Sailors are happy people. There is little which dampens our sailing fun! Storm is wind in our sails and rain merely a by-product of interesting wind conditions. And interesting they sure were during this year's Independence Day Regatta in Subic! The two-day event has seen it all: wind, no wind, rain, no rain, and a combination of all or none.

We soon found out we had chosen the right boat to crew on! Helping out Dale and Richie on their 30 foot cruiser turned out to be a perfect choice! Being a cruise boat it might not be the most competitive dog out there but surely the most comfortable.

Although the little sun roof proved to be an accessory rather than a protection from the elements we were given rain jackets (just like the ones we had forgotten in our car!). We were fed apple pie with cream and delicious tuna sandwiches! The latter started flapping in my face like a chatty mouth when the wind suddenly picked up. All I could do is quickly put my wet thumb on its lid to keep it from flying!

Drinks, just like food, come in handy when the wind dies for an hour or two... And trust me we had a lot of no-wind-time to cover. Time for me to take over on the helm and practice some light wind maneuvering!

The board engine becomes the sailors best friend when the open bar at the marina calls with free drinks but the wind decides to not collaborate at all. Called it a lack of enthusiasm or simply being practical. After two days on the boat we had grown quite some sea-legs. Which turned out to be useful during the tropical depression which wet the 113th Anniversary of the Philippines' Independence!