Philippine Hobie Challenge

How many ways are there to get from Manila to Boracay? You could fly, of course. You could also take a bus and some ferries. How about a sailing a Hobie Cat down to the beaches of Philippines’ most promoted island? Crazy, you say? Well, the 12 teams joining this year’s Philippine Hobie Challenge, did exactly that and approached the well know white beaches of Boracay from a less know angle, from Sybuyan Island.

The six day sailing event, from Lucena, Quezon to Boracay, covers roughly 200 nautical miles (about 360 kilometers). This year’s event, organized by the Philippine Inter-island Sailing Foundation (PHINSAF), was the 11^th of its kind. Three Australian teams made their way to the Philippines to join this event. All of them well known to the Philippine Sailing community for their outstanding performances in previous regattas, in and outside the Philippines.

No other than Bob Engwirda and Bradley Wilson took home this year’s Hobie Challenge trophy, 10 and a half minutes before the team of Bruce Tradrew and Eric Tomacruz, and almost 25 minutes before the third placed team of Andrew and MJ Locke.

My congratulations go out to all of the participating teams. I can imagine that this year’s strong Amihan wind showed no mercy and required every skipper’s and crew’s sailing skill available to guide the boat safely through the open waters.

While all the sailors are celebrating their great achievements I’m sitting at home, staring at my broken arm asking myself how much more mistimed my sailing accident could have been?! I was signed up as third crew on the winning boat! Just imagine how much I could have learned sailing with two of the best Hobie Cat sailors out there? Well, there is always a next challenge!