Luigi Manzi, last years winner, holds the Governors trophy, awarded by Mrs. Eluterio of the Batangas Department of Tourism

On the 24th and 25th of November Taal Lake Yacht Club played host to the,now annual, Taal Volcano Races. A total of 18 Hobies, including 3 entries from Hong Kong, were to compete in the 7 race Hobie series.  Windsurfers also congregated to honor the Governor of Batangas, and they battled it out in three divisions. For that story, click here.  As for the Hobies: The initial two races were two halves of the circumnavigation of

Stuff up of the day went to Mark Haswell who, upon seeing his own boat rigged, went on to help Douglas Hansen-Luke and Pascal Croly build the brand new boats they were using. Only when the preparatory signal sounded and the two HK teams were launched did Mark realise that his boat had been de-rigged by his boatman who had assumed he was sailing 
one of the new boats. (Or had Rex paid Efren to de-rig the boat? Whatever Efren's Christmas bonus is now looking very dodgey....) 

Noel Lim organized a great "Binalot" lunch and "Inihaw na Isda " (BBQ Fish - Tilapia from the lake) and most of the the group posed on Volcano island for the Pic at the bottom of this page. 

Tong Shing led the fleet back home followed by Nestor Soriano. 
Despite a fourth place in the second race Rex and crew Carol Pablo had the lowest agregate time for the two legs around the volcano and thus won the 'Round the Volcano' trophy with Tong Shing second and Nestor third.  

 

Race  officer John Vause had scheduled one more race, of a Sausage triangle format off the clubs foreshore. Rex was to get a second bullet in this race followed in by club commodore Peter Capotosto. With two wins and a

4th Rex was the series leader on Saturday night and tried valiantly (if unsuccesfully) to avoid the Chivas Regal being plied upon him by the visitors from Hong Kong.  Here  Douglas  hatches the scheme that sunk Rex.  Nah,  he's really just having his second Honeymoon and enjoying himself imensely with his lovely wife Stella, Pascal Croley, and Noel Lim.  

Not to be outdone that evening, were Allan Burrell, Richard Simpson, Race Officer John Vause, and Rani.  

And for 50 points,  guess which one is : The Philippine Airlines Pilot, The accomplished lawyer, The Biochem professor at the country's largest Med school, The globetrotting computer fixit master? 
 

The first race on the Sunday morning was held in light but building airs. A good final beat saw Mark Haswell come up from 5th place to take the gun after Rex and Tong Shing got involved in a private battle.  

 
 The 5th race was to the new resort development at Punta Atalaya on the Eastern shore of the Lake.  
 

John Vause holding some of the giveaways from Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club.

In the end Luigi Manzi, last years winner crewed by Gia Veloso, was to win this race - a frustrating affair with light patches interspersed with full on twin wiring gusts.   Punta Atalaya were superb hosts and had fresh Buko (coconuts) being split open with a Bolo (local jungle knife) for the sailors to slake their thirst upon..    The Race home again was the only committee boat start and a running one at that. Rex Led the fleet around the turning mark, one of the rocky outcrops of the Islands, but Mark was to overtake him on the twin wire beam reach back towards the club.

 Douglas had been showing superb speed on this leg but got himself lost when Mark capsized leaving him with no one to lead the way! Tong Shing was to get his second win followed very closely by Rex. 
 
Going into the final race there were teams who could potentialy win and it could not have been much closer afterwards. With a win in the final Races 15 knot plus winds Mark Haswell and Ana-Maria Katigbak lifted the overall 
series trophy with 13.5 points overall. Rex Puentespina with crew Carol Pablo was tied with Tong Shing and Caroline Heider on 14.5 points. These two teams had identical scores right down to their discards. The tiebreaker was eventualy decided in favour of the Hong Kong entry who had placed ahead of Rex in the final race. 

Erwin Valdez and his crew Mintoy Lopez demonstrated the benefits of attending Nestor Sorianos 8 day racing clinic held over the past 2 months. They are now elevated to the A  fleet and look well set to compete in the Third Philippine Hobie Challenge next February 9 - 16. A big thank you to Noel Lim for all his work organising this series.  

Hobie Sailing is growing stronger than ever in Lake Taal. Sponsor Fragrant Harbor Magazine publisher David Robinson seemed  pleased to note the healthy development of the sport in an area that has tremendous tourism potential. The Hobie fleet is  looking forward to coverage of the forthcoming Third Philippine Hobie Challenge which will be in February 2002. 

Soon, Fragrant Harbour will be available for sale at TLYC. 
 
 Group Picture taken on Taal Volcano Island 

Seated from right to left are:  Dr. Dennis Cruz, Luigi Manzi, Mark Hasewll Peter Capotosto, Rex Peuntespina, Carol Pablo, Charlie Clement.  
Standing: Tong Shing, Caroline Heider, Uffe Henrichsen, Romain Barberis, NorisGalang, Richard Eyre,  Rani and Richard Simpson, Pascal Croley, Stella Hansen-Luke, Mike, Alan Burrel, Douglas Hansen-Luke, Suzie Burrell, Chris Goldman, Erwin Valdez, Michelle Soriano, Elle Singson, Nestor Soriano, Piki and Monina Lopez, Mintoy Lopez, Eric Tomacruz, Art Pascua. 

Photo Credit to Efren, and thanks to Eric for the use of the camera. The image is very degraded here, but good 8X10  prints or a good digital image will be  available. E-mail me.