Hello everybody,
This is my first post after spending a considerable time reading all the 'chat' in the forums. I'd just like to get peoples thoughts on what a or would be like to sail around the islands of the philippines. I can't personnally think of anything better to to with my retirement than have a or and explore all the 7,107 island, running her up the beach exploring, then sailing to the next port in time for a few beers !!!!! i think i can safely dart between island most of the way round the Philippines, avoiding large expanses of blue open water.....and the MILF in the south........Anyone any thoughts ??? Oh, and i dont yet have my MAC, still waiting for the golden hand shake to clear the bank, and still weighing up buying new or second hand buy or ???
This is just my opinion and does not reflect that of some of the west coast sailors or those hopping around the Carribean.
The mac is an acceptable coastal boat and if you are really careful about the weather windows you might be OK there, but there is a lot of blue water out there between the islands and I don't know if I would try to learn to sail it in a stock mac. Others have modified their boats and they enjoyed the process and learned at the same time the capabilities and limitations of both the boat and themselves. But I would not buy any boat classified as a coastal or shoal water boat and expect to cruise the South Pacific Islands because that is what you will quickly want to do after you start island hopping. I know I would just have to pop over to Tailand or down to New Zealand and I would want a solid deep keel under me.
Welcome aboard.
My opinion is that with prudent preparation, up to date charts and instrumentation, and perhaps a backup motor plus good seamanship, you should go for it. Many, many areas of the Phillipines are ideal for a Mac, X or M. Shallow lagoons inside of atolls, shelves off beaches, just beg for exploring.
Let's not forget that the primary mode of transportation to settle those islands and most of the Pacific originally was by dugout canoes, and for centuries thereafter. I'd advise at least one crew to help watch for traffic and coral heads when entering a shallow area.
Good luck and happy sailing.
As Night Sailor said the area was serviced by small boats.
There are a lot of areas suitable for a Mac and by the time you have explored all these areas it might then be time to upgrade.
Go for it and have fun but make sure you have good preparation.
Ahh, the good 'ol P.I.! I have spent many days at sea there on daysails out of Subic Bay aboard the 25 Catalina's I rented through the 80's and 90's. Mostly I SCUBA dived as many places I could go within the Zambales/ Luzon province area.
When the wife and I were considering a place to retire to, the P.I. was on the map. She hasn't been there yet, but it is a possible future dive destination....we'll see. Now that we moved from Mexafornia to Pennsylvania, we have a new house to get all together before we travel too far away. Maybe a Conch cruise if that comes up this year, but I have a Kitchen going in the first week of June.
All I can say, is the P.I., will always have a special place in my heart. The most wonderful people in the whole world, willing to share a smile, just for the sake of such!
If I added up the total time I have spent there as a Marine it could easily be a total of at least a year......There and Okinawa will always be special in my heart.....I love the Far East!
Last edited by Tom Root on Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
personally id go for a used mac that someone has spent a lot of money and time on or an old british built 30ft catamaran,the old brit boats are built like battleships,one of them survived the "queens birthday storm" whilst the 40-50ft $$$$$$$$$$$$ mono hulls were being torn apart,they are in the same price bracket as a new mac.
ive been to thailand in the days before mass tourisim turned Phucket in to what it is today,yup i could go cruisin around those Phillipino islands,scuba diving and just enjoying life.
I lived in the PI at Subic Bay for a total of 7 years in the 70's. Of course I was just a kid (6-11 and 13-15) so I am pretty sure I didn't quite see the same exciting sights that you did. But I have such terrific memories of that period of my life...what a great place to be a kid. Went snorkeling all over the country. Too bad we don't have a base there anymore.
I am being quite naive, in my dream and using simple tools like http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-googl ... ulator.htm to work out, distances from island to island. Hey but life is always made better by dreaming.....
Snorkelling, sailing, sandy beaches, san miguel......Phil here i come.....!!!!
I just had a similar discussion of future needs with my mother in law about her getting an apple computer, and I guess I was equally confusing in my discussion with her. The Mac would be a wonderful boat to island hop the norther sections and while staying inside that sort of protected central water way. But why limit yourself or at least understand that you will be limiting yourself, the South Pacific is a cruising wonderland with so many different islands and cultures, after a year or two of the Philippines you may decide to head out to explore other islands and then the mac will not be such a great choice. I love my Mac but I know its and my limitations now and in the future. If you are going to learn to sail and invest your time and money, the Mac may or may not be the best choice for you. Get a couple of issues of Blue Water Sailing or the milder Cruising World and see if you might have some future destinations you want to consider after sailing around the Vasayan and Sibuyan Seas. I know I would. But by all means get a boat and don't let mine or anyones opinion dampen your dreams
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would be like to sail around the islands of the philippines. I can't personnally think of anything better to to with my retirement than have a 
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