The Philippine Hobie Challenge 2009
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Photo courtesy Philippine Hobie Challenge Foundation
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The Philippine Hobie Challenge is the Philippines’ premier extreme sailing event. The 2009 event will be the 10th Philippine Hobie Challenge. Every year since 1999 the Philippine Hobie Challenge has taken a fleet of Hobie 16 catamarans on a roller-coaster ride, usually island-hopping through some of the lesser know Philippine islands and to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines. The event is so extreme and so popular that the number of Hobie catamarans racing in each Hobie Challenge is limited and the competitors must demonstrate their competency, to ensure that safety at sea can be assured and sufficient support boats can be on-hand in the event of breakages or injury.
The week-long 2009 Philippine Hobie Challenge (9th – 13th February, 2009) will take successful competitors along a 260 miles route from Laiya Beach in Batangas province to the beautiful, white sand beach of Boracay Island. Individual legs of The Challenge are from Laiya Beach to Marinduque Island, to Simara Island, to Romblon Island, to Tablas Island and thence to Boracay Island; a five-short-race inshore race series will be held when The Hobie Challenge stops at Romblon Island and Boracay Island.
Organised by the Philippine Hobie Challenge Foundation, with the objective of promoting the sport of sailing, the annual Philippine Hobie Challenge increases environmental awareness among its competitors and supporters and promotes the Philippines as a prime eco-adventure and tourism destination. The Philippine Hobie Challenge offers great spectacle and a superb venue for action photography; smother yourself in sunblock, don your shades and charge up your camera for the extreme Philippine Hobie Challenge 2009.