Hobie Challenge sails off at Maya Maya

Men of the sea will test their heart and soul against the elements when the second Philippine Hobie Challenge, the toughest among an array of sailing events, unfolds in the scenic Maya Maya on the Batangas Coast.

Hong Kong’s Mike Scantlebury, founder of the Hobie Challenge, teams up with Frenchman Nicolas Croly aboard their Hobie-16 "Honkin Hogs" to defend the title he won last year in the Lucena, Quezon to Boracay Island route.

But this time, Scantlebury is expected to face tougher challenge as he will not only undergo once again the test of nature’s ferocity under different elements but will also be pitted against some of the world’s best out to unseat him.

"It will be tougher this year but we will try our best to win the title again," said Scantlebury during the launching dinner at the Don Henrico’s Pizza Restaurant in Makati City.

A total of 12 teams, four of which are the country’s toughest bets, coming from Australia, France, Guam, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom comprised this year’s challenge, considered as Asia’s toughest beach catamaran race.

The competitors will sail the 160 nautical mile course including the infamous Calavite Passage and Apo Reef, both known as danger zones to all seafarers, with overnight camps to be set up on Golo Island, Mamburao, Pandan Island Resort and Apo Island.

The Philippine teams participating in this eight-day event are Bilis Biik (Mark Haswell/Jill Novera), Taal Lake YC (Peter Capotosto/Noel Lim), Catastrophe (Doug Hanson/Gia Veloso) and Wailing (Rex Puentespina/Rannie Lavina).

For safety measures, organizers have tapped the services of Lineline Arrows to provide a 24-hour emergency rescue and first aids with support boats from Orient Freight and Inajica in this grueling event supported by White Mountain gears. — Joey Villar