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.
