A DELIGHTFUL activity that is completely different from driving, sailing is utter serenity. The Taal Lake Yacht Club offers a variety of activities for amateur or enthusiast sailors.
We are naturally suspicious of daytime events that ask us to bring extra clothes, so it was with some trepidation that we received Volkswagen’s instruction to bring something for “water sports.” However, we were quite excited to find out that this meant heading to the Taal Lake Yacht Club to experience some sailing.
With a wide expanse of lake-front property, the Taal Lake Yacht Club offers beginners and enthusiasts alike a venue to develop their skill. Regattas are also run especially during this season.
Fortunately, the yacht club’s owner, Peter Capotosto, was around to personally introduce us to the activity.
Our vehicle for the session was a sailboat—a Hobie twin-hulled craft. With a bench seat on either side of the boat, it could accommodate around four persons.
After pushing off from the shore, our “instructor” pulled on a rope to expand the sail and catch the wind. The breeze that day was strong and consistent, allowing us to speed away from the shore. The only controls are the rudder, for steering, and the rope, to adjust the speed. The silence and serenity of using wind for power was utterly delightful. It was surprising how fast we could go with no motor around.
There is, of course, much more to the recreation and sport of sailing, such as discerning which way the wind is blowing and how to use it to propel the boat. But for those moments, we found only delight in using the wind to move quickly—and how fun it can be on the water. Jason K. Ang
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
