Image courtesy Punta Fuego Yacht Club

The Punta Fuego Regatta is perhaps the most diverse sailing regatta on the Philippine racing calendar, with boats of every shape and size competing for recognition in divisions especially created for them. In addition to keeled sailing yachts, cruising catamarans and trimarans Punta Fuego regularly hosts the Hobie 16 fleet from Taal Lake. This year the country's new Optimist sailing dinghies (first raced in Puerto Galera the weekend before) will be raced by competitors from Puerto Princesa, Puerto Galera, Manila and Subic Bay.

If you are thinking of getting into sailing but are not sure what type of boat is best for you or your family then get down to Punta Fuego and check them out for y

Image courtesy Girlie Cervantes

Competitive sailing flourishes in Subic Bay in August with two weekend regattas: the Lighthouse Marina Resort Ninoy Aquino Anniversary Invitational Regatta; and, the Philippine National Hero's Day Invitational Regatta. The best of the racing and competitive cruising sail boats will be in Subic Bay for these events.

Organized by the Saturday Afternoon Gentleman Sailors (SAGS), supported by The Lighthouse Marina Resort Hotel and the Subic Bay Yacht Club, these two regattas will feature races around Subic Bay and possibly (weather permitting) to some of the nearby islands outside the bay area. Winds in August can be somewhat unpredictable so courses will be set on-the-day to suit the forecast con

Image courtesy Girlie Cervantes

The Philippine Independence Day Anniversary Regatta in Subic Bay started as a very local sailing affair organised by and for members of the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailors (SAGS) – a motley band of sailing enthusiasts who wanted to sail in Subic Bay despite the challenges posed by fickle yacht club rules and the weather. They just went out and did it.

Significantly supported by Jun Avecilla's Lighthouse Marina Resort Hotel, the Philippine Independence Day Regatta is now the best off-season competitive sailing event in the Philippines, and possibly the best in Asia i

Photo courtesy Philippine Hobie Challenge Foundation

West Pacific Hobie Championships (19-22 February, 2010) in Boracay, Philippines. Boracay has been the venue for Philippine Hobie Challenge events in 2000, 2006 and 2009 over the years, and since 2001 the annual Hobie 16 Boracay Cup has been held in the clear windy waters off Boracay. Boracay is the ideal location for Hobie racing. In February the predominant Amihan (northeast monsoon) provides good winds and calm waters inside the reef, for a first class, safe racing environment. Being so close the famous powder-soft white sand of Boracay Beach it is also a fantastic place for photographers and casual s

Photo courtesy Bernadette Villaluz

The 39th annual Iloilo Paraw Regatta will be taking place between 19th and 21st February, 2010, along the Iloilo waterfront. The Iloilo Paraw Regatta 2010 is definitely the longest running competitive sailing event in the Philippines and probably the longest running competitive sailing event in Asia, next to the China Sea Race.

One of the most interesting aspects of this sailing event is that most of the sails are uniquely painted for the occasion. Local schools and colleges are encouraged to let loose their art students in a frenzy of creative daubing and there are prizes for the best paraw sail designs as well as for the best sailing performance on th