BIZ BUZZ: Subic Bay beckons to yacht masters
These racers didn’t have to navigate the gridlock in the metropolis to get their adrenaline rush.
Instead, they had to battle it out on the waters of Subic Bay, a natural harbor steeped in rich naval history, in a combination of windward-leeward races and round-the-cans, amid intermittent light and heavy wind.
BPI Private Wealth Signature Yacht Race Series Season 2 recently completed its fourth and final leg with BPI Subic Regatta 2025, which recorded some of the tightest racing for the season.
For this regatta, a dozen boats participated — mostly skippered by business leaders – comprising three classes: International Racing Certificate (IRC) Class, Cruising Class and Ocean Multihull Class.
Defending champion Belatrix, skippered by real estate developer Jun Villanueva, ruled the IRC Class. Together with his crew, he received the BPI Subic Regatta Perpetual Trophy during the awarding ceremony at Lighthouse Marina Resort on March 30.
To recall, the chair of MDI Holdings had also won last year’s BPI Subic Regatta and earned the bragging right as overall champion of the inaugural four-leg BPI Private Wealth Signature Yacht Race Series Season 1.
Villanueva got into the sailing sport in 2007 with a Hobie Cat vessel and upskilled by joining the Hobie Challenge Regattas. His boat, Belatrix, is an Ice52 built in Milan in 2018.
Karakoa, skippered by restaurateur Francis Ordoveza (the winner of Boracay leg) placed second, while Centennial II, helmed by Martin Tanco of STI Group, ranked third.
Previous legs of Series 2 IRC Class, the BPI Busuanga Cup and BPI Corregidor Cup, were both won by Selma Star, under seasoned captain Jun Avecilla, president of Lighthouse Marina.
For the last sailing race on Subic Bay, Allusive, skippered by Anthony Evangelista and John Quirk, bagged the Cruising Class gold. Alleanda Racing, captained by Isabela lawmaker Tonypet Albano, got the silver, while Papaya, skippered by Renie Ticzon, won the bronze.
For Ocean Multihull Class, Maëlie, skippered by Romain Barberis, emerged on top. Ikapati, captained by Hans Woldring, ranked second.
“We are delighted with the remarkable success of the second season of the BPI Private Wealth Signature Yacht Race Series. Building on the achievements of the first season, this series has truly reignited the yacht racing scene in the Philippines, attracting both seasoned sailors and newcomers to our regattas,” BPI Wealth CEO and 2025 Inquirer “Women of Power’ honoree Maria Theresa Marcial, told Biz Buzz.
“The passion and dedication of our participants have truly showcased the potential of Philippine sailing. We look forward to continuing this journey and inspiring more sailors to join us on the water,” Marcial added.
