Back on track!

After 4.5 months forced retirement from sailing, team Tiger Gambas is finally back in the game! With low expectations (from our out-of-shape performance and from the seasonal low to non-existing wind) we joined the Taal Lake Yacht Club Sunday race. To our surprise, we came in second overall, scoring first place twice in 4 races! Seems our sailing spirit hasn't faded in the past months! My (according to my doctor) fully recovered arm did a great job in pulling ropes and fixing sails. I even dared helming for a little while and maneuvered some maneuvers.

While on land, we paid a visit to the office of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) at the shore of Taal Lake. The office is rather unimposing. It houses a few computers monitoring the seismic activities of Taal volcano. With 115 earthquakes in 24 hours, the staff should be rather busy. Or maybe not. For the longest time signal 2 has been issued. The status quo hasn’t changed in weeks now.

However, according to the office's own documentation pinned to a simple corkboard I would say it's time for signal 3! Interviews conducted with residents on the main crater (where permanent settlements are strictly not recommended since it is declared a Permanent Danger Zone) confirmed some of the earthquakes were 'felt'. According to Philvoc's documentation, 'seismic squirms of felt quakes' are indicators for signal 3. While seismic activities seem to increase, boat operators started 'sightseeing' tours on the lake again. In the wake of the current fish kill I wonder which 'tours’ exactly are being offered. Fishing for beginners?