MABINI, Batangas — The Anilao Windsurf Regatta made a long-awaited return to Mabini, Batangas on March 22-23, ending a five-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event, held at Saltitude Dive and Beach Resort, drew 51 participants who competed in 20 races over the weekend.
This year’s lineup featured members of the national windsurfing team, budding athletes from Mabini’s grassroots training program, and recreational windsurfers ranging from 11 to 72 years old. Spread across 11 categories, the diverse mix of sailors was a testament to the sport’s appeal across various age groups.
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“The beauty of windsurfing is that it’s a sport you can enjoy at any age,” said Anna Marco, head of the 2025 Regatta organizing committee. “I myself am in my fifties. We have kids who start as young as five or six years old, and many windsurfers who are still active well into their senior years.”
The Anilao Windsurf Regatta began in 1999 as a way to bring the local windsurfing community together, foster friendly competition, and provide experience in actual racing scenarios.
“Many windsurfers—even some on the national team—don’t get the chance to race internationally,” Marco noted. “So it’s really our goal to provide the experience of racing to everyone in a local, easily accessible environment.”
Competition during the return of the Anilao Windsurf Regatta in Mabini, Batangas on March 22-23. –ARNEL TACSON/INQUIRER.net
Day One of the Regatta began with three heats for the Kids and Novice categories. When the wind picked up, two heats followed for the A, B, C, Open, and Senior Class sailors. While awards are won per category, the practice is for several classes to head out onto the water simultaneously to make the most of the prevailing winds.
“Racing is totally different from windsurfing for fun,” explained former Philippine team member Richard Harrow. “It’s more crowded than usual. You can bump into each other. If you lose balance, your sail could fall on someone else… So you can’t just think of yourself; you also have to think about the sailors around you.”
Competition during the return of the Anilao Windsurf Regatta in Mabini, Batangas on March 22-23. –ARNEL TACSON/INQUIRER.net
While moderate winds on Saturday allowed some races to proceed, the much-anticipated Wing Foil races of the Philippine team had to be postponed as they needed more wind to achieve efficient takeoff and lift.
Wing foiling is a relatively new water sport that evolved from kitesurfing, windsurfing, and surfing. The sailor, standing on a board, holds onto an inflatable wing, which generates both upward and horizontal force to propel the board across the water. A foil board, which lifts off the water, encounters less friction and, when paired with the wind-driven wing, allows racers to speed across the water at awe-inspiring velocities.
READ: Windsurfing competition makes waves in Batangas
With the wind dying down by mid-afternoon Saturday, the races were discontinued in favor of fellowship and sunset socials. “It’s just the nature of the sport,” explained race commentator Etienne Verzola. “We depend on the wind, and the wind doesn’t always cooperate. But there’s always tomorrow.”
To everyone’s relief, Sunday brought race-worthy winds despite forecasts predicting otherwise. Races began as usual with the Novice, Kids, and Class C Men categories, completing six heats in total. With the wind strengthening mid-morning, even the Wing Foil sailors were able to complete another four races alongside the A, B, C, Open, and Senior classes. Another two heats for A, B, C, Open, and Wing Foil capped the afternoon races.
Class C Men, all grassroots team members, participated in the most races—11 in total—as added training under the direction of race director German Paz, who also serves as head coach of Mabini’s grassroots program.
The municipality of Mabini, where Anilao is located, has long been recognized as a hub for windsurfing in the Philippines. It is the home base of the national windsurfing team, whose members are chosen from among the most promising athletes in the grassroots program.
Raul Lazo, head coach of the Philippine Windsurfing Association, spoke proudly of the national team’s achievements in regional competitions, including a commendation from the Senate for their performance at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Just this February, the team delivered an impressive performance at the 44th Singapore Open Windsurfing, Wing & Wing Foiling Championship 2025, bringing home 11 medals across various categories.
While Lazo acknowledged that qualifying for Olympic Windsurfing has become increasingly difficult over the years, he did not rule out the possibility of an Olympic dream.
The awarding ceremony on Sunday afternoon was filled with high hopes for future windsurfing victories. As sails and boards were put away, scores tabulated, blistered palms tended to, and awards presented to smiling, sun-bronzed winners, organizers expressed gratitude to the many people and organizations who made the Regatta’s long-awaited comeback possible.
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Sponsors and event partners included Metro Pacific Investments, Tullay, Arthaland, Ocean Flavors, Frabelle Foods, Tropical Fresh, Cafe O, Max International, Inquirer.net, Saltitude Dive and Beach Resort, Mabini Tourism, J Silverio Watersports, Janao Windsurfing, and the Philippine Windsurfing Association.
The 2025 Anilao Windsurf Regatta represented more than just the return of a friendly competition. It marked a collective refocus on a beloved sport, reaffirming the community’s commitment to windsurfing and its continued growth. With more young athletes joining veteran sailors on the waters of Anilao, the future of windsurfing in the Philippines looks bright.
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