Subic Bay to Boracay race begins | SubicNewsLink

18 February 2013

Subic Bay to Boracay race begins

The race from Subic Bay Freeport to Boracay Island is on!

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) deputy administrator for tourism Raul Marcelo sounded the horn here at 12:00 noon on Saturday to mark the start of the Subic Bay to Boracay Race, sending sailors to take advantage of a good easterly breeze of 20-22 knots to position themselves ahead of the pack.

Local and foreign yachtsmen from the Asian Yachting Circuit are participating in this competition, along with the succeeding Boracay Regatta, to vie for the prestigious “Asian Yachtsman of the Year” and “Yacht of the Year” titles.

The yachts, which are sailing under racing, cruiser racing, and cruising classes, are expected to finish the Subic-Boracay Race from 17 to 40 hours, depending on the size of the boat and the sea and wind conditions in the route.

Organizers said that to help race enthusiasts monitor the event, participating yachts have been installed with PLDT F.A.S.Track GPS live-tracking devices for the duration of the gruelling 210-nautical mile ISAF Category 3 Offshore race.

Fans and the public alike can be a part of the race by following the sailors online via the dedicated website http://www.pldtfastrackonline.com.ph/SBBR2013/, or they can fly with Cebu Pacific, the official air carrier of the regatta, to the exotic island of Boracay to catch the excitement in the Boracay Cup Regatta from February 18 to 22.

Overall winners in each racing class will bring home an impressive handcrafted solid-brass trophy designed by Ferdinand Cacnio, a multi-awarded visual Filipino artist, which was officially commissioned by the provincial government of Aklan.

Sailing in the Philippines, particularly in Subic Bay and Boracay, has evolved with growing popularity and interest over the last several years, catching the attention of Grand Prix yachts and top-notch local and foreign sailors.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the annual Subic to Boracay Race has catapulted the Philippines, along with Subic, among the high-ranked sailing destination with a lot of beautiful places to visit.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta are organized by the Subic-based Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen’s Sailing (SAGS) club and the Boracay Cup Organizing Committee in conjunction with The Lighthouse Marina Resort, the municipal government of Malay, the Philippine Coast Guard, the provincial government of Aklan, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and Watercraft Ventures Corp. under the auspices of the Philippine Sailing Association.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race is supported by Subic Bay International Terminal Corp (SBITC), Standard Insurance, Cebu Pacific , PLDT Subictel, PLDT Alpha Enterprise, PLDT SME Nation, San Miguel Corp, Tanduay, R.O.X., TIEZA, and the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce.

The Boracay Cup Regatta is supported by the Department of Tourism, TIEZA, PCSO, Ibiza Beach Club, Movenpick Resort, Discovery Shores, Boracay Regency, The District Boracay, Boracay Beach Resort, 2GO, FILA and Ralph's Wines & Spirits. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA deputy administrator for tourism Raul Marcelo sounds the horn to start the Subic to Boracay Race, after which participants took advantage of favorable winds to exit Subic Bay.

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