Last Sunday, September 2nd 2001, saw a competitive fleet of eight boats for the first of this season's regular club race weekends. A total of 5 races were held around a port handed course in the westerly winds of between 10 and 15 knots. 

We welcome Erwin Valdez to the fleet. He raced for the first time with his new Blue Hogs Breath boat which is new to Taal's ever expanding 
fleet (where are we going to find space to keep these new boats!) 

No two races were won by the same team which demonstrated the high level of competition.  Competition was tight to the end of the race. Usually a slow tack meant a loss of at least one place. Here Ana and Mark are ahead, but pinned to leeward by Luigi and Gia. 
 

  
Luigi Manzi, crewed by Gia Veloso, took the First Race. Luigi is no stranger to Taal and has shown us his form in the past (crewed by Charlie Clements he won the Volcano Race last year). However it is good to see him with his own boat now.  Gia has been  sailing at TLYC for a few years too, and she has also competed in the Philippine Hobie Challenge. If he and Gia continue to sail together they will be a 
formidable team indeed. 
 

  
Peter C. and his sister in law Leng Laysa won the second race. Here we see Peter and leng rounding the windward mark and popping out on the wire for a blast reach to "B" mark. 

Regretably disaster struck Rex Puentespina in the second race. On the second beat he had born away to pass behind Charlie Clement and Art Pascua who were on starboard. Regretably they were not aware that Rex had already taken avoiding action and they too bore off and in the resultant head on collission Rex's mast was bent irreparably - Sayang Talaga! 

 

After lunch Rex helmed with Eric Tomacruz to take the third race whilst the fourth race belonged to Charlie Clements and Chip Winternitz. 
 

However consistency and patience paid of for Mark Haswell and new crew Ana-Maria Katigbak.  
After three second places and a third they finaly won the last race to win the days series with the lowest agregate score. 
 

The next Hobie race day is scheduled for October 7th - Whilst the A fleet 
was strong this month the B fleet was a little thin. Lets get a bigger 
overall turnout with a larger B fleet next month. Boat rental for a days 
racing works out at only P 950 per head - outstanding value. 
 
 Sept 2001

Crew	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Total	Position
Mak Haswell/ Anna Katigbak	2	2	3	2	.75	6.75	1
Liigi Manzi/ Gia Veloso	.75	3	5	3	2	8.75	2
Charlie Clement/ Art Pascua	4	5	2	.75	5	11.75	3
Peter Capotosto Leng Laysa	5	.75	4	4	3	11.75	4
Eric Tomacruz/ Chip Winternitz	8	6	.75	8	8	22.75	5
Noel Lim/	6	8	6	8	4	24	6
Rex Puentespina/	3	7	8	8	8	26	7
Erwin Valdez	8	4	8	8	8	28	8

To find out more about how you can get into the sport, join events, provide sponsorship or avail of advertising opportunities, e-mail peter@sailing.org.ph