Author: admin
12noon February 24, 2025
Reconfirmed: Line Honors go to Ray Ordoveza’s ‘Karakoa’, skippered by his son Francis, ahead of Romain Barberis’s catamaran ‘Maelie’ and James Villareal’s ‘Raw Honey’. ‘Karakoa’ set a new course record for the BPI Boracay 200 Race: 21hrs 11min 59sec. While not quite as fast as the all-time record of 14hrs 23min 17sec set by Syd Fischer’s Maxi yacht ‘Ragamuffin 90’ in 2015, it is still an outstanding performance for a yacht that is less than half in length of ‘Ragamuffin 90’ at the waterline.
The final results in IRC Racing class were ‘Karakoa’ in 1st Place, James Villareal’s ‘Raw Honey’ in 2nd Place , and last year’s winner, Jun Avecilla’s ‘Selma Star’, in 3rd Place. Bobby Benares’s ‘Sabad’ took 4th Place, followed by James Villanueva’s ‘Belatrix’ in 5th Place and Albert Altura’s ‘Hurricane Hunter’ in 6th Place..
In Cruising Class, John Quirk’s ‘Allusive’ is confirmed in 1st Place with Padlum Lobregat’s ‘Despacito’ in 2nd Place and Richard McGonegal’s ‘Neptunus III’ in 3rd Place. Technically ‘Neptunus III’ joined the Sailing / Motoring Class (Sailing Instructions Rule 13.2) on the evening of the first day when they were forced to use their motor to gain shelter in Puerto Galera harbor to replace their failed main halyard. This means they were also technically 1st in Sailing / Motoring Class.
The Ocean Multihulls Class was dominated on the water during the race by Romain Barberis’s catamaran ‘Maelie’. Monchu Garcia’s catamaran ‘Carino’ struggled through the Verde Island Passage and eventually finished in 2nd place from a field of two multihulls.
A very impressive performance once again with Puerto Galera Yacht Club (PGYC) members’ yachts recording four of the five available 1st places in the BPI Boracay 200 Race 2025. Congratulations to all !
On Day 1 of the Inshore races there was only one race but ‘Karakoa’ dominated in the IRC Racing class, ahead of ‘Sabad’ and ‘Selma Star’. ‘Allusive’ also repeated 1st place in Cruising Class ahead of ‘Despacito’ in 2nd place with ‘Neptunus III’ in 3rd Place. Only ‘Carino’ was entered in the Ocean Multihulls, so she won 1st Place. Day 2 of In-shore racing was cancelled due to weather.
For more information about the BPI Boracay 200 Race, In-shore races, or the upcoming PGYC Easter Regatta 2025 to be held in the Verde Island Passage from April 18-20, 2025, please contact the Puerto Galera Yacht Club at clubhouse@pgyc.org or call 09175205874.
You can drop by the PGYC Clubhouse from 2pm to 6pm every weekday, Monday to Friday, to enjoy Happy Hour prices on all drinks.
Take the free Service Boat from Muelle Pier in front of the Tourism Office or enjoy a stroll along the Mangrove Walk at the Western end of the Muelle Heritage Park to the PGYC Clubhouse. Visitors are most welcome.
The Puerto Galera Yacht Club in Muelle Bay is now open for lunch and dinner.
We offer a tasty selection of Western, Asian and Filipino dishes, washed down with cold beer and cocktails, fine wines and a selection of spirits at some of the best prices in Puerto Galera. The Clubhouse is also available for private bookings and events.
For bookings please e-mail clubhouse@pgyc.org, or call or text +639175205874
8.00pm February 21, 2025
‘Karakoa’ has finished the Subic to Boracay Race with an incredible new record of 25 hours, 29 minutes, and 40 seconds, breaking last year’s Line Honours record set by ‘Belatrix’ with a finish time of 37 hours, 55 minutes, and 9 seconds!
The Line Honors list at the time of posting were:
Ray Ordoveza’s ‘Karakoa’ (IRC) 11:59
Romain Barberis’s ‘Maelie’ (Ocean Multihulls) 14:02
James Villareal’s ‘Raw Honey’ (IRC) 14:42
Jun Villanueva’s ‘Belatrix’ (IRC) 15:32
Bobby Benares’s ‘Sabad’ (IRC) 17:39
With half the fleet having arrived safely in Boracay by 6pm, the IRC placings are unchanged with ‘Karakoa’ in 1st place, followed by ‘Raw Honey’ in 2nd and ‘Selma Star’ in 3rd place, with Bobby Benares’s ‘Sabad’ finishing a close 4th.
In Cruising class, ‘Allusive’ finished in 1st place with ‘Despacito’ a very close 2nd place. The two-yacht Ocean Multihull fleet finished as they started, with the fast and furious catamaran ‘Maelie’ in 1st place followed by ‘Carino’ in 2nd place.
Congratulations once again to PGYC member Ray Ordeveza’s ‘Karakoa’, skippered by his son Francis, John Quirk’s ‘Allusive’ and the young PGYC SBP sailors of the ‘Allusive’ crew.
By tomorrow morning the fleet should be all finished and enjoying a well-earned rest day before the BPI Boracay Regatta In-shore series starts.
For more information about the BPI Boracay 200 Race, or the upcoming PGYC Easter Regatta 2025 to be held in the Verde Island Passage from April 18-20, 2025, please contact the Puerto Galera Yacht Club at clubhouse@pgyc.org or call 09175205874
12.00nn February 21, 2025
After going a little soft off Dumali Point early this morning the breeze has been building and abeam of Tablas there are gusts topping 20 knots, with a few rain patches here and there.
Retirements: Adolfo Reyes’ ‘Shangri-la’ retired and is safe in Papaya Cove, while ‘Neptunus III’ had a broken main halyard and had to make a quick stop overnight in Puerto Galera for repairs – she will be in Boracay for the In-shore series.
Ahead of the fleet for Line Honors, and just finished, is PGYC Member Ray Ordoveza’s ‘Karakoa’, skippered by his son Francis, that has lead for almost the entire race. Unless anything dramatic happens in the last miles to Boracay then Romain Barberis’s ‘Maelie’ will take 2nd place, with 3rd place Line Honors going to James Villareal’s ‘Raw Honey’ . . . watch this space for confirmation.
The IRC class results so far show that ‘Karakoa’ maintains her lead, but anything can happen once the slower yachts finish and the finish times and ratings are applied. At the moment ‘Raw Honey’ is expected to beat last year’s winner, Jun Avecilla’s ‘Selma Star’.
In the Cruising class, PGYC Member John Quirk’s ‘Allusive’ still leads in 1st place as she cruises down the Tablas Strait to Boracay, with Padlum Lobregat’s ‘Despacito’ a worthy challenger in 2nd.
The open waters, beamy breezes and a few surfing opportunities along the Tablas Strait offer opportunity to the Ocean Multihull fleet and catamaran ‘Maelie’ especially has done well to outpace ‘Carino’ throughout.
Congratulations to PGYC members Ray Ordovesa’s ‘Karakoa’, skippered by his son Francis, and John Quirk’s ‘Allusive” with its young PGYC SBP crew.
The BPI Boracay 200 Race proves yet again that the Puerto Galera Yacht Club is more than just ‘The Cruising Yacht Club of the Philippines’ . . . its training programs and regattas are helping to develop the Philippines’ sailors and race winners of the future!
For more information about the BPI Boracay 200 Race, or the upcoming PGYC Easter Regatta 2025 to be held in the Verde Island Passage from April 18-20, 2025, please contact the Puerto Galera Yacht Club at clubhouse@pgyc.org or call 09175205874
6.00am February 21, 2025
The first rays of morning brightness find the BPI Boracay 200 fleet heading South towards the finish line off Boracay Beach. There has been breeze all the way to Dumali Point so far, so at least two forecasting models will have to rethink their computational logic.
Ahead of the fleet for Line Honors, and already passing the historic island of Sibale (a.k.a. Conception, Maestro de Campo), is Francis Ordoveza’s ‘Karakoa’ with Jun Villanueva’s ‘Belatrix’ in 2nd and James Villareal’s ‘Raw Honey’ in 3rd going bow-to-bow about 14 miles behind the leader.
The IRC class results show that ‘Karakoa’ maintains her lead but with a new challenger in the form of Albert Altura’s ‘Hurricane Hunter’ has taken 2nd place , with ‘Raw Honey’ still in 3rd place.
In the Cruising class ‘Allusive’ is still leading in 1st place as she approaches Dumali Point with ‘Despacito’ almost abeam of her, while ‘Neptunus III’s last reported position puts her still in the Verde Island Passage but, she has had problems with her tracker so she could in fact be leading everyone !
The open waters and beamy breezes of the Tablas Strait offer respite to the Ocean Multihull fleet and catamaran ‘Maelie’, currently the only real threat to ‘Karakoa’ for Line Honors, is already past Dumali Point while ‘Carino’, like ‘Neptunus III’, experiencing challenges with her tracker, so her exact position is unknown. With the morning light now filling the entire course visual confirmations will be possible.
Congratulations to PGYC members Francis Ordovesa’s ‘Karakoa, John Quirk’s ‘Allusive” with its PGYC SBP crew. and Rick McGonegal’s ‘Neptunus III’ for their winning performances to date.
For more information about the BPI Boracay 200 Race or the upcoming PGYC Easter Regatta 2025 to be held in the Verde Island Passage from April 18-20, 2025, please contact the Puerto Galera Yacht Club at clubhouse@pgyc.org or call 09175205874
6.30pm February 20, 2025
The BPI Boracay 200 Race fleet is now spread out along 40 miles off the West Batangas coastline with the lead Ocean Multihull achieving almost 15 knots and the lead IRC racer exceeding 11 knots at times.
It has been a wild ride so far and looks like being a wet and wild evening up the Verde Island Passage. Wet because of the wave set along the passage and also from the rain patches that have blessed the crews already this afternoon. Wild because the Verde Island Passage winds are besting 20 knots easterly in places.
First to round Cape Santiago and currently still on track to take Line Honors is still Romain Barberis’s catamaran ‘Maelie’, with Ray Ordoveza’s ‘Karakoa’, skippered by his son Francis, following and still trying to lose the attentions of Jun Villanueva’s ‘Belatrix’.
Like in golf and tennis, the yachts may have “handicaps” or “ratings” based on anticipated or previous performance. The places shown below reflect their performance relative to their handicap or rating and are not necessarily based upon their actual order within the race fleet.
In the IRC race fleet ‘Karakoa’ is holding 1st overall, Raw Honey has crept up to 2nd and Belatrix is a close 3rd.
In the Cruising class ‘Allusive’, with her “imported from New Zealand” coach and tactician, has established a lead over ‘Despacito’ in 2nd and ‘Neptunus III’, now relagated to 3rd place.
The Ocean Multihulls is still dominated by the fleet leader ‘Maelie’, with ‘Carino’ in 2nd.
Within the coming few hours most of the yachts will pass Puerto Galera (if you are watching the water you will see their lights) and head out past the Baco Islands & Calapan, and into the Tablas Strait.
As the fleet then approach Dumali Point in the morning there may be a surprise awaiting . . . two of the four weather forecast models, most used by yachtsmen, show almost no wind between Marinduque and Mindoro islands at the head of the Strait, while the other two show good wind. The morning positions will inform us of the reality.
For more information about the BPI Boracay 200 Race or the upcoming PGYC Easter Regatta 2025 to be held in the Verde Island Passage from April 18-20, 2025, please contact the Puerto Galera Yacht Club at clubhouse@pgyc.org or call 09175205874.
12.30pm February 20, 2025
3 Hours Report: Three hours into the BPI Boracay 200 Race the fleet is currently enjoying very good conditions for a fast race, probably breaking last year’s record, and possibly breaking the course record of a little less than 20 hours (set in 2016).
The race started with the twelve entries (6 x IRC yachts, 4 x Cruising Class and 2 x Ocean Multihull) starting together off the Lighthouse Marina Resort in Subic Bay.
First out of Subic Bay, past Grande Island was, PGYC member, Ray Ordoveza’s ‘Karakoa’, skippered by his son Francis, with an average of just over 10 knots boat speed during the first 30 minutes, all enjoying the 13+ knots of easterly breeze.
At the 3-hour mark, in the race for Line Honors, ‘Karakoa’, still averaging 9.9 knots, was just overtaken by the catamaran ‘Maelie’, with ‘Belatrix’ hot on their transoms.
In IRC class we currently have 1st Ray Ordoveza’s ‘Karakoa’ followed by her long-time nemesis Jun Villanueva’s ‘Belatrix’ in 2nd and, new to the fleet, James Villareal’s ‘Raw Honey’ in 3rd.
In Cruising class PGYC Member Richard McGonegal’s ‘Neptunus III’ is in 1st place followed by PGYC Member John Quirk’s ‘Allusive’ in 2nd place and Padlum Lobregat’s ‘Despacito’ in 3rd place.
In Ocean Multihulls Romain Barberis’s catamaran ‘Maelie’ leads a long way ahead of Monchu Garcia’s catamaran ‘Carino’.
With the fleet now approaching the wind shadow off the Mariveles volcano navigation tactics will come into play before they enjoy the blast of easterly breeze out of Manila Bay.
For more information about the BPI Boracay 200 Race or the upcoming PGYC Easter Regatta 2025please contact the Puerto Galera Yacht Club at clubhouse@pgyc.org or call 09175205874.
Every Wednesday Night Chef Noriel will present a tanalising selection of popular curry dishes inspired by the kitchens of India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.
Take the free Service Boat from the Muelle Pier in front of the Tourism Office to the PGYC Clubhouse. Visitors are most welcome.
For bookings please email clubhouse@pgyc.org or call or text 0917520874.
