ABW March 2022

Our ventures took us on a rare calm sea day thru
Calavite Pass, to the great relief of my able crew.
That forgiving weather followed us down to a
moonlit night at Apo Reef.
Priam got his first shark sighting as we
did a dive, then headed to one of my
favorite places on earth, Busuanga Bay.
Busuanga Bay will be home to the sixth
running of the famed Busuanga Bay
Cup Regatta.
This gave us a week of solitude and
exploring before the armada descended
upon us. We enjoyed the two hot springs, epic wreck
diving and the hospitality of Al Faro Resort and Marina Del
Sol. Marina del Sol manages the moorings, arranged for
our health check clearance and provided services such as
refilling our drinking water, accepting packages, motorbike
rental and even some shopping for us. The staff at MDS has
really ramped up the services for visiting yachts.
The seventeen racing boats departed Punta Fuego early
morning on Febuary 17 and began the over 130 nautical mile
course to Busuanga Island. The fleet had good wind for the
start and raced down the Luzon coast,
winding through Golo Island and across
to the west side of Busuanga Island.
The first boats finished
in the wee hours of
the 18th, as the fleet
staggered in much of
the day.
The first boats finished in the wee hours
of the 18th, as the fleet staggered in
much of the day. The wind had died
down forcing all to use the iron jib. The
race has a formula for deducting time
under engine power, as it is rare to see a
boat sail all the way.
The stalwart motor yacht, Lost in Asia, served as the
committee boat, arriving on the scene late the night before.
Assistance also came from local dive shop owner, Gunther
Bernet.
Words by BRIAN CALVERT
Photographs as Credited
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