To THE 2nd PHILIPPINE HOBIE CHALLENGE

The Philippine Hobie Challenge – the biggest international Hobie-cat regatta the Philippines has ever seen since the Raid Mer de Chine in the late eighties, will once again be staged in March 10-18, 2001. This grueling, yet exciting rally will kick off from Maya-Maya in Batangas and culminate in the beautiful Maricaban Bay in the islands of Palawan.

Sailing 200 nautical miles in a Hobie 16 under a scorching tropical sun may not be to everyone's taste. But the crews, organisers and helpers in the inaugural Sigwada Philippine Hobie Challenge enjoyed six days of island hopping through the Visayan Islands with Hobie ace, Mike Scantlebury, taking the coveted Offshore trophy.

The event attracted former Hong Kong commodore, Tony Robinson who is no stranger to sailing in the Philippines having won the Hobie divisions at the 1998 and 1999 President's Cup regattas. Stefan Heitman and Leonie Duson who recently moved to Manila, entered with their new boat. Recent recruit to Taal Lake Yacht Club, Rich Wald, teamed up with first time sailor Richard Nuttall in their aptly named The Dog with Two Dicks. The Philippines were represented by two teams - Mark Haswell, Jill Novera, fresh from defending their national title, and Rex Puentispina and Rannie Lavinia sailing Bilis Biik (translated Quick Piglet).

Mike Scantlebury, together with Douglas Hansen Luke, represented Hong Kong. Mike conceived the Challenge (it is also being referred to as the Scanto 500) and has won too many Asian regattas in the last 10 years to mention.

South Waters Marina in Lucena, 70 miles southeast of Manila, hosted a fabulous welcoming party on Sunday, the 19th of March, after registration the day before. Spirits were high, especially since the seasonal amihan northeasterly winds had been blowing strong all the week.

Regrettably the sun rose to a windless day and the Siunday start, originally scheduled for nine, was delayed until half past one in the afternoon when the decision was made to cancel and tow the boats across Tayabas Bay to Marinduque. Needless to say, five nautical miles out, the winds started blowing, and most sailors cast off thrier tow lines for an exhilarating shake down reach.

The wind dropped off late afternoon and the last boats were gybing downwind to arrive in Boac for the Qantas leg just before dusk. The local residents performed a welcoming song prior to crowning all their guests and showering them with fragrant petals and lucky 25 centavo coins.

Monday morning saw the winds back again and race officer, Edmund Umali, elected to run a beach start to get the fleet going on the run down the western shoreline for the Gatorade leg. While the frontrunners at the Tres Reyes Islands in good time, Stefan and the Richards were having problems with their rudders popping up. Times were taken at the first turning mark with the boats regrouping before the next leg to Carlota.

Unfortunately the leaders took off as soon as the last boat arrived so there was no organised restart. That being so, the following lrgs could not be counted - a shame as the last leg was a screaming beam reach in 20 to 25 knot winds, with six to eight - foot seas, into Maestre de Campo. All boats were experiencing problems with rudders kicking up ( not a pleasant experience for a helm on the wire in rough seas). Tents were erected on the beach outside Concepcion for the night's bivouac.

Final adjustments were still being made in the morning before the mayoress gave her send off speech. One compititor was seen whittling a lost jib batten just 10 minutes before the start of Seair leg! A slight alteration to the original course took the teams into the port of Concepcion and around a turning mark before heading out to sea again. Mark haswell opened up an early lead into the natural harbour while his closest rivals spent considerable time in the water trying to right their boats, allowing the local team to win the leg to Banton prior to the fleet heading south to Simara.

Upon arrival at Corcuera, the teams were greeted by the enthuiastics students of the local elementary school who joined together lifting the boats up the beach. The competitors were treated to a hot water shower in the open (the island is volcanic) before pitching their tents on the playground. Sigwada's Carol Pablo had organised the Philippine Navy Seal team to carry all the gear ashore while chef Mike was catering for the entire entourage.

In the morning, the competitors and race officer held a meeting to discuss the event thus far. It had become apparent that the potential spread of the fleet over legs of up to 40 nautical miles was putting too much strain on the limited rescue resourcers. Everyone agreed that each day's passage be broken down into a series of legs. In between each section, the fleet wouls regroup and then restart towards the next waiting point.

Rex led the first leg of Wednesday's Cali Shandy rally in the 15-20 knot nor' northeasterlies but was overhauled by Mike and then Tony as his rudders were tripping… and this is how they finished at Cobrador. The second leg was to terminate at Bon Bon Beach on the western coast of the marble mining island of Romblon. The finish had been planned off the beach but the captain of the finishing banca advised the race officer that he could not anchor there as the sand bar dried at low tide. Thus the line was moved 200 yards off the island.

Rex Puentispina had led the fleet from the start (he now had his rudders tied down) and beat Tony Robinson over the line by onle a few seconds. Leonie was not far behind in 3rd. mike Scanltbury missed the finish line and scored an ignominoius DNF for the second leg, allowing the Richards their fosrt 4th place.

Bon Bon Beach was the most idyllic setting. Competitors purchased fresh seafood from the local fishermen which was then barbecued over the campfire. It seemed strange to think that only 13 years ago, 4,375 souls were lost when the Dona Paz sank in these very waters - the only peace time shipping disaster to exceed the Titanic's death toll. The worst problems to befall our intrepid teams were a few damaged rudder tips and cut toes which Dr. Martin Romano administered to with calamansis and the advice "do not get it wet". Yeh, right.

Another beach start in the morning to a position off the eastern coast of Tablas for the 99.5 RT leg crossing the Romblon pass. Tony Robinson emerged Victorious just seconds ahead of Mike Scantlebury - an extra gybe just 200 yards from the finish dropped Mark and Jill down to 3rd. it had been wet and wild broad reach in 15 - knot winds.

Mark and Mike had a port/starboard incident on the restart. Not to be put out, though, Mike did a 360 and proceeded to open up a lead of almost half on the 22 nautical mile run down the coast in winds which had died to less that 10 knots.

The boats were hauled up at Cabahan Island. Carol and team made the one hour trek to the local barangay to buy up all the beer and ice, and then another hour back to the thirsty sailors. This was the final night camping out and it provided the best sunset.

The fisrt leg on the final day of the Offshore series, the Bworld Online rally, was a 30 - nautical mile run in six to 10 - knot winds. Another bullet but to Mike Scantlebury, just ahead of Tony while Rex followed a few minutes later just pipping Stefan.

The chef brought a tuna lunch to the sailors who had gone to the nearest beach, waiting for The Dogs with Two Dicks to complete its gentleman's cruise around Carabao Island (it transpires that Boracay is not detailed on their aeronautical GPS)

Having regrouped on the southeast tip of Boracay the final leg was a short sprint around the southern end of this idyllic island, and two circuits around A and C marks, parallel to Boracay's 5 - kilometre beach. Tony Robinson just beat Mike in this final leg, But Mike's 2nd secured him a hard earned victory in the offshore series. The Philippines team, skippered by Rex and Mark, were 3rd overall, Stefan and Leonie placed 4th and the two Richards were jubilant to have completed the gruelling course, considering their inexperience sailing Hobies.

Fresh water showers! Ice cold beer, soft mattresses and the luxuries of civilisation on this beautiful island! But it was not yet over. The crews all had to sail again the next day in the inshore Boracay Cup. Three races of a triangle / sausage format were held off the beach of White Sand and the fleet swelled to eight with local entries. All the crew were pushing their boats to the limits in the gusty conditions with offshore winds peaking at over 20 knots. Tony Robinson and his crew tata clearly did not understand the rules that each boat had to capsize at least once per race, thus won the Inshore series! Mark and Jill had one more capsize thatn Mike and Douglas and came in 3rd just behind them.

The whole vent was a major logistical challenge. A total os 30 people travelled around the course, comprising 12 sailors, four race officials, including the Philippine Sailing Association members, 11 Philippine Navy SEALS, logistics organiser Carol Pablo and her chef and two assistants, Dr. Martin Romano, plus the press and television crews.

The Sigwada management group of Carol, Gia, Edmund, and Bong, took on an enormous task, especially considering this is the first sailing event that they have ever run. The experience gleaned this year will help to make next year's Philippine Hobie Challenge an even better event.

Anyone interested in doing the event next year, please contact the Sigwada team on hobie@sigwada.com - Sigwada is the Philippine name for the calm before the big storm. FH hopes that this inaugural challenge will be the start of a much bigger event in the future.

Pre-event Regatta Secretariat: Gia Veloso - Celfone Number: (0917) 9322283
Contact Numbers: (0632) 7217235 / (0632) 7217236 (0632) 4313005
Email: gia@philhobie.com
Guen Cerilla/Mark Haswell – 4009326 / (09174243247) / (0917) 5352496

Event Proper Regatta Secretariat (during the race): Manila Regatta Secretariat C/O Taal Lake Yacht Club, Corinthian Plaza, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Peter Capotosto (TLYC Commodore) 8113256

*More Details about the sailors at the website: www.philhobie.com

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