amenities, including
internet/wifi connections and hot showers. Free live
shows and entertainments are offered by various beach
resorts during weekends. White Beach is an alternative
venue outside Metro Manila for summer events and
festivals.
Haligi Beach
Haligi Beach is a beautiful small beach with creamy white
sand and crystal clear waters. The beach is perfect for
swimming and snorkelling in any direction you like. There
are a couple of cottages you can rent on this island where
you can have your picnic with your friends and families
while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Haligi Beach
and what feels like your very own private beach away
from the larger tourist crowds found elsewhere.
How to get to Verde Island
Via Tabangao Port (Passenger Boat)
Take any bus that would go to Batangas Grand Terminal;
fare is P157. JAM Liner and DLTB have daily trips coming
from Taft, Buendia, and Cubao. Travel time is maximum of
3 hours depending on the traffic.
Once at Batangas Grand Terminal, take the jeepney going
to Batangas Bayan/Bagong Palengke (P12) and have the
driver drop you off where you can take another jeepney
going to Tabangao Port (P17). Travel time is approximately
35 minutes.
Isla Verde Sunrise
dabpackersphilippines.files.wordpress.com
Haligi Beach
tripadvisor.com.ph
65

Boat ride from Tabangao Port
thepoortraveler.net
Verde Island Resort
66
kmcmaggroup.com
Once at Tabangao Port, take the MB Super Mario that will
take you to two stops — first at Mahabang Buhangin,
then at Sampalukan. You will have to ride a small paddle
boat (P10) to the much bigger MB Super Mario (P120).
Alight at either Mahabang BUhangin where island
hopping boats and most homestays can be found or at
Sampalukan where most resorts are located.
Via Ilijan or Dela Paz Port (Private Boat)
From Batangas Grand Terminal, take the jeepney going to
Batangas Bayan and have the driver drop you off where
you can take another jeepney going to SM Batangas;
jeepney fares are at P12 each.
Go to the parking lot at the back of SM where the jeepneys
going to Dela Paz are parked. These pass by Ilijan before
reaching Dela Paz, so you may be dropped off at Ilijan if
the boats are there. The drivers usually also know where
the passenger boats are. The fare is P40 for Ilijan and
P45 for Dela Paz; travel time is 30 minutes to 45 minutes,
depending on the waves.
Charter a private boat to Verde Island.
Getting to Puerto Galera
The cheapest and most usual way to reach Puerto Galera
from Manila is via Batangas. From Batangas Pier, you
will need to catch a ferry to either of the two ports in
Puerto Galera. Balatero Port is closer to White Beach and
Aninuan Beach, while Muelle Port is closer to Sabang.

Verde Island Passage
Head to a JAM Liner bus terminal. There’s one in Cubao
and another in LRT Buendia area.
Catch a bus bound for Batangas Pier. Some buses pass
through and make several stops in Sto. Tomas and
Tanauan. If you want a quick journey, board a bus with
the CALABARZON sign. This means that the bus will be
taking the STAR Tollway, which bypasses most towns
and cities between SLEX and Batangas City. Travel time
is 2-3 hours. Fare is
DON’T BELIEVE THEM.
They’re just trying to
get you to charter an
expensive private boat.
P197 if you’re coming
from Buendia or P207
from Cubao. See bus
schedule in the next
section below.
Get off at Batangas
Pier. You can also tell the conductor that you plan to go
to Puerto Galera so he knows where to drop you off.
Ilijan Beach
thepoortraveler.net
Upon arrival at Batangas Pier, head straight to the ticket
counters. You may be approached by touts saying that
there are no public ferries to Puerto Galera that day.
DON’T BELIEVE THEM. They’re just trying to get you to
charter an expensive private boat. Walk straight to the
ticketing counters.
Purchase tickets to Puerto Galera. You may choose a roro
or a fastcraft. You can find the schedule as of April 2019
here. Fare: P300.
67

Coco Beach
Pay the Batangas Pier terminal fee. P30 per person.
Board your booked ferry. Travel time: 55-100 minutes,
depending on the type of vessel.
At Balatero or Muelle Port, pay the environmental fee.
P50 per person. Balatero Pier also collects an additional
P20 terminal fee.
Ride a tricycle to your resort. If your resort is within short
distance, fare is P200 per trip or P50 per person (if you’re
a group).
• Please note there are still travel restrictions caused
from The COVID-19 pandemic, so check schedules and
ability to travel.
Verde Island aerial view
Glenn Ituriaga
68

BATANGAS
Verde Island Passage
L U Z O N
MANILA
Verde Island
MINDORO
MAP of VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE
69

Typhoon
Near Disaster
Words by the Owner
ICHAY M. BULAONG,
myinnersail.blogspot.com
At Coron
70

Coron, Palawan, 26 October 2020. My husband, Raul,
and I woke up 7am in the midst of Typhoon Quintathe
17th typhoon to hit the Philippines, with 150
kph wind gusting to 185kph, 50-100 mm rainfall,
epicenter passing over Northern Mindoro. We immediately
made the 5-minute drive to where our sailboat Esperanza,
a 45’ Jeanneau Sun Odyssey, is moored and the sight that
greeted us made us weak in the
knees. One of a boat owner’s
worst nightmares just happenedher
mooring lines, specifically
the pennants, snapped and she
was rapidly drifting unmanned.
Luckily, our boatman, Ariel, and
the boat mechanics from shore,
Plong & Tirso, saw what was
happening, quickly got into a
speedboat despite the punishing conditions, made it aboard
Esperanza and put her in control just a few meters before
she crashed into Bacau Bay Resort’s concrete pier (miracle
#1).
However, amidst the confusion, one of the mooring lines
still attached to the cleats caught in the propeller and stalled
the engine, rendering it useless. A line was thrown and tied
to the speedboat and Esperanza was towed back and tied
to the mooring with available ropes on board (the mooring
buoy and down-line were secure). But the pennants broke
again for whatever reason, the speedboat ran out of fuel,
and Esperanza was loose once more. Ariel and Plong on
board quickly dropped anchor but it did not hold in the
mud. So Esperanza was drifting again but with no engine,
no speedboat and she ran aground 1 meter before she hit
the concrete pilings built years ago for an abandoned marina
project (miracle #2).
...the anchor dragged again
and for the third time,
Esperanza was adrift and ran
aground once more 1 meter
before the concrete pilings.
All these was happening as Raul and I watched helplessly
from shore, unable to get on board due to the raging
wind, torrential rains and limited visibility, too stunned for
words. During a brief lull in the weather, Raul and Manu
Mantecon jumped into the foaming water and finally
boarded Esperanza 100 meters from shore. Dive speedboat
Picasso, 7.98 meter length with 75hp outboard, c/o Eric
Zurcher and 2 crew, saw what was
happening from shore and came to
help. Picasso picked up the anchor
and set it farther and properly until
it held. Raul successfully pulled
Esperanza free from the mud with
the anchor line using an electric
winch (to add to the mounting
problems, the windlass has been
broken for several months) but
the anchor dragged again and for the third time, Esperanza
was adrift and ran aground once more 1 meter before the
concrete pilings (miracle #3).
Raul and Manu were soon joined by 5 young strapping Coast
Guard men who I called for help. I asked the Coast Guard for
a speedboat but they sent manpower instead because their
boat is too small for the severe weather. One of the Coast
Guard men swam against the wind and current with a new
rope to tie to the mooring 100 meters away. They spent the
next 5 hours- in the cold howling wind driving the relentless
rain sideways, with Esperanza bucking like a horse due to
the crashing waves- trying to free Esperanza’s keel using
the lines tied to the mooring and the speedboat all to no
avail. Our dinghy engine, which has been problematic for
some time finally gave up, a disaster since it was being used
to ferry supplies and people, and precious energy was spent
paddling against the wind and waves.
71

Raul called for a break at 2pm when the tide was at its lowest
and to prepare for resuming work at 5pm when the tide was
scheduled to start rising. Water was now barely waist deep and
Esperanza with her 2.7m draft was already heeling. Everyone
swam back to shore with teeth chattering, bodies shaking
from cold and exhaustion, hands blistered from all the rope
handling, and bare feet bruised from accidental stubbing.
Work resumed at 5pm but without the Coast Guard this
time. Rinalyn Mulle and crew of giant banca Mark Angelou,
8 meter length with 2 truck diesel engines, arrived to help.
News of our predicament were already all
over our small town and calls from friends
and strangers offering their help were
pouring in. Multiple efforts by Picasso
and Mark Angelou to pull Esperanza free
failed and Raul called off operations at
dark for safety reasons. Raul secured
Esperanza best he could- anchor in
front + one line tied to the mooring + one line tied to Mark
Angelou and a stern line tied to one of the concrete piles.
The weather cleared up (miracle #4) and Esperanza, with
a broken engine and windlass, stayed in place the whole
night. Raul and I went home but had to walk the last 200
meters because a big acacia tree had fallen across our road.
I envied Raul as he slept like a baby while I managed only
a few hours sleep as images of the numerous boats that ran
aground in Mabini, Batangas and Mindoro going around in
social media and the news kept hounding me.
Raul and I were up at 4am and aboard Esperanza at 5am
to take advantage of the high tide. With Picasso and Mark
72
With Picasso and Mark
Angelou pulling in
tandem, Esperanza still
would not budge.
Angelou pulling in tandem, Esperanza still would not
budge. At around 8am, 3 French sailors with 60+ years
of sailing between them came aboard and told Raul what
to do- we tied Picasso to port with full engine ahead, we
raised the main sail (miracle #5- the wind changed direction
and started blowing a gentle gust in the right direction to
propel the boat forward), while all of us on board hiked out
at starboard to force it to heel. Then at Raul’s command,
we all ran as one to port, then back and forth to wiggle the
keel free (the same way they sank a pirate ship in Pirates of
the Carribean film). Excitement was mounting as we could
feel the keel moving a little at a time. Other
men from shore and other boats joined us
and after several rounds of running back
and forth, Esperanza finally plopped free
from the mud amidst triumphant cries and
backslapping. It was an exuberant moment
for everyone albeit brief because of the
urgent work on hand- bring down the sail
as the wind was picking up and we had no engine, and most
importantly, to safely moor Esperanza.
After the dust had settled, it was time to ask the important
questions- what the hell happened?! Where did we go
wrong and how can we prevent that from happening again?
The culprit was broken pennants due to age and UV
degradation. These are our learnings:
1. Always be prepared for the worst. The fact that we are
leisure sailors and sail only when the weather is ideal (sunny
and nothing beyond 15 knots of wind), is not an excuse for

not having foul weather gear, proper boat shoes and gloves
on board. Even a little detail like my waterproof phone case
which I could hang around my neck was extremely useful
as I could coordinate with the other boats and with shore
people with both hands working in the rain. Keep spares of
ropes, radio batteries and other emergency items on board.
2. Check the weather and never underestimate Mother
Nature. We live in Coron, Palawan which is not in the regular
typhoon path and Esperanza is in a protected bay so we
tend to ignore typhoon warnings.
3. Keep everything in tiptop shape at all times. Although the
mooring downline and buoy were replaced just the previous
month, the pennants were not. It was also definitely the
worst time to have a broken windlass, for our dinghy engine
to die and to have 1 oar instead of the usual 2 in the dinghy.
We lost one oar several months ago and keep forgetting to
order a replacement. Our handheld VFH radio was at home.
4. Keep emergency numbers in your phone and in your
boat and be aware of their services. I have the Coast Guard
numbers in my phone but I found out later that Coron
MDRRMO has a speedboat that is available for emergencies.
5. Review procedures for man overboard, running aground
(Barry what else can I add here) and other emergencies and
practice with your crew. Peter Capotosto told us after the
incident that we could have “put a lot of weight on the end
of the boom, and also use the halyard, either weighted or
attached to an anchor or boat, to help heel the boat more”.
Raul and I realized that we learned that in our skipper
certification course 8 years ago but forgot all about it.
6. Keep your cool. Raul kept a cool head and presence of
mind every single minute from beginning to end, amidst
the storm raging and people panicking around him. Every
step he took was well thought of and his confidence and
authority as skipper in those trying moments molded the
men around him into one cohesive team.
Needless to say, it was an extremely stressful and humbling
experience. We are grateful and blessed that Esperanza is
safe and, most importantly, no one was hurt. Miraculously,
Esperanza suffered minimal damage- 4 broken engine
mounts that ripped because the whole engine was pulled
few centimeters aft when the propeller caught a rope and
gelcoat scratches on the transom.
After recounting this story to our 12-year old grandson, Diego,
he asked “How come you guys are so spiritual when something
is stressful?” It was easy to answer. Esperanza could have
easily been smashed to pieces and it was short of a miracle
that she was spared. It was God’s way of teaching us a lesson
and pulling us out of complacency, and most importantly,
making us see the kindness of people around us.
Note: Thank you to all the people who helped, most without
being asked. Bayanihan spirit is alive! The French sailors-
Alain, Christian and Clement, Eric Zürcher and crew, Rinalyn
Mulle and crew, Manu Mantecon, Jen Chua, Gerald of Agos
Scuba, our tireless boat assistant Ariel, the ever helpful Jolo
boys Plong and Tirso, Coron Coast Guard, crew from other
boats and from shore, so many other people who were
messaging and offering their help in any way, and praying.
I apologize if I forgot anyone, there were so many. It takes a
village indeed. Maraming salamat po.
73

Lifesaving an
awarded to
awarded to
LIFE LIFE SAVING SAVING & DROWNING
& DROWNING
PREVENTION PREVENTION INITIATIVES INITIATIVES IN
ASIA ASIA PACIFIC PACIFIC
74

d COVID-19
The COVID-19 Pandemic has not only placed lives
at risk through the virus, but also had a large effect
on aquatic safety, not only in Zambales and the
Philippines, but worldwide.
The efforts of Zambales Lifesaving Inc. have been affected
in a number of ways, such as the Government mandated
cancellation of all training of lifeguards, the cancellation of
2 major lifesaving sports events, the Standard Insurance/
Tees and Prints, 9th. Zambales Lifeguard Challenge and the
Broadwater Marine / RDH Marine, 3rd. Annual Nipper’s
Carnival, both of which were scheduled
for late March, however both of these
events will still go ahead as soon as they
can safely be conducted.
Another major area effected is the
re-assessment of currently certified
lifeguards who’s licenses will expire during
these times, with Hotels and Resorts now
getting clearance to reopen it is highly
important, that their lifeguards, many of which have not
been able to work for some months are checked, not only
for their physical and swimming ability, but even more
importantly their ability to perform Basic Life Support and
their first aid abilities, as without regular work and practice
these necessary abilities can easily be affected. Currently
Zambales Lifesaving Inc. has worked with the Philippine
Coast Guard to have certificates issued by them, be
automatically extended until 30 days after re-assessments
can be carried out, thus allowing resorts to operate within
the PCG regulations, allowing time for the holder to attend
a scheduled re-assessment session, which is hoped can
be conducted as soon as the application submitted to the
COVID-19 Task Force has been approved, website and
social media pages of Zambales Lifesaving will carry the
information of the schedules as soon as known, if affected,
please monitor www.zambaleslifesaving.org and https://
www.facebook.com/Zambales.Lifesaving for updates.
On the positive side a new sponsor has surfaced that will be
assisting with the Zambales Lifesaving Scholarship program,
this is a program that was approved at the last AGM and will
give training scholarships to unemployed Zambales youths,
male and female, to train as open water
lifeguards, 80% of their training costs
will be met by the scholarship program,
some have asked “why only 80%,
why not totally free”, there was much
discussion on this and it was decided
that the participant should have some
commitment, as past experience has
shown that with “free” training, there
are some that do not continue in the
profession, as they lose nothing by not doing so. There
is pre-testing required as to their swimming and physical
abilities, also a commitment that those chosen will also be
required to donate 10 days of their time to assist at our
free water safety programs, such as our annual Swimsafe
program. The sponsor, AAGO Optical Clinic, are also
supplying free eyesight checkups for our lifeguards, these
are actually done on site and they are allowing us to offer
this to the local community as well, which is also a good
community project, all is obligation free, however they
can also supply eyeglasses at very good prices if required.
Currently we are looking for 4 children, under 18 from needy
75
The sponsor, AAGO
Optical Clinic, are
also supplying free
eyesight checkups for
our lifeguards.

76

families, who need single vision reading or distance glasses
and AAGO Optical Clinic will donate their glasses to them
free on behalf of Zambales Lifesaving Inc., their mobile clinic
will also visit resorts and local businesses for free checkup,
provided there are a reasonable amount of attendees, if you
are interested contact liaisons Officer Ms. Marichu on 0966
659 7513 for information. Any other person interested to
assist with the scholarship program, may
also call Ms. Marichu for full information,
cost of sponsoring an unemployed youth
is from as low as just P1,000.00, stay out,
P3,360.00, stay out, but foods supplied,
or P4610.00,stay in with foods supplied.
During these difficult times, Zambales
Lifesaving Inc. has been working extensively with the South
East Asian and Australian Lifesaving organizations via
Webinar’s, which has generated a great deal of sharing of
information on lifesaving training, techniques and sports,
countries who have joined include, Australia, India, Thailand,
Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brunei and the
Philippines.
During this time also Zambales Lifesaving Inc. has been
working with Surf Life Saving New South Wales in organizing
online training sessions for their assistant Instructors, to
be upgraded to full Instructors, and Instructors also so as
to increase their level of expertise. Hopefully this can be
implemented shortly so that one things return more to
normal and training is again permitted, then they will be
better situated to meet the backlog that is building up.
Lastly the events committee has been working with
Government Officials so as to set dates for the running of
the Zambales Lifeguard Challenge and the Nipper’s Carnival
...we should not at all
entertain a “Reset”
or so called “New
Normal”, but strive to
return to normal...
that were postponed in March, they were very hopeful that
these events could still be run within this year, however as
our Nipper’s Carnival has young competitors, from 5 years
and above, with the current age restrictions, it now very
unlikely, early 2021 is looking more realistic.
Once permission is granted, we will give as much forward
notice as possible so as to prepare,
however overseas teams may find travel
arrangements still difficult.
One brighter note is that the local task
force has agreed that with resorts starting
to reopen, the need to have currently
certified lifeguards on duty is a must and
have granted permission for us to perform re-assessments
and new training, however strict health protocols must be
observed, this has resulted in getting a number of lifeguards
up to date, however the biggest problem is that many have
no available funds to cover the costs of transportation,
health clearances etc that are required.
On that note also I would like to pass on the thoughts of
our management, instructors and members, that is that
we should not at all entertain a “Reset” or so called “New
Normal”, but strive to return to normal, so our children and
their children can enjoy the freedoms, such as unrestricted
travel, sports, parties and gatherings that we were all able
to enjoy during our younger years.
Let’s all wish for a better and brighter 2021 and the return
to life as it should be.
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all from all at
Zambales Lifesaving Inc.
77

Things are hotting up in Hong Kong and for the
right reasons! With only 5 days to go to the entry
deadline we have a strong cadre of teams signed
up to participate in this groundbreaking event. And
not just any teams!
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Defender of
the America’s Cup, Young Azzura from Yacht Club Costa
Smeralda, Yacht Club de France, Royal Netherlands Yacht
Club and Royal Maas Yacht Club and two teams from
Mainland China: China Foiling Academy supported by China
Sports Industry group, as well as Royal Hong Kong Yacht
Club’s very own RHKYC Team Agiplast.
Says RHKYC’s Team principal and organizing committee
Rune Jacobsen: „We are overwhelmed by the support the
event is experiencing. We all understand that things could
not be more difficult for all but we are encouraged by the
positivity and desire to make this event a fantastic and
competitive one.“
There are currently many other countries and yacht clubs
that are ready with their teams and in the last stage of
securing funding, such as Yacht Clubs in the UK, Denmark,
Sweden, Norway, South Africa, Australia and Switzerland.
With this in mind the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club has now
agreed to extend the deadline payment of the initial entry
fee (US$5,000) to the 25th November 2020.
With support from Hong Kong Government, Hong Kong
Sailing Federation, Persico 69F organization and Foiling
Week, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is looking much
Youth Foiling
„We are overwhelmed
by the support the
event is experiencing.
We all understand that
things could not be more
difficult for all but we
are encouraged by the
positivity and desire to
make this event a fantastic
and competitive one.“
78

World Cup In
20 February – 12 March 2021
79

forward to host a globally leading Youth Foiling event here
in Hong Kong in February and March 2021.
All documents for the Youth Foiling World Cup can
be found here: https://www.rhkyc.org.hk/events/
Youthfoilingworldcup.aspx to enter please use the “Book
Now” button above the logo.
We target to have 12 teams on the start line and 16 teams
is the absolute maximum limit.
We are happy to host individual zoom or WhatsApp calls
and answer any questions you may have. Please reach out
to ailsa.angus@rhkyc.org.hk and she will help coordinate
a Zoom or WhatsApp call.
80

81

Sailing Tips
Article
excerpts reprinted from the book
CRUISER HANDLING
by BOB BOND & STEVE SLEIGHT
You’ve always been interested to sail, but you know little about boat parts, the confusing techno-babble, and what
little you know is making your head spin in four different directions! Worry no more. This continuing series of articles
is for you: it covers tips regarding hardware present on most boats, as well as common sailing techniques, terms and
definitions, the names of the different pieces of hardware, and much more. This will keep you informed about most
things you will need before you begin your own sailing excursion. Be sure to consult with an experienced sailor and someone
knowledgeable about boats.
Alongside the development of the larger trading sailing ships
had come the growth of interest in the use of small working
boats as pleasure craft. One of the
earliest cruising yachtsmen on record is
the honorable Roger North in the 17th
century. His delight in cruising was little
different from that of a contemporary
cruising sailor. “I, with my friend Mr.
Chute, sat before the mast in the
hatchway, with telescope and books,
the magazine of provisions and a boy
to make a fire and help broil, make
tea, chocolate, etc. And thus, passing
alternately from one entertainment to
another, we sat out eight whole hours and scarce knew what
time was past. For the day proved cool, the wind brisk, the
air clear, and no inconvenience to molest us, nor formalities
to tease us; so that we came nearer to perfection of life than
I was ever sensible of us otherwise”.
In the 17th century the term “yacht” had only recently come
into being, Dr. Johnson in his Dictionary defined it as “a
The King, steering
the boat himself,
succeeded in
winning the race and
pocketing the wager
of £100.
small vessel carrying passengers”. It derived from the Dutch
jacht, The Dutch being the first yachtsmen, fitting out the
narrow quarters of their small trading craft
with touches of comfort, to use them for
pleasure sailing as well as for work.
In the 1660s, Charles II of England was
given a Dutch Yacht, and became so
enthusiastic about sailing he ordered
several small vessels to be built for him
along similar lines. He raced one of them,
the Jamie-a 25 tonner- from Greenwich
to Gravesend against a similar small
Dutch yacht owned by his brother, the
Duke of York. The King, steering the boat himself, succeeded
in winning the race and pocketing the wager of £100.
By 1720, the first yacht club had been founded – in Cork
Ireland – but it was not until a hundred years later that yachting
became popular. The Yacht Club of Crowes founded in 1812,
was to become the Royal Yacht Club eight years later, under
the presidency of the Duke of Clarence. In 1844 the New York
Gaff Ketch
82

Reed boat
83

Yacht Club was founded, and the rivalry between the two clubs
resulted in the founding of the America’s Cup in 1820. This
prestigious event probably did more to improve the design and
performance of sailing yachts than anything else, as designers,
boat-builders and yachtsmen fought to produce the best
and fastest boat with ever improving
technology and skill.
At the same time that yachting was
growing in renown through the
prestigious racing events, A small band
of individuals eschewed competition
and sailed simply to improve their
mastery of a small boat in the open
water. The first to leave any real
record of his exploits was Richard
Turrill McMullen in the 1850s, when
McMullen was sailing, yachting was
still in the province of gentleman skipper, with a hired crew
of professional sailors, so McMullen set out to prove that a
gentleman skipper could actually handle the boat himself. He
learned the hard way –through experience and practical sailing.
to other members. In 1902 the club received its royal warrant
and appeared under the name by which it is now known, the
Royal Cruising Club. Five years later the Cruising Association
was formed with the object of providing more information
about harbours and ports, and encouraging safe and seaman
like cruising. The first book to
be devoted entirely to the art of
Unlike the boats of
private racing events,
such as the Americas
Cup, they were
skippered and sailed
amateur yachtsmen.
Folkboat
cruising – now regarded as a classic
– was Claud Worth’s Yacht Cruising,
published in 1910. He explained the
many branches of expertise which
were required by the all-round
seaman and handler of small craft.
After the early pioneering of
McMullen, Worth and a few other
English eccentrics, cruising grew
rapidly in popularity and spread
to the United States, where the cruising club of America was
founded in 1922. Although the early cruising boats were all
converted working boats, a Norwegian naval architect, Colin
Archer, had turned his attention to designing craft specifically
for cruising. A lifetime spent amongst the difficult sailing
waters of Norway made him well qualified to produce sturdy,
seaworthy boats.
McMullen did a great deal to prove that a small craft is no
less safe and seaworthy than a large one, if properly handled;
and he revealed the as-then unrecognized truth that it is the
shore which is the danger for sailing craft not the open sea.
McMullen died of a heart attack at the helm of his yacht
Perseus in 1891 – just four years before another equally
famous Yachtsman, Captain Joshua Slocum, a Canadian,
completed the first single-handed circumnavigation of the
world in his boat, Spray. The idea of rounding the horn in
a boat less than 40ft in length was regarded at the time as
suicidal. What made the achievement particularly spectacular
was the fact the he sailed around the world against prevailing
winds. In fact, the next circumnavigation in a small boat was
not made for another 25 years and when it was, the route
was via the Panama canal, thus avoiding the rigors of the
Southern Atlantic and Cape Horn in particular.
A little earlier in 1880, the first cruising club had been
formed in Britain, the object of which was to promote
good seamanship, navigation and pilotage. Members were
encouraged to explore the less know coasts and harbours, and
produce pilot information on them which could be disseminated
84
Although there was still a deep schism between cruising and
racing sailors in the early 20th century, the founding of the first
public offshore race, the Fastnet in 1925, did much to marry the
two branches of the sport. The boats which took part in the first
Fastnet race were, in the main, converted working boats, like
the winner Jolie Brise a converted pilot boat. Unlike the boats
of private racing events, such as the Americas Cup, they were
skippered and sailed amateur yachtsmen. A new club came into
being, The Royal Ocean Racing Club, and with it a new breed of
boats, the cruiser-racers.
Modern advances in boat technology owe a great deal to the
development of this form of racing, and, although there is still
a great difference between sailors whose prime objective is to
compete and those whose main purpose is to cruise, there is
often less of a distinction between the types of boat.Thanks
to the new breed of boats, which are safe, speedy and easily
maintained, cruising today far from being the pastime of a
few eccentrics, has become one of the most popular sailing
activities. Competing with the elements, discovering new
coastlines and getting away from the pressures of the industrial
rat-race – these advantages have persuaded large numbers of
people to try their hand at cruising.
You can buy a boat suited to your need for pottering, or you
can occasionally try your hand at racing. You are master of
your own boat, reliant on your own skills for safety, and you
can travel where you will, at a speed determined by yourself.
your boat and the elements. Small wonder, therefore, in an
age where the individual has less and less control over his own
destiny, that cruising has become one of the fastest growing
sports since the Second World War.

Folkboat
Jolie Brise winner of the
first Fastnet race
85

Vendée Globe
The Adventure Begins
The eight previous iterations of
what is now considered the Everest
of the seas have enabled 167
contenders to take the start of this
extraordinary race. Only 89 of them
managed to cross the finish line.
The course
86
Vendée Globe
official poster
Yvan Zedda-Alea

2020 - 2021
Jean-Marie Liot
Words by ROY ESPIRITU
Photos as Credited
One man, one boat, one lap around the planet,
simply put, a single-handed, non-stop, unassisted
around the world yacht race.. That is what the
Vendée Globe is all about, without a doubt, the
toughest and most dangerous race that man has come
up with to date. A grueling 44,000 kilometer course that
crosses the equator twice, circumnavigating the continent
of Antarctica via the tough Southern Ocean non-stop in a
span of two to three months.
Just like the Olympics, the race happens every four years.
Founded in 1989 by renowned French sailor and solo
circumnavigator Philippe Jeantot, two time winner of the
stage by stage Velux 5 Oceans Race, a round the world
single handed yacht race.
The eight previous iterations of what is now considered the
Everest of the seas have enabled 167 contenders to take the
start of this extraordinary race. Only 89 of them managed
to cross the finish line. This figure alone shows the extreme
difficulty of this global event in which solo racers are
confronted to freezing cold, gigantic waves and heavy skies
which sweep the Great South! The Vendée Globe is first and
foremost a journey beyond the seas and deep down oneself.
It has rewarded great sailors: Titouan Lamazou in 1990,
Alain Gautier in 1993, Christophe Auguin in 1997, Vincent
Riou in 2005, François Gabart in 2013 and Armel LeCléac’h
in 2017. The skipper from Finistère became the new record
holder of the race in 74 days. Only one sailor has won it
twice: Michel Desjoyeaux, in 2001 and 2009.
All past winners of Vendée Globe were French but in this
edition a black knight will be right on their heels giving
everyone a run for their money, five-time Vendée Globe
veteran and last edition’s 2nd placer, British ocean sailor Alex
Thomson sailing in the black Hugo Boss boat. The Hugo
Boss boat is probably the most state of the art yacht in the
fleet, the only one with a fully enclosed cockpit, providing
full protection from the elements and allowing Alex to stay
warm and dry for most of the voyage. One of several foiling
monohulls in the race, the Hugo Boss boat can literally sail
faster than the wind. Alex has one objective in this year’s
Vendée Globe and that is to win.
Solo and unassisted requires that all the skippers need
to have an intimate relationship with their boats, having
redundant systems is not enough. If anything breaks you
need to know how to fix it, no matter where it is on the
boat. In the Vendée Globe, the sailor is well and truly alone.
The only assistance allowed is when the sailor returns to the
start at Les Sables d’Olonne, just after the start, meaning he
would lose a lot of time. Apart from this exception, everyone
has to rely on what they can do during the round the world
voyage. Routing is strictly prohibited. The sailors have to
find their own way around, carry out any repairs following
on from damage, which is likely to happen. In the 2000-
2001 edition, French ocean sailor Yves Parlier fabricated a
new carbon fiber mast from the remnants of his old one
after he got dismasted, and managed to finish the race in
126 days.
Alone for 3 months, means that the skipper has to do
everything, sailing is only a small part of what the skipper
needs to do. Managing one’s’ physical, mental and emotional
wellbeing while contending with sleep deprivation, anxiety
over the weather and the sea states, the upkeep of 60 foot
yacht in the violent southern ocean, all the while avoiding
unidentified floating objects (UFOs) that have taken out
many racers in the past are just some of the things that a
Vendée Globe skipper is expected to deal with. It’s not easy
at all.
Preparations for the 2020-2021 edition of the Vendée
Globe started well before the coronavirus pandemic, and
postponing it was just out of the question, considering the
skippers will be the most physically isolated and socially
distant people on the planet as soon as it starts.
Les Sables d’Olonne is a seaside town in Western France,
on the Atlantic Ocean. A subprefecture of the department
of Vendée was abuzz with activity in September when the
participating boats were coming in to dock in their respective
pontoons, despite the virus risks, crowds still came with
masks on to check out the 33 IMOCA-60 high performance
yachts at their berths. Despite the masks the awe and
wonder was evident in the eyes of the crowd visiting the
boats and the skippers.
This ninth edition promises to be one of global sport’s
outstanding events. Since its inception in 1989 the race has
never before attracted such a big and varied field. 33 solo
sailors are participating, not since the 2008-2009 edition,
87

when there were 30 starters, has the field been so large.
This time, it includes no fewer than 10 non-French skippers
and there will be a record number of six female skippers. The
standard of the competitors is particularly outstanding.
Of the 33, more than half are 18 ‘bizuths’ or rookies, sailors
out to take on the Vendée Globe for the first time. All have
already amassed a wide range of appropriate experience and
success in other events and other types
of sailing. Among these rookies are;
France’s multiple Paralympic sailing
champion Damien Seguin (APICIL); a
round the world speed record holder
and a winner of the Volvo Ocean
Race, Kévin Escoffier (PRB); several
winners of the famous French solo
multi stage race, the annual Solitaire
du Figaro, Nicolas Troussel (CORUM
L’EPARGNE); and Sébastien Simon (ARKEA-PAPREC), as
well as recent winners of the Transat Jacques Vabre race,
Charlie Dalin (APIVIA); and the Route du Rhum race , Armel
Tripon (L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE).
The international appeal of the Vendée Globe has continued
to grow over the recent years. This year, there are 10
sailors from outside of France, almost a third of the fleet,
representing Great Britain, Switzerland, Germany, Spain,
Italy, Finland, Australia and Japan. Alex Thomson of Hugo
Boss is one of the international skippers who is among the
pre-race favourites. Only one other sailor in the fleet has had
just as many Vendée Globe races under his belt as Alex and
that is Jean Le Cam (YES WE CAM!), the oldest participant
in the event at 61 years old.
88
Participants in the
Vendée Globe do
not need to win to
become legends, in
some cases, all they
need to do is start.
Jean-Louis Carli - Alea Pip Hare - Medallia
All yachts participating in the race are within the Open
60 class set by the International Monohull Open Class
Association (IMOCA) and the class is called the IMOCA 60.
Founded at around the same time the Vendée Globe was
founded, IMOCA was primarily organized to set the class
regulations for yachts doing long distance single handed and
double handed ocean racing. Open classes are unrestricted
in certain aspects, but a box rule governs parameters such
as overall length, draught, appendages
and stability, as well as numerous other
safety features. Other than the Vendée,
other races under IMOCA’s jurisdiction
are the Rolex Fastnet Race, Transat
Jacques Vabre, Barcelona World Race,
and the Route du Rhum.
Being an open class spanning almost 30
years several boats have participated in
the Vendée Globe several times, and on each edition updated
with technology to improve its safety and performance.
Canting keels and dual rudders are standard, while newer
boats have “outriggers” that double as spreaders for the side
stays and have tracks for the head sails, as well as hydrofoils.
The use of hydrofoils made its debut in the IMOCA 60 class
during the 2016-17 edition of the Vendée Globe, this new
innovation was closely watched to evaluate the durability of
foils in such circumstances. The top finishers had hydrofoils,
Frenchman Armel Le Cléac’h finished first, beating Alex
Thomson by 16 hours, despite Alex’s Hugo Boss boat
finishing with only one working hydrofoil. In the 2020-2021
Vendée Globe, the newer boats as well as the older but
upgraded boats have hydrofoils 3 times bigger than those in
the previous edition, allowing the boats to sail in a medium
between the surface and the sky, making aerodynamics a
key component of the boat’s design. The fleet is composed
of 19 foilers and 14 non-foilers.
The oldest boat in the fleet, a non foiler was launched in March
1998 has participated in four editions of the Vendée Globe she
is currently skippered by Alexia Barrier (TSE - 4MYPLANET)
a woman who has no shortage of tenacity and passion for
ocean racing and the protection of the ocean. When she
set out to establish her Vendée Globe 2020 project, one of
her greatest assets was her sheer determination. This young
woman gathered a group of companies, institutions and
patrons around her project in order to acquire Le Pingouin —
the IMOCA sailed by Catherine Chabaud on the 2000 Vendée
Globe in February 2018. Since then, Alexia hasn’t missed
an opportunity to move closer to achieving her objectives.
Participants in the Vendée Globe do not need to win to
become legends, in some cases, all they need to do is start.
Among the new IMOCA 60’s Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss
launched in August 2019 is probably the most radical,
she is characterised by her innovative look: fully enclosed
cockpit, visibility of the outside space being largely provided
by cameras. Much of the on-board energy requirements
are supplied by solar panels integral to the deck. The foils
are also unique with their circular forms. Hugo Boss has

Alex Thomson Racing
Alex Thomson Racing
Jean-Marie Liot Yvan Zedda-Alea
sensors on all critical areas of the boat, allowing Alex and
the onboard systems to be aware of the stresses on the boat
while underway. Despite the innovations onboard, there will
be times when it will not be comfortable on a 60 foot high
performance yacht, it can become violent inside that cockpit
and the skippers and their boats need to be ready for it.
The wide array of skippers participating in this regatta is
amazing in itself, their decades of collective experience in
ocean racing will leave the average sailor awestruck. With
France in lockdown again on the 30th of October, the Vendée
Globe village was closed to visitors and the start that was
to happen a week later on 8 November will happen behind
closed doors. This meant that the traditional fanfare that
comes with start day will not happen. Personal interaction
of the skippers will be limited to those in their respective
bubbles, family and friends cannot be there to see them off,
they can, but only virtually.
Official group picture of the skippers
Alexia Barrier sailing the oldest
boat in the fleet TSE myPlanet
The 9th Vendée Globe fleet left Les Sables d’Olonne on
Sunday 8th November 2020, minus the fanfare that usually
came with it, like the crowds of adoring fans and the armada
of private and chartered boats seeing the fleet off on their
two to three month adventure around the world.
The route around the world will see the fleet head to the southern
Atlantic to the southern tip of Africa, rounding the Cape of
Good Hope, crossing the Indian Ocean, passing Cape Leeuwin
on the southwestern corner of Australia, passing the southern
end New Zealand, traversing the Southern Ocean from west to
east before turning the corner at Cape Horn on the southern tip
of South America before heading north up the Atlantic again to
finish where they started at Les Sables d’Olonne.
Those interested in knowing what is happening during
the race can follow on the world wide web https://www.
vendeeglobe.org/ or on social media, the skippers will be
giving regular updates via the VendéeGlobeTV channel on
YouTube, along with analysis and commentaries from Vendée
Globe veterans.
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