Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

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

by Guy Nowell 8 Feb 2024 07:46 UTC 27-28 January 2024
Poco Loco. BPI Busuanga Cup 2024. Doni Altura Memorial Inshore Races © Guy Nowell / BPI

After the trip down from Puerto Fuego, now it's the inshore racing.

Busuanga Bay is a lovely place. Coming from the north and west, 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.

The passage race was followed by two days of racing among the islands, the Doni Altura Memorial Inshore Races, where the RO's headache is to find a space sufficiently large for a course, and unencumbered by the endless rows of buoys that are the pearls farms - seemingly everywhere. The answer is the patch between Sangat, Chindonan and Busuanga itself, which provided glamour sailing conditions in the midst of some beautiful limestone scenery very reminiscent of Langkawi and elsewhere much like Port Shelter in Hong Kong, but on a very much bigger scale.

"The Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Foundation (PHINSAF) launched the Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race in 2017, with only three participating boats on the start line, and a finish line at South Cay in Busuanga, Palawan", recalls Tere Marcial, President and CEO of BPI Wealth. “We are happy to be supporting the BPI Busuanga Cup, by incorporating it into the four-event BPI Private Wealth Signature Yacht Race Series, with the aim of reigniting the sailing spirit in the Philippines. I think the Philippine sailing community is on to something big, with the vision of positioning our nation as a major Asian sailing destination,” she noted. This year the BPI Busuanga Cup attracted 14 entries.

Ray Ordoveza and a well-practiced crew on Karakoa dominated the competition, taking Line Honours for the long race, and scoring a clean sheet of bullets for the inshore races. “What BPI has done is something that sailors only dreamed about a long time ago. I am sure that this Series will grow to be equal to the international events in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand. I am sure that this will be very well known around the region. Thank you for adding prestige to our sport, and elevating sailing in the Philippines,” said Ordoveza after accepting the trophy.

The BPI Busuanga Cup 2024 was voted a huge success all round. “This is what Philippine sailing needs – a shot in the arm from a company that shares PHINSAF's vision of creating a great sailing culture in the Philippines - a country of more than 7,100 islands and with a rich sailing history - with the help of the race organizers through PHINSAF, Ocean Racing Club Philippines, and Subic Sailing,” noted Monchu Garcia, President of PHINSAF.

Winners, Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race

IRC Racing, Hurricane Hunter (Albert Altura) Cruising, Isabelle (Allen Yokoto) Ocean Multihull, Cariño (Monchu Garcia)

Winners Overall, inc Doni Altura Memorial Inshores

IRC Racing 1. Karakoa (Ray Ordoveza) 2. Belatrix (Jun Villanueva) 3. Hurricane Hunter (Albert Altura)

Cruising 1. Papaya (Renie Ticzon) 2. Isabelle (Allen Yokoto) 3. Despacito (Pablo Lobregat)

Ocean Multihull 1. Cariño (Monchu Garcia) 2. Poco Loco (David Sutton) 3. Tutu Tango (Roman Azana)

The BPI Private Wealth Signature Yacht Race Series is now gearing up for the next two events: the Boracay 200 (22-27 February) and Subic Bay Regatta (2-5 April), hot on the heels of the famous Rolex China Sea Race.

For more information and future updates on the BPI Private Wealth Signature Yacht Race Series, stay tuned to the official BPI Social Media pages.

Facebook Community: Signature Yacht Race Series Instagram: @signatureyachtrace_series and @officialbpi Website: signatureyachtraceseries.com

Related Articles

Fishing: Patterning brown bass
Post-spawn through summer smallies Whitewater Fishing B.A.S.S. tournament pro, Alex Redwine, talks fishing the transition period Posted on 26 Jun
2025 Bahamas Fly-fishing Tournament Series
Anglers to compete across some of The Bahamas' top bonefishing spots The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation announced the launch of Bonefishing Tournament Series that will showcase diverse pristine flats across four islands - Grand Bahama, Andros, Eleuthera and the championship round will be held in Exuma Posted on 20 Jun
Mote leads seagrass restoration initiative
Florida legislature establishes the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative Seagrasses play a crucial role in the health and resilience of Florida's coastal ecosystems. They provide nursery habitats for keystone species and stabilize shorelines and sediments. Posted on 20 Jun
Maritimo M50 Flybridge & S60 Sedan Video
We speak to Maritimo's Neil McCabe & Phil Candler We talked to Neil McCabe, Maritimo's Design Office Manager, and Phil Candler, Maritimo's General Manager Operations, to find out more about the M50 Flybridge and S60 Sedan during the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Posted on 17 Jun
“I'm living my dad's dream”
Carl made sure to provide young Kyle the chance to be a seasoned pond hopper Carl Cortiana is about to turn 70, but he still remembers the days four decades ago when he'd cast a practice plug across the living room floor and his toddler son, Kyle, now a highly accomplished Vexus pro on the MLF Toyota Series. Posted on 14 Jun
Stories From The Salt - Ep.6
Insights from PENN's top anglers Whether you're a passionate saltwater angler who eagerly dedicates every spare moment to being out on the water, or you simply enjoy watching the techniques and experiences of others, we invite you to anchor up and learn some valuable insights Posted on 14 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Six
Episode Six is now live - Are boat shows still relevant? Episode Six - asks the question, 'Are boat shows still Relevant?' We also offer some thoughts on changes and updates. The final episode of Series One is now live Posted on 13 Jun
Scania, Viking showcase renewable diesel
Mack Attack shows outstanding efficiency without compromise in performance of Scania V8 Engines Scania, one of the world's leading manufacturers of engines, announced today the successful demonstration of the performance and viability of renewable marine diesel fuel in a Viking 48 Convertible powered by twin Scania 1,150 HP DI16-liter V8 engines. Posted on 10 Jun
Sportfishing industry applauds decision by NOAA
Elimination of proposed South Atlantic bottomfishing closure The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries withdrew the proposed bottomfishing closure from Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic. Posted on 10 Jun
Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST. Posted on 7 Jun
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo S Series