Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

BPI Busuanga Cup 2024 - a part of the BPI Signature Yacht Race Series

by Guy Nowell 28 Jan 2024 00:03 GMT 24-29 January 2024
BPI Busuanga Cup 2024. Punta Fuego to Busuanga race © Guy Nowell

The BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) Signature Yacht Race Series is an idea whose time has come. In fact, it was probably lurking around for quite a long while, but it took someone with a little imagination to make it fly. The Philippines is an archipelago nation, sporting some of the more glorious tropical island scenery anywhere on the planet. The actual number of islands is somewhere north of 7,400, and depends on the state of the tide, but the short answer to the question of is 'lots'. Put together a small collection of existing events, call it a 'series', and hey presto you've got yourself a title event.

Over the years, the Philippines has sported a number of first class regattas and events. Internationally, the China Sea Race has been running since the 1960s, and the HK-San Fernando Race followed shortly afterwards, but the Philippines has never produced a signature sailing event of its own - until now.

First item on the menu is (was) the Corregidor Cup, in November 2023, sailed out of Caylabne Bay Resort and Marina, and taking the historic wartime defence islands of Corregidor, La Monja, Fort Drum and Carabao as the racing marks. Racing in historic waters, indeed. Yesterday saw the launch of the 8th Busuanga Cup, now the BPI Busuanga Cup, with a 128nm passage race from Puerto Fuego to Busuanga. Two more days of islands races now follow among the impossibly picturesque scenery of the northern Palawan Islands, and the series continues with the Boracay 180 in February and concludes with the Subic Regatta in April.

Yesterday's Busuanga opener out of Puerto Fuego looks uncomplicated on the chart. 31nms to Golo Pass, a squeaky little strait between Golo and Lubang Islands, and then a straight line course south west towards Busuanga and the finish line at Black Island. This year organisers split the race into four scoring segments, with points for each stage - Punto Fuego to Golo, a scoring gate abeam Calavite (line of latitude), another at Apo Reef, and then the finish. "You never get breeze all the way," said RO Jerry Rollin, confidently. "Correct', agreed Peter Baird owner and skipper of Lost in Asia, (mothership, RO's retreat, start and finish boat, general respository of wisdom). Baird has been cruising these waters for almost two decades, and has covered this part of the chart, in both directions, more often than he can remember. This year was going to be different.

At 0750 there was zero breeze. 0755 produced 8 knots, and the fleet was away at 0800 in bright sunshine with spinnakers hoisted. Some might have wished for a little more pressure, but when at sea it is prudent to wish carefully. In short order the wind built to 20+ knots from the northeast, and very soon the fleet was tearing towards Golo Island with the pressure coming over the port quarter from 130 degrees degrees. Spinnakers, or maybe a genoa with an outboard sheet for the timid, but it was fast sailing for all.

Karakoa (Ray Ordoveza) and Belatrix (Jun Villanueva) took off like a pair of whippets, and that was (almost) the last we saw of them - they were launched, and running at the top of the green. "Sheet on and send it" was the order of the day. Lost in Asia steered a straight line towards Golo Pass at a steady 8 knots, watching the occasional antics of the sailing boats, and wondering why one crew chose to fly a masthead pennant instead of a spinnaker, or why someone else's sailplan had been reduced to white sails. The breeze continued to build. 25 kts and off the breeze is sterling stuff as long as you keep everything under control, but it can turn against you very quickly.

Immediately south of the Golo Pass is Calavite Point to the east, and the moody mountain behind it. This is no more nor less than a very nasty piece of water. "I've been through here at all states of the tide, in all wind strengths, and in all different directions" said Baird, "and it is always, without exception, thoroughly unpleasant." The breeze was now up to 30kts and some, and just a little further down the track we saw 46kts on the dial. Always from 130 degrees. This gave us - and the racing fleet - rollers on the port quarter, and made for a very uncomfortable stop-and-go ride, but good surfing conditions if the helmsman was up for it. Poco Loco, following Lost in Asia through the brutal wind-against-tide chop, was amazed at how far the mother ship could roll - and recover. (Those on board here equally amazed - 'Rock n Roll' was a substantial understatement). But eventually it was over. Beyond Calavite and into deeper water (except for a shallow patch near Apo Reef) the sea state abated and the fleet fanned out east and west of the rhumbline, each boat looking for that elusive fast passage route to the finish.

All the way down to the finish line off the northeast corner of Black Island, the wind eased and the sea abated. By the time Lost in Asia laid the finish at a few minutes past midnight, and with fleet leader Karakoa just yards away and looking for a line on which to finish, it was a flat sea and a mere 10kts of breeze. Belatrix followed suit just a couple of minutes later. Hurricane Hunter and Selma Star finished in the dark, and the first boat home in the dawn was Monchu Garcia's Cariño. The 'B' Team took over finishing duties, and the Race Officer retired for the gentle cruise into Busuanga Bay and the wriggle to the anchorage in front of the Marina del Sol.

This is a nice place. It's a twisty route through a scatter of islands protecting the anchorage, and you'd probably rather do it with an electronic chart than on paper, so to speak. Marina del Sol is perched on a small headland, and has a distinctly rustic feel to it. There are swing moorings, a pier accessible at all states of the tide, a waterside (almost) pool and a restaurant under a thatched roof that serves an excellent chicken curry and properly cold beer. Welcome to the backways and byways of the Philippine archipelago.

Related Articles

Poole Regatta to Host IRC Europeans in 2026
4 days of competitive racing in a spectacular environment The enviable track record Poole has built for hosting unmissable regattas continues in 2026 with the inclusion of the prestigious IRC European Championship as an integral element of racing, alongside multiple class starts. Posted on 1 Apr
RS400 TridentUK Northern Tour at Leigh & Lowton
A 38mph gust was recorded on the committee boat A warm welcome at Leigh and Lowton SC was provided to twelve RS400s for the first event of the TridentUK Northern Tour of 2025. Just one race was planned before lunch by the PRO, Mike Baldwin. A SW F2-4 made conditions quite tricky. Posted on 1 Apr
IRC Welsh National Championship preview
Entry now open for event in May Please remember to add to your itinerary the dates for the IRC Welsh National Championships 2025, hosted by Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club, Royal Dee Yacht Club, and the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre, here at Plas Heli. Posted on 1 Apr
Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS day 2
It does not get better than this, with a sparkling spring sea breeze An afternoon of warm sunshine with 10-12k knots of thermal wind saw all seven course areas operating in champagne conditions, a reminder there is no better place in the world for early season Olympic racing on this scale. Posted on 1 Apr
DF95 National Championship at Lincoln
A perfect weekend, only missing Mediterranean temperatures Where do I start with such a perfect weekend of sailing? The only thing that was missing was Mediterranean temperatures. Posted on 1 Apr
Lords of Tram GKA Big Air Kite World Cup France
Brazil's Mikaili Sol back with a bang to take title in epic Lords of Tram final The 2025 GKA Big Air Kite World Cup kicked off in Barcares, France, on Saturday, with the Tramontana wind roaring at full force. Posted on 1 Apr
World Sailing Race Officials Training programme
Available to Member National Authorities to apply for on an annual basis World Sailing is proud to announce the launch of a new education programme for Race Officials. Posted on 1 Apr
2025 Chile World Cup day 5
Emotions ran high as finalists were crowned in Chile The Chile World Cup saw emotional scenes on the beach as exhausted but elated riders returned to shore, having just secured their places in the finals of one of the most iconic events on the World Wave Tour calendar. Posted on 1 Apr
Triggernaut sponsors Scorpion Youth Series
Initiative provides young sailors with the opportunity to develop their skills Triggernaut Sports Glasses, a leading brand in high-performance sports eyewear, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the prestigious Scorpion Sailing Youth Series. This partnership underscores Triggernaut's commitment to the sport. Posted on 1 Apr
Haydn Griffiths Memorial Trophy at Leigh & Lowton
Raising funds for the RNLI to honour the tragic loss of young club member Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club continues to honour the tragic loss of young Haydn Griffiths in his early season race day, also a fitting fundraiser for the RNLI. It continues to be a popular and significant day in the club's calendar. Posted on 1 Apr