Cruising the Philippines - 2004

Created by doina. Last modified on 2004-05-29 11:03:02
Countries: Philippines

I have just returned from a three week cruise across the South China Sea from Hong Kong to the Philippines and thought you might be interested in some updates. This was our third trip in as many years on my Norhavn 46 trawler, "Tai Mo Shan".

This year's trip took us to Puerto Galera, Maestre Di Campo, Borocay, Matinloc Is (El Nido Area, Palawan) and Subic Bay.

On the trip across the South China Sea we encountered, about 40 miles south of Hong Kong, a number of fishing vessels laying vast distances of barely submerged nets at around sunset. These nets extend about four to five nautical miles, are unlit and sit about four feet below the surface. They are marked at intervals by unlit floats with flags.

Beware of the usual unlit fishing cannisters which extend from Cape Bolinao all the way down to the entrance to Subic Bay. These cans are four to six feet in length, two to three feet diameter and are unlit. They can extend to about 50 to 60 miles offshore.

Immigration was extremely straightforward and reasonable in Puerto Galera town (compared to last year when we were shooed away to Batangas to spend all day negotiating with officialdom!) Puerto Galera Yacht Club was as welcoming as ever. Maestre Di Campo very quiet and we were visited by a lot of villagers in small bancas as we anchored overnight. Non-threatening but looking for hand outs.

Boracay very busy even well north inside the reef. Dozens of bancas and speed boats towing babanas passing at high speed all day which was a bit irritating. The further north inside the reef you go the better. We anchored off Fridays which wasn't too bad.

El Nido was very deserted and the only life appeared to be at the two quite exclusive resorts which are not at all friendly to visiting yachts. We found some brand new moorings to the west of Matinloc Is and were in company with quite a heavy Philippine Navy presence which gave something of a sense of security in the area. Good diving with a lot of new coral growth in the area.

Subic Bay has a new marina manager, Igmidio Laban, and the yacht club was helpful and reasonaly priced.(Tel: (63 47)252 5211. VHF channel 72. Fuel available at the adjacent commercial fuel dock VHF channel 10 @ US$1.125 per US gallon.

Regards, David Smith