Calamian
Island
Cruise
The Cruising Yacht Club
of the Philippines
March 2007
Puerto Galera
Hosts 2nd
Windsurfing
Regatta
Puerto Galera
Hosts 2nd
Windsurfing
Regatta
Calamian
Island
Cruise
Commodore’s Letter
PGYC Board of Directors
Commodore: Peter Stevens
Vice Com: Mike Tucker, Jurgen Langemeier
Treasurer: Geoffrey Cannell
Directors: Michel Bigot, Carl Broqvist,
William Moore, Owen Stull,
Andrew Wrightson
-----------------
Secretary: Carlos Garcia
Philippine Copyright 2003 - 07 by The
Puerto Galera Yacht Club, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Contents
Commodore’s Letter 3
Seen on our Moorings 5
Nature News: Snakes Alive 6
Calamian Island Cruise 9
Puerto Galera Hosts:
2nd Windsurfing Regatta 16
Round the Island Race 22
Puerto Princesa Mayor’s Regatta 25
The 2007 Most Excellent Adventure 28
Production
Sales & Distribution: DeBe Enterprise &
Service (+63 917 846 3388)
Design: Terry Duckham/Asiapix Studios
Layout: Aira Fernando/Asiapix Studios
Front Cover : Martyn Willes
Special Thanks: Martyn Willes
Cruiser News is published by
Puerto Galera Yacht Club Inc.,
P.O.Box 30450 Sto Niño,
Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philippines
Tel / Fax : 63 (043) 442-0136
Email: info@pgyc.org
www.pgyc.org
It seems a long time ago since I wrote the last
Commodore’s Letter, on behalf
of Jurgen, who, you may remember was stuck in Manila as
Typhoon Durian headed
our way. I was getting ready to prepare the boat and to
spend the night aboard. It
was a wild night with winds around 100kts (120mph) in the
bay and higher outside.
Eight yachts broke their mooring lines and ended up in
the mangroves or among
the wrecked bancas ashore. The good news is that all but
one of the moorings held
firm under appalling conditions. There was one partial
failure of a privately-owned
mooring. This year’s annual mooring inspection is already
underway and will be
especially rigorous to spot and repair weaknesses exposed
by the typhoon.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thanks the members
for entrusting me with
the Commodorship of the PGYC. It has been my honour to
serve as a Director for
several years and now its my pleasure to take the helm of
our exciting, busy and fun
club. Its going to be another hectic year, with the
hoped-for continuing expansion of
our dinghy sailing fleet and sail training programs
(which have injected a real sense
of purpose and excitement to the Club), as well as bigger
and better regattas and a
more efficient food and beverage operation. On top of
this we have to consider the
development of our real estate to give better access to
the club from the National
Highway and enhanced water-front use, afforded us by the
acquisition of the land
adjacent to the club. We have just secured the funds for
the purchase of the land and
are now planning the development, which will require a
further 600,000 pesos.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the
outgoing Board
members who chose not to stand again this year. We have
Martyn to thank for
the excellent news letter, a great web site and the best
yacht club magazine in the
Region. To Mal, Vincent and Nick, thanks for your support
in the past and for
your anticipated help in the future. To the new Board
members, Bill Moore, Michel
Bigot, Owen Stull and Andy Wrightson I extend a warm
welcome and thanks for
coming aboard. Bill is ex-US Navy and has been resident
in PG for three years or
so now and is an experienced off-shore racer from the
West coast of the USA. It
is natural, therefore, that he takes over the reins of
the Sailing Events Committee
and will be the main man for this year’s regattas. Good
luck, mate! Michel is a local
restaurateur and has already brought a little French
panache to the kitchen. He will
be overseeing the F&B side of the house, assisted by
the Executive Committee.
Owen is a resident of Manila who is in PG regularly
overseeing the restoration of
ISLA, the old Jardines company launch from Hong Kong and
will be our link-man
with the Manila members and Martyn. Andy is the skipper
of the large Azimut that
you can see in the bay from time to time. A PG/Subic
resident he brings a wealth of
nautical and practical experience to the board. We are
all looking forward to seeing
you here for the Easter Regatta on the 6-8th April, the
Notice of Race for which can
be found on the website.
And finally a big thanks to the outgoing Commodore,
Jurgen Langemeier, who
has done great work over the past two years and who is
still involved on a daily basis.
It’s going to be a hard act to follow.
Best wishes and fair winds
Peter Stevens
15th February 2007
The views expressed in Cruiser News are those of the
authors and not PGYC. No responsibility for any loss is
accepted by the authors or by PGYC
The majority of yachts are fitted with ’drip trays’
which
sit under the engine to collect oil drips, so that this
oil can not
get down into the bilge water. However accidents can
happen.
The Marine Operations Committee was therefore very
pleased to receive a sample oil absorbent pad from member
Joy Smith some time ago; after testing, a supply was
obtained
for the club by member David Balman and these are now
available for purchase at the club office.
Our aim is for all vessels using our moorings to be
fitted with an oil pad, then end of problem: absolutely
no
more chance of oily bilge water coming from yachts. So if
you haven’t yet fitted one of these economical pads,
drop into
the club office and buy one. If only we could do the
same for
bankas!
Recent visitors include:
Our long time cruising friend Chris Russel left
’September Song’ on our moorings while he visited
Australia.
We are glad to see him back cruising again.
Member David Endsley brought ’Sea Feather’ his Cheoy
Lee sloop en route from Port Bonbonon, Negros to Olongapo
and is back here again.
’Valentina IV’, an Azimut 64,
skipper Kurt Konzelmann, on route to
Cebu waited out the stormy weather.
Member John Carruthers returned
from Labuan with his refitted Cheoy
Lee ’Surprise II’.
Cruising catamaran ’Canowie’
owned by Canadian Peter Irwin came in
after a major refit in Subic.
’Victory’ a 42 ft Bob Perry sloop,
with owner Victor Roman G. Santos
dropped by.
Gordon Andersons, ’Alchemy’ a
trawler style motor yacht by Seahorse
Marine spent a few days with us.
’Kuroshio I’ with Canadian
Clement Martinez cruised by.
’Omni’ a 30 ft Crowther multi-hull with owner Paul
Artenbichler on the way to Palawan.
’Marica’ a 38 ft James Wharran catamaran with
French owner Mougenot Didier who has applied for club
membership.
’Freewheeler’ a Ted Brewer designed 33 ft with owner
David Wheeler on the way to Manila.
Canadian Dennis Heppner sailed his Ta Chaio built 36
ft ’Serendipity’ on the way to Subic.
The Hallberg Rassy 39 ft ’Tojai’ with owner Simon
Latham spent a few days with us between the winter
monsoon surges.
’Ann-Kristin’ 43 ft with Swiss Bernhard & Ruth
Ulrich.
Edardo Yu’s ’Sabrina’ 44 ft Beneteau with skipper
Arman Talo.
’Strewth’ , a 49 ft Lyons, with Australian skipper Ben
Johnson.
John Blay’s ’Windseeker’ 36 ft on the way to Busuanga.
S&S designed ’Happy’ with owner Dieter Bedke from
Punta Fuego.
To those who visit us for the first time, please use the
’Manila’ (West) channel. Yet again the ’Batangas’ (North)
channel has claimed a yacht. In the North East Monsoon
low
powered yachts can easily be swept onto the reef. The
recent
victim suffered extensive damage. If coming from the
east, it
may make your journey a little longer but the Manila
channel
is a far easier approach.
By Mike Tucker Photo by Terry Duckham
Seen on our Moorings
With the enormous increase in banka usage in
Muelle Bay, due to the weather making it unsafe to
unload or to moor bankas at many places, we have
seen an increase in the amount of water pollution
and in particular oil from engines which drips
into the bilge and often gets pumped out at the
beginning and end of each trip.
Words by Peter Stevens
Photos by Mario Lutz
NATURE NEWS
NAKES ALIVE!!
NATURE NEWS
Believe it or not this edition of Nature
Notes started with a text from my shooting
buddy, Mario, to say that he had White-
bellied Sea Eagles building a nest very close
to his house up the hill on the way to the
Ponderosa. This got me thinking about Mario
and his hobby/business/obsession involving
snakes, so up I went, ostensibly to check out
the eagles but with other things on my mind.
Unfortunately the eagles weren’t where they
were supposed to be when I arrived but I’m
happy to report that everything else that lives
on the property was exactly where it should be,
that is safely behind glass or in compounds.
Because ’everything else’ is hundreds of snakes and
reptiles of
every type and degree of lethality that one can imagine,
not
to mention pythons bigger than a municipal water-pipe and
crocodiles with teeth bigger than Little Red Ridinghood’s
best
friend. Welcome to PARADISE ZOO and HERPAWORLD,
home to over 1000 species of snakes and reptiles and to
the
REPTILEMAN himself, Mario Lutz.
So, what’s it all about? It’s about conservation,
scientific
research, rescue, release and an all-consuming passion
got
slightly out of hand! Mario arrived in Puerto Galera in
2000
as the resident manager to oversee the construction of
the
Garden Of Eden resort and restaurant. True to its name he
wanted to build something exotic, tempting and that
involved
snakes and other reptiles, in which he has had an
interest
since a small boy growing up in Germany. He found that
the
so-called pet shops and suppliers in Manila were all
selling the
animals illegally and that there was absolutely no
literature
on the snakes of the Philippines. So he started doing his
own
research and building contacts within the various
Government
Departments responsible. He found that there were many
obstructions in the way of foreigners getting involved
with
animal research, possession, transport and breeding. Over
the
ensuing years he gained the trust and respect of these
agencies
who now rely on him to rehabilitate seized or surrendered
animals of all descriptions; to spearhead the scientific
research
into Philippine snakes and reptiles, including the
production
of anti-venom; to pioneer the captive breeding of
critically
NAKES ALIVE!!
Above: Batanes Pit-Viper; all but extinct
Below: Butaan Lizard; rediscovered in 1974
endangered snakes and
reptiles and to produce the
first definitive field guide to
the identification of species.
He is also closely involved in
producing basic guidelines for
regional hospitals on how to
best treat snakebite victims.
With around 264 species, 70%
of which are found only in
the Philippines (i.e. endemic),
including 2 species of cobra
and 7 vipers, he has his work
cut out.
One of his early discoveries and successes was with the
BATANES PIT-VIPER. This beautiful little snake was all
but extinct in its native forest habitat on the island
for which
it is named. It lives high in trees in primary rainforest
and,
as is the story with many bird species, was being driven
to
annihilation by habitat loss and collecting. Mario
established
the only successful breeding program in the World;
galvanized
Government officers and departments and succeeded in
having the forest protected. The species is, for now,
safe.
Snakes are not his only passion, however. He has a soft-
spot for reptiles too, particularly the BUTAAN. This is
one
of the few fruit-eating monitor lizards in the world and
is so
restricted in its range that I’m not going to tell you
where it
lives. Suffice to say it’s a small island in the
Philippines. For
130 years it was believed to be extinct in the wild but
was
rediscovered in 1974. The captive population in zoos
around
the world refused to breed. There had never been a BUTAAN
bred in captivity. Mario succeeded where all others had
failed.
He still has the only successful program. He attributes
this,
perhaps, to the very oily fruits, such as pandanus which
is an
important part of their diet in the wild and to which
overseas
zoos do not have access. He now has a plan to export
pandanus
oil! I attribute it to his intimate knowledge of
critters,
instinct and drive to succeed. As with the pit-viper, he
has
succeeded in getting the habitat protected and has
erstwhile
hunters working as rangers. With a retail value overseas
of
US$10,000 an animal it’s been a hard-fought battle. Mario
firmly believes that a successful captive breeding
program
will eventually take the pressure off the wild population
as
collectors prefer healthier, cleaner pets to the diseased
and
parasite-ridden originals. With this goal in mind, he is
the
only facility in the Philippines with a permit to export
wildlife
and has established exchange programs with zoos around
the
world. All of this in our own backyard - amazing. He also
has a hunch that Mindoro Island might be home to its own
endemic species of BUTAAN, up in the forested heartland,
and plans to lead an expedition there soon to find it. I
wonder
if I can tag along?
As if all this success wasn’t enough I haven’t even got
round to Crocodilus mindorensis. From its name I think
you
have an idea of what’s coming. I was not surprised to
hear
that the most critically endangered species of crocodile
on
Earth is our very own Philippines Crocodile, with maybe
only 200 individuals left in the wild. The last one seen
on
Mindoro, in Lake Naujan, was many years ago. Fishing nets
Right: Crocodilus mindorensis;
most critically endangered
species of crocodile on Earth
Below: Mario with Big Bertha
NAKES ALIVE!!
NAKES ALIVE!!
PGYC
March 2007
and persecution saw him off. Once
again our own Super Mario has a
successful breeding program, with
13 of the toothed-tykes, out of the
maybe 1000 in captivity. While
he and I were chatting about their
plight I came up with an idea. Why
not develop an ADOPT-A-CROC
scheme? For a donation of, say
P5000, you can have one named after
you, get your name in the Crocodile
Hall of Fame etc etc. There is no
doubt that funds thru donations
are needed and are put to good use.
Each seized or miss-treated crocodile,
mammal, bird, turtle, snake or lizard
brought in for rehabilitation and
release costs over 5000p in feeding,
veterinary services and housing
and Mario gets no help from the Government, even though
they rely on him. Last year they released over 400
animals,
(including the sea-eagles that had eluded me) back into
the
wild. Or maybe you’d like to sponsor
a day trip by a local school? Let the
kids have a chance to learn about their
environment, handle friendly snakes,
pet lizards etc. He promises to have
fed Big Bertha before they arrive.
For more details visit his great
web-site at www.herpaworld.com.
As for me, I had a great
afternoon with the Snakeman of
Ponderosa. He has turned a hobby
into a passion and commitment to
conservation and biodiversity that
benefits hundreds of species, not only
his beloved reptiles.
In the next Nature Notes I’ll
reveal what happened on my own,
personal tour around PARADISE
ZOO with Mario. Ever been spat
at by a cobra............rattled by a
rattlesnake????. smiled at by a
croc? Watch this space.
Remember - don’t cut and suck.
Pete q
Mario wrestles with his python
In this pre-dawn hour, the seas are placid and a slight
mist hangs over the still air as we silently pull out of
Puerto
Galera harbour. Embarking on our very first ’cruise’, my
college-aged daughter, Chelsea, and I feel a mix of
excitement
and apprehension. As residents of the land-locked
American
Midwest, ocean boating is about as obscure to us as a
Chicago
winter without snow. But this round-the-world journey
with
my daughter is about seeking adventure and experiencing
new
cultures. A few months ago we left our comfort zone in
the
United States and set out to see the world before
Starbucks
invades every corner of the globe.
Sean Manley, a friend from Buffalo, New York, who
C
alamian
I
sland
C
ruise
Words and photos by Roberta Attenhofer
currently works in
Manila, will be our
captain for the next
four days. He easily
persuaded us to come
along with him to see a
part of the Philippines
most tourists never see.
Our vague itinerary
includes poking around
the Calamian Islands
in North Palawan and
ending up in Coron
Town. Sean’s sturdy
looking fishing boat,
an AsiaCraft 32’ Center Console, and his ’no worry’
attitude
instills confidence, but I make sure I know where the
life
preservers are.
Along on board are Gigi, a Filipina friend of Sean’s from
Manila, and Nelson, our local hired deck hand. The
evening
before, we drove down from Manila, crossed over the Verde
Island Passage, and arrived into Puerto Galera well after
dark.
While Gigi, Chelsea and I hustled to purchase provisions
for
our trip (most importantly, beer), Sean chatted up some
tried
and true salty dogs down at Sharkey’s Pizzeria for advice
on
how to navigate the tricky Calavite Passage. The plan was
made to pull anchor the next morning at the ungodly hour
of
4.30 AM to take advantage of the (hopefully) calm seas.
So here we are, slicing through smooth water, leaving
Previews page: Club Paradise, Dimakya Island
Left: Maricaban Bay
Below: Sean’s Aircraft
sleepy Puerto Galera behind. The
calmness doesn’t last. Soon the sea
becomes choppy, and errant waves
jump over the hull drenching those of
us naive enough to sit up front. After
several unsettling hours we round
Cape Calavite and skirt the western
coastline of Mindoro, passing coastal
villages of thatched huts and children
running along the beach. Once again
the seas are calm and amazingly
beautiful. Colorful sea life is visible at
a depth of over 50 feet in clear water that spans
the full spectrum of blue - from light turquoise to
rich cobalt.
Clipping over towards North Pandan
Island, we pass a pod of dolphins, which eludes
us every time we try to get close to them. We
also disturb schools of flying fish, reflecting the
morning sun as they skim across the surface
of the sea like silver darts. Arriving at Pandan
before noon, we jump overboard and snorkel
ashore. Staying at the eco-resort on this island is
a desirable place to savor the tranquility of the
Philippine Islands. A handful of simple two-
story bungalows are situated on the sand behind
rows of towering palms, with hammocks strung
here and there, inviting relaxation. The spacious
bungalows are constructed of palm fronds and
bamboo, low-voltage light bulbs are powered by
solar energy, and the shower dispenses unheated
salt water (a dipping pail provides a fresh-water final
rinse).
Security is obviously not a concern; windows and doors
roll
close for privacy, but locks are non-existent. As a
staunch
environmentalist it is a treat for Chelsea to stay here,
where
conservation is not only a necessity but also a chosen
way
of life. Just thirty feet out from the beach lies a coral
reef,
abundant with multi-colored fish, sea slugs and quirky
marine
life we’ve never seen before.
If it is possible to tire of swaying in the hammock; the
more adventurous can participate in a PADI certified
diving
excursion or trek through the interior jungle to the
windward
side of the island. The trails lead to Spanish Nose Point
and
White Lagoon, a rocky inlet populated by thousands of
hermit crabs, each carting a unique shell they call home.
The
resort’s well-stocked bar provides cold San Miguels -- a
perfect
accompaniment to the extensive dinner buffet, including
loads of fresh fish, garlic rice and banana pudding.
Flickering
candles, strategically placed in the sand illuminate the
path
back to the bungalows after dark.
After being rudely awakened at dawn by large squawking
birds we enjoy a breakfast of mango pancakes and
regretfully
sail off, leaving North Pandan Island behind us. Cruising
across the Mindoro Straits and past Apo Reef, we see
nothing
on the horizon for hours except the vast blue South China
Sea. Eventually, off in the distance, we spot what looks
like a
lone banca. Upon closer inspection, we realize it is a
’fish
magnet’ -- a steel drum with palm leaves attached to the
bottom -- which the fish feed upon. Sean, a passionate
fisherman, wastes no time in casting out his lines. It
seems a bit like cheating to me, but a few passes by the
fish magnet hooks a fifteen inch Dorado. After giving
the poor thing a hard whack on the head with a steel
pipe, Sean announces that fresh fish will be on the menu
tonight. He reels in a second Dorado but it is too small
to keep, so this lucky fish gets a second chance.
Approaching Dimakya Island we decide to have
a look at a couple of gorgeous resorts - Club Paradise,
and her sister resort, El Rio y Mar on Maricaban Bay.
Both are classy joints for those who want to indulge in
a premier tropical get-away. We belly up to the bar at
Club Paradise and order a halo-halo -- a classic Filipino
drinkable dessert that includes a dozen ingredients,
everything from red mung beans to corn flakes and green
coconut gelatin. It is a most unusual concoction, but
surprisingly quite tasty.
At the bar, we meet Tequila Mike who decides his
schedule is flexible enough to join us on our journey for
the next few days. An avid yachtie Tequila Mike knows
his way around, allowing us to explore more remote
and serene areas. He guides the boat to a secluded area
where we meander along a brackish waterway. Massive
mangroves form a canopy above us. Mesmerized by
the change in scenery, we neglect to remember that
fishing rods are anchored to the roof of the boat. This
North Pandan Island
PGYC
March 2007
10
PGYC
March 2007
12
realization occurs suddenly when one of the rods makes
solid
contact with a low hanging mangrove branch, causing both
to
come crashing down onto the rear deck of the boat.
Luckily
no one is hurt and after clearing the debris away we
cautiously
continue along our way. Around the bend, out of nowhere,
appears an older local man punting down the creek on a
small
bamboo raft. He stops to watch as we pass just a few
meters
away from him, keeping steadfast as the wake from our
boat
bobs his raft up and down. Our eyes meet and he breaks
into
a beaming smile, revealing quite a lack of teeth. I’m
sure he is
just as amazed at the complexity of Sean’s boat as we are
at the
simplicity of his.
Our destination this evening is Pier House Lodge, a
small family-operated place run by Swedish Mike and his
Filipina wife, Liz. Other members of Liz’s family help
her out
to keep this low-key place running smoothly. Located on
the
water at the edge of Concepcion, on Busuanga Island, Pier
House’s front patio is the perfect place to tip a few
back and
watch a marvelous Philippine sunset. On the second floor,
two
open-air guestrooms look out upon the sea, with beds
draped
in mosquito nets to fend off the risk of malaria. Pier
House
Lodge is a congenial place, where guests and owners
quickly
become friends. Here we meet Iwon, a student from
Holland,
who enjoys semester breaks biking on the island. As the
sun
drops below the horizon, dinner is announced. In addition
to
exquisitely preparing our fresh-caught Dorado (the best
fish
I’ve ever tasted), Liz and her crew have cooked up a
delicious
array of dishes including a scrumptious tuna pie. Served
family-style, this wonderful meal is washed down with a
bottle
of rice wine we picked up a week earlier in Sagada. Good
food
and good drink lead to jovial conversations lasting for
hours
around the dinner table.
As I’ve discovered, people rise early in the tropics to
take
advantage of the cooler morning air. Or maybe it’s
because of
the roosters that start crowing long before sunrise.
Peering over
the shaky bamboo railing to the patio below I notice the
guys
are toasting the rising sun with their first San Miguel
of the
day. Out at sea locals are attempting to wade through low
tide,
pulling bamboo barges piled high with bags of fresh-water
sand gathered near the mangroves.
On a stroll through Concepcion to the popular waterfalls
a keen eye can spot a variety of orchids that grow
abundantly
in gardens along the road. Village homes are constructed
of
local materials with thatched roofs, bamboo woven walls
and
lacey curtains adorning the glass-free windows. Many of
the
side yards contain roosters tied to individual poles,
each with
a personalized little hut. Could they be prized
cockfighting
birds?
With Iwon joining us on our seafaring journey, we are
truly becoming quite the motley crew. We discover that
pearl
farming is big business in this section of the Calamian
Islands.
Row upon row of pearl net floats are strung together
across
acres of water. Our boat zips among these rows, cutting
across
at given breaks in the chain. Although tempting slowing
down for a closer look is not a good idea, as armed
security
guards keep watch in floating shanties nearby. Far from
the pearl farms the sea bustles with local fishermen in
their
bancas. I wave to everyone we pass. Some wave back while
others seem to just throw a fist into the air. After
noticing a
number of these peculiar responses, I suspect that this
gesture
must symbolize something other than a friendly greeting.
Confirming my suspicion I am told this gesture is used by
members of The New People’s Army, a Communist-based
revolutionary group whose tactics are based on Maoist
theories
of guerilla warfare. The American government considers
them
a terrorist organization. I stop waving.
Today consists of a leisurely cruise around Busuanga
Island popping into various resorts on different islands,
so
the guys can wet their whistles and we girls can do a bit
of
snorkeling. Our first stop is at Sangat Island Reserve
where
a fantastic coral reef lies just off shore. While
admiring the
variety of fish darting through the reef, we avoid the
tentacles
of a beautiful but dangerous blue jellyfish that
innocently
glides by. We also stop at Popototan Island to have a
look at
Coral Bay Resort, but the bar was momentarily dry so we
didn’t stay long. Circumventing Busuanga, we maneuver
around dozens of small islands that jut up from the sea.
Many
are uninhabited, while others support small coastal
villages.
An abandoned US Army base is clearly visible on Black
Island.
While passing Calauit Island, we try to get a glimpse of
the
African animals that reside at the Marcos Zoo.
This evening we dock at Vicky’s Lodge in Maricaban
Bay, at the edge of a coastal village. Behind the lodge,
chickens and pigs run free. In what is now appearing to
be
typical Filipino hospitality (combined with the lack of
any
nearby restaurants), Vicky prepares a feast of chicken
adobo,
sweet and sour fish, and garlic rice, which I now realize
accompanies every meal. The chicken tastes so fresh I
believe
there is one less strutting around out back. Tonight we
are
the only guests in this lodge. Relaxing in the simple
dining
room, which sits on stilts overhanging the water, we
notice a
luxury liner anchored across the bay. Through the
binoculars
we spy groups of people milling about, while men patrol
the
perimeter of the boat keeping watch for unwelcome
intruders.
Or so we imagine.
In the morning, the mystery ship is gone. After a
breakfast of eggs, fried Spam and the obligatory garlic
rice
we head towards Coron, passing sea turtles that
occasionally
pop up for air. Venturing around the sheer limestone
cliffs of
Coron Island, we come upon a hidden lagoon with emerald-
colored water so clear it beckons us to dive in.
Coron Town shocks us back into reality with its bustling
fish market, jam-packed jeepneys and loud videoke bars.
Down the street from the market, Bruno’s Bistro is a
great
little restaurant serving up delicious French fare, sans
garlic
rice. Dive Link Resort, with its brightly colored
cottages and
inviting pool, is a cheerful place to stay. Located just
a banca-
hop across the bay on Uson Island, it is a quiet retreat
from
the chaos of Coron Town.
On our last morning of paradise, we bid adieu to our
newly acquired shipmates, hop a jeepney to Coron airport
and
fly off on a South East Asian Airlines puddle-jumper
towards
Manila. Flying low over the islands, we get a bird’s eye
view of
Apo Reef with its jagged contours of coral reef and
stunning
shades of blue and green. Dozens of islands dot the
landscape.
Touring the Calamian Islands aboard Sean’s boat
allowed Chelsea and I to visit memorable places we never
would have seen on our own. Our initial apprehension was
replaced with self-assurance as we quickly acquired our
sea
legs. Once we tuned into that relaxed island way-of-life,
we came to appreciate the pristine beauty of the
Philippine
Islands and the simple pleasures that are an inherent
part of
everyday life in this part of the world. By eating local
food
and observing the island culture, we were exposed to
treasures
we never anticipated and knowledge that opened our minds.
Leaving the Philippines, our next stop on our round-the-
world journey will take us to the United Arab Emirates,
with its stark landscape and a culture vastly different
to what
we have experienced cruising through these lush tropical
islands. Without a doubt, our Calamian Island cruise will
be a highlight of our adventurous trip, and is certainly
a
recommended journey for both a first-time cruiser as well
as a
seasoned yachtie. q
Previews page: Top: Coron Island Limestone Cliffs
Bottom: Conception Homes
This page: Below right: Sangat island Reserve
Below left: Pier House Lodge
PGYC
March 2007
16
Words by Martyn Willes Photographs by Bernadette and
Martyn Willes
You could have asked for a better breeze
but you could not have found one.
The usually neatly trimmed lawns and raked beach of
the Sandbar Resort was strewn with clear,
high-performance
plastic sails, as if a flock of giant butterflies had
discarded
their wings rather than face the blustery winds;
carbon-fibre
masts and fins attached to foam-sandwich boards filled
the
spaces between. A clash of brightly coloured wetsuits,
T-shirts
and shorts completed the spectacle of energy and passion
for one of the fastest growing water sports for all ages
in the
Philippines.
More than forty competitors (noticeably increased from
the first event held last year) pitted their wits and
muscles
against the unrelenting breeze to produce some of the
fastest
course times on record.
With the youngest starter at 10 years old and the eldest
at 66 the field of competition represented the full
spectrum of
youth and endurance.
The first race on Saturday was a washout for the novices
and juniors, and their understanding of the racing rules
2ND WINDSURFING REGATTA
Competitors at the 2nd Puerto Galera International
Windsurfing Open enjoyed 12 to 20 knot easterly winds
across Boquete Bay for the two days of the event -- ideal
conditions for sailors and spectators alike.
Rocketing away at the re-start
Front Cover: Cory Paz ’I like windsurfing because it’s
fast’
required a refresher course before race two - in the heat
of the
moment and with a tempest in their teeth they had
over-sailed
the limits of the start line. Fun too as a pile-up in
front of the
start boat caused the final race to be stopped and
re-started
for everyone, once the entwined boards and masts had been
separated.
In the Junior class 10 year old Yan Cy from Anilao put
in a board-and-sail breaking performance just behind 12
year
old Aryzx Garcia from Puerto Galera and 13 year olds,
Miguel
Lazo from Manila and Ivan Gio also from Puerto Galera.
In the Novice class 61 year old Gary McLean, originally
from Colorado, chose Puerto Galera as the venue to launch
himself, ’against doctor’s orders’, upon an unsuspecting
field
and sailed himself into first place. ’My doctor said ’no
racing’
because I was recovering from a bout of pneumonia but
after the first race yesterday I felt OK . . . when I
awoke this
10 year old Yan Cy, a board breaking
performance
Sponsors happy with the breeze
Leaning out for a close finish
Raul Lazo taught his son to windsurf
Focused on the finish line
Novice Gary McLean
wins ’against doctor’s
orders’
Age no barrier - 66 year old Manfred
heading for the start
Continued on page 19
morning I felt strong’ . . . further support of the
growing body
of evidence that the sport of sailing is good for your
health
and helps you live longer. Before his victorious final
race Gary
admitted that he had only sailed occasionally in the past
and
never competitively so he was somewhat surprised that was
doing so well.
The ladies were well represented with Anilao’s Cory
Paz out in front from the start. 20 year old Cory started
windsurfing four years ago at the behest of her brother
and in
July 2006 was selected to join the Philippine National
Team.
She freely admits, ’I like windsurfing because it’s fast
. . . one
day I will win (international) gold’.
This year the event, sponsored by San Miguel Beer and
Starboard Philippines and supported by a collection of
Puerto
Galera’s bodies responsible for transportation and
tourism,
brought the cream of Philippine windsurfers to The Most
Left: Ivan Gio (13), ’most times I win . . . that’s life’
What is it all for?
13 year old Ivan Gio, also
an accomplished dinghy
sailor
12 year old Aryzx Garcia,
disappointed with second place
13 year old Miguel Lazo
’my father taught me’
Puerto Galera Hosts... continued from page 17
PGYC
March 2007
20
Beautiful Bay in the World to be filmed and interviewed
by
the Solar Sports channel and the Cruiser News magazine.
The Puerto Galera Open is the second of a series of
windsurfing events that takes place every year at various
locations around the country. The series starts in
January on
Boracay Island. Puerto Galera hosts the second event
every
February, followed by Anilao, Batangas, in March.
If you want to discover if windsurfing is something you
can do then come down to the Puerto Galera Windsurfing
School at the Sandbar Resort. For only Php3,000 (US$65),
you can take a six-hour course that will have you sailing
across
the bay at speed. If you know how to windsurf and just
want
to rent equipment then the school offe
