By Roy Espiritu
THE Balangay sailboats used by pre-colonial Filipinos for maritime trade inspired them.
These are the merchant marine cadets of the Saint Joseph Institute of Technology-Maritime Education and Training (SMET) in Cubi-cubi, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, who learned not only to sail. They also learned to build their own sail boats.
Building and sailing their own boats will not only boost seamanship, it will also hone environmental awareness and onboard watercraft troubleshooting which are essential maritime skills. The landmark initiative was initiated by the proponents of the Balangay Marina Sailing and Yacht Club (BMSYC), SMET, in partnership with the PHBYC. Project sponsors were Pioneer Adhesives, Broadwater Marine, Duckworks Boat Builder’s Supply, Hyde Sails and Polymer Products; while logistics support was provided by Active Boating and Watersports Magazine and Teekay Shipping Philippines.
The maritime industry aims to be carbon-neutral by 2025. The industry is looking at using renewable forms of energy to propel ships such as solar-assisted and wind-assisted propulsion either through sails, kites or Flettner rotors.
More than 30 percent of the world’s maritime personnel are Filipinos. Maritime professionals with a good background in sailing will have an edge over their competition as well as open opportunities in the leisure and competitive yachting sectors.
“Through basic boatbuilding and sail training through competitive racing, our cadets can expect to improve not only their credentials but also improve their seamanship skills and situational awareness, two essential traits of a maritime professional,” according to BMSYC co-founder and Teekay Shipping’s Captain Gilbert Maturan.
The cadets of SMET will also deploy and maintain the fleet of 20 Oz Goose sailboats of BMSYC.
“Fleet management is another essential skill maritime professionals need to know,” Maturan said. “Although the boats are simple, they will no doubt teach the essential basics to our cadets.”
Designed by Batangas-based Australian small boat designer Michael Storer, the Oz Goose was designed to be efficient but simple to build by anyone using materials readily available in the Philippines, such as marine plywood and epoxy.
“The SMET cadets were very enthusiastic in learning to build and sail the boats they built, they were eager to learn everything we taught them,” Storer said. “I am confident that these new Oz Goose sailors will do well in competitive racing, especially now that sailing will be part of SMET’s curriculum.”
The Oz Goose sailboat is the fastest-growing racing dinghy class in the Philippines where there are now more than 70 such sailboats. The class holds regular monthly races at the Taal Lake Yacht Club in Talisay, Batangas, home port of the largest Oz Goose fleet of more than 25 boats.
Visitors connected with the replica Balangay expedition project and Subic Sailing were on hand at the inauguration of BMSYC and the launch of 10 of the 20 BMSYC Oz Goose sailboats.
“This initiative can help accelerate the revival of the country’s sailing culture, and contribute immensely in stirring and reawakening our maritime consciousness, which centuries of colonial rule almost succeeded in erasing from our memory,” Arturo T. Valdez, former undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said.
Subic Sailing Club Executive Director Zedrick Avecilla said he was “amazed but not surprised at how these kids learned to sail so quickly.”
“I suppose since this area is the birthplace of the Balangay, it is most likely that the people from here have ‘sailing’ in their DNA,” Avecilla said. “It was really heartwarming to see the enthusiasm of these young cadets and their eagerness to learn how to sail.”
1 comment
Congratulations on what an extraordinary venture to teach and inspire the upcoming mariners of tomorrow