ABW March 2024

At the SBYC pontoon, the PSA management team were
busy fixing the stretched panel of the jib, putting a carbon
tape on it and hand sew it, ensuring all 8 pcs of jib plus 2
spares had been repaired and completely done at 2000H
and get it ready for tomorrow’s strong wind forecast.
February 11 at 0800H, skippers briefing and boat draw
took place and rushed over to the starting line afterwards.
The 1st race of the day got underway and some of the
participants cleverly not hoisting their spinnaker to make
the boat in one piece and most of all, the main concern was
the safety of the crew as Paolo Viloria claimed onboard Taal
Lake Yacht Club’s team. Eventually, only 4 boats hoisted
their spinnaker and the other 4 didn’t. My team was way
ahead from the fleet with spinnaker on the first downwind
with our bow digging into the water as the gust estimated
over 20 knots hits us and the working deck was full of
water as the boat submerged in it. While Emerson Villena’s
boat on the other hand had broached and their spinnaker
had kissed the water twice, almost seeing their keel on the
water surface.
When all the participants crossed the finish line, the repair
man, Lester Troy Tayong was busy at this time fixing the
broken jib and changing the broken halyards. The wind has
getting stronger, the Race officer Rye Lee Caasi and the
organizers representative, yours truly, took the initiative to
declare a no spinnaker on the remaining races for the safety
of the participant.
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