MANILA, Philippines - Sailing around the country and discovering how diverse and rich its seascapes are ways for us to get inspired to be more proactive in preserving our natural resources.
This is one of the reasons why AboitizPower Corp., one of the country’s leading producers of cleaner and renewable energy, came up with its Cleanergy Travelers Series in partnership with the Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Foundation.
With this event and many others, the company seeks to encourage more people toward healthy living and inspire them to protect the environment.
The 2010-2011 Cleanergy Travelers Series had its kickoff event at Puerto Azul in Cavite and has since held four legs, the latest of which was the Balai Isabel Round The Volcano (RTV) regatta.
The RTV is considered by sailing enthusiasts as one of the most unique and challenging of all sailing competitions. Every year, for the last 10 years, sailors gather at the Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) to compete not only against themselves, but with the capricious winds around the volcano island as well.
The recent leg saw 30 boats participating in the event, with sailors having to contend with five-knot puffs to 18-knot gusts and the double-digit wind speeds that prevailed for most of the competition.
Hobie 16 catamarans, which comprised two-thirds of the fleet, were flying hulls as they maneuvered around the course set off the shores of TLYC and the Balai Isabel resort. The 26-kilometer race around the volcano island was dubbed the “Governor’s Cup” and could be segmented into four stages.
The first was the “Down Leg Duel” from the TLYC to the western side of the volcano island. Here, competitors had to decide whether crossing early and hugging the south of the island was better than keeping low and riding the wind along the coast below the Tagaytay mountains.
Boats moved back and forth looking for the wind channels along the course.
The next stage was the “Fishpond Labyrinth” wherein boats entered the narrow strait between the volcano and the eastern shore of Balayan. The area was littered with bamboo fish pens, often only allowing boats a tight squeeze between them.
Here, the winds were also at their most fickle as they either came in from the north or through the hills on the east. Sailors had to be extra vigilant as this stage required the biggest position changes.
This stage was made even more challenging with the huge wind shadow that greeted the boats at the south exit of the strait.
Sailors then headed upwind and tacked for position for the third stage of the race.
Here, they faced the dreaded “Bubuin Beat” with its strong tidal currents and flakey wind conditions.
Sailing back toward the TLYC likewise proved to be a challenge for them.
With speeds approaching 20 knots, they charged toward shore with their crew twin-wired off the stern in order to keep their bows just over the water to avoid pitch-poling.
Undergoing these physically and mentally demanding stages, though, proved to be worthwhile for all participants as they formed new friendships and celebrated an exciting and pollution-free day of sailing. As the fourth leg of the Cleanergy Travelers Series drew to a close, they took part in a well-deserved celebration.
AboitizPower’s Cleanergy Travelers Series will continue in January with the Philippine Hobie 16 Nationals, in February with the 11th Philippine Hobie Challenge, in March with the San Teodoro Batangas regatta, and in April with the Subic Bay regatta.
AboitizPower is the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, retail and power services.
It is a major producer of renewable energy in the country with several hydroelectric and geothermal assets in its generation portfolio. The non-renewable portfolio consists of plants throughout the country.
The distribution utilities it owns and operates are located across the country.
For more information on the upcoming regattas, contact admin@philhobie.org.