Jan 24, 20193 min read

Standard Insurance Subic Bay International Regatta: Bringing People and Nature Together

Updated: Mar 13, 2019

Standard Insurance Subic Bay International Regattas (SBIR) opens up with the Subic Bay Around Verde Island Passage Race (SBVIP) on February 22 followed by the Subic Bay Cup Regatta (SBC) on February 24-March 2, 2019.

The 200 nautical-mile Subic Bay Around Verde Island Passage Race hopes to raise awareness to one of the greatest global challenges that our planet is currently facing. “Our oceans are under threat and we need more people to take action. Sailing is a sport that brings people closer to nature, and as Boracay continues its rehabilitation, we hope that this race will remind us of the beauty of our country and our maritime treasures,” said Zed Avecilla, Executive Director of the Subic Sailing Club.

Mr. Judes Echauz, Group Chairman of Standard Insurance and President of the Philippine Sailing Association (PSA) during the awarding of the Subic Bay Around Verde Island Race and Subic Bay Cup Regatta last March 2018. — Mr. Judes Echauz, Group Chairman of Standard Insurance and the President of the Philippine Sailing Association (PSA)

Standard Insurance, the title sponsor of this event, is the number one supporter of sailing in the Philippines. Their commitment to sailing goes beyond developing top sailor athletes and coaches. Protecting the environment is also at the heart and soul of the company.

Last year the inaugural race record was set at 22 hours 54 minutes and 9 seconds by Geoff Hill's Smith 72 Antipodes. Judes Echauz’s TP52 Standard Insurance Centennial III came in 2nd over the line two minutes after Antipodes putting him on 1st place in corrected time for the IRC 1 Class, Antipodes on 2nd place and Karakoa in 3rd place. The Overall winner was Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns Sydney GTS 43 Otonomos Mandrake III winning by 16 minutes in corrected time on Centennial III also winning the IRC 2 Class, with Bobby Benares Beneteau 44.7 Sabad on 2nd place and Jun Avecilla's Beneteau First 36.7 Selma Star on 3rd place. The Cruising class had three entries but Stephen Wu Shifu's Oceanis 45 Asia Pacific Sailing who was the only finisher due to some equipment failure on Michael Raueber's Oceanis 46 Emocean and Li Jian's Advance 80 Apsaras. (2018 SBVIP Race Results and 2018 SBVIP/SBCR Press Release)

“We are inviting all sailboats in the region to come and visit the Philippines and join us as we sail to and around the Verde Island Passage and experience the beauty of our marine archipelago. For those local boats in Manila, Puerto Galera, Batangas, Palawan, and Cebu, we hope you will come and visit us in Subic Bay and have a great time” said Jun Avecilla, Chairman of Subic Sailing

Besides the grueling off-shore racing, there will also be a lot of in-shore racing that will happen in Subic Bay from February 24 to March 2 which is part of the Subic Bay Cup Regatta (SBCR). One of the most exciting part of the series is the Far East 28R One-Design Match Racing and Fleet Racing which will be part of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) that will also take place in Subic Bay later this year. “This will be a practice race for our Filipino Athletes who will be competing in the SEAG. We are also inviting other participating countries to come and join this practice race,” added Jun Avecilla.

The other classes completing the SBCR are IRC 1, IRC 2, Cruising Class and Multihull Class. “We are inviting everyone to come and visit Subic Bay to watch and cheer our Filipino Sailors. We will be providing spectator boats so people can have a closer look at the action on the water,” added Zed Avecilla.

This event is organized by the Subic Sailing Club in partnership with Standard Insurance in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Subic Bay Yacht Club and the Lighthouse Marina Resort.