Regatta Set at Taal Lake

The placid waters of Taal Lake will once again burst into action and color as the Club Balai Isabel Round Taal Volcano Regatta and Governor’s Cup unfolds on Nov. 29 and 30 at the Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) in Talisay, Batangas.

Club Balai Isabel Resort Talisay Batangas

Now on its ninth year, the annual two-day regatta will see Filipino and foreign Hobie Cat teams encircling the picturesque Taal Volcano Island and promises to be another action-packed adventure tourism event, TLYC Commodore Peter Capoposto said in yesteday’s PSA forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila.

Also joining the race is the growing fleet of home-built boats, optimists, streakers, dinghies and toppers from all ages, added Capoposto in the session sponsored by Aspen Spa, Brickyard Gym, Accel and Med Central Diagnostics Clinics

The regatta will also feature a 34-kilometer kayak marathon and a 10-kilometer novice run organized by the Philippine Kayaking Association on Saturday.

According to Techno-Asia Construction and Development Corp. president Nelson Terrible, developer of Club Balai Isabel, the unique twin events will highlight Taal Lake as a water sports haven.

Pinoy, Aussies Rule Balai Isabel Regatta

FILIPINO hobie cat sailors Norman Jaravata and Jenny Franke topped the Governor’s Cup of the Club Balai Isabel Round Taal Volcano regatta recently at the Taal Lake Yacht Club in Talisay, Batangas.

The Governor’s Cup, a 35-kilometer circumnavigation of the picturesque volcano, is the annual international sporting event’s main attraction.

Now on its ninth edition, the two-day regatta saw Filipino and foreign teams of home-built boats, optimists, streakers, and dinghies competing for honors. Aside from the Philippines, the event also drew entries from the United States, Portugal, France, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Italy and Germany.

The Australian father-and-son team of Andrew and Brandon Locke of Team Papua New Guinea bagged the grand prize in the inshore racing legs around Taal Lake while the tandem of Ernie Sarmiento and Zaldy Dela Cruz of Team HIETA topped the 35-kilometer kayak marathon division organized by the Philippine Kayaking Association.

The team is based in Alaminos City, Pangasinan and was supported by DOT Region I office. According to Club Balai Isabel president Nelson Terrible, the twin events highlighted the potential of Taal Lake as a water sports and ecotourism haven.

Club Balai Isabel and TLYC are among the stakeholders in the forefront to preserve Taal Lake, whose fragile ecosystem is besieged with pollution and siltation due to the proliferation of chemical-rich fish cages.