Hobie Cat Regatta Sails from Quezon to Boracay

It will be a week of earth-friendly extreme adventure and sports tourism as the Cleanergy Philippine Hobie Challenge sails from Sariaya, Quezon to the resort island of Boracay from February 14 to 19.

Now on its 11th staging, the sailing event is organized by the Philippine Inter Island Sailing Foundation (Phinsaf) and Aboitiz Power. The Challenge will see 12 teams of the best local and international sailors compete in one of Asia-Pacific’s top Hobie Cat regattas.

The 250-nautical mile race kicks off on Feb. 14 with the Para Kito Leg 1 from Blue Bay Waters Resort in Sariaya to Maniwaya Island in Sta Cruz, Marinduque. This will be followed the next day by the short Blood Red Leg 2 to the world-class Bellaroca Island Resort and Spa in Buenavista.

Racers cross Romblon island on Feb. 16 for the 50-nautical mile Hobie Australasia Leg 3, the longest leg of the tournament, followed by the Shell inshore series at Romblon Bay the next day.

Adventure racing reaches the penultimate Mobile One Leg to Cajidiocan in Sibuyan island on Feb. 18. The last sector culminates at the posh Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa on Feb. 19 which will be concluded by a welcome and victory party.

In between races, the sailors will do community outreach work by donating useful materials to remote schools in coastal villages.

According to Phinsaf chair Monchu Garcia, the Hobie Challenge aims to promote awareness on sailing as a clean way of discovering the country’s rich seas, beautiful islands and pristine beaches.

He added that by interacting with coastal communities, the group hopes to increase interest in sailing among local fishermen as a clean alternative to engines. He said that in pursuit of this goal, Phinsaf has partnered with Aboitiz Power whose “Cleanergy” advocacy promotes alternative energy.

In this way, Garcia said that the Philippines will be promoted as a top sports tourism and sailing haven in the world.

Hobie Cat is a 16-foot, lightweight, twin-hulled sailboat which is ideal for recreational inter-island or lake sailing.

The 11th Cleanergy Philippine Hobie Challenge is also supported by Rayomarine, Taal Lake Yacht Club, Lifeline Arrows, Spot Tracker, Cebu Pacific and Lifestyle Asia Travel Magazine. For details, visit www.philhobie.org.

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