The following is the preliminary itinerary of the Davao-Morotai Yacht Rally:

• September 6 - Flag off from Davao
• September 8 – 10 - ETA in Talaud (Melanguane city) - Welcome ceremony and CIQP clearance.
• September 11 – Departure from Talaud
• September 12 - ETA Morotai - Festivities from September 13 – 16.
• September 17 – Departure from Morotai to Bitung
• September 19 - ETA Bitung - Festivities & tour from September 20 – 24. Tour includes Manado.
• September 25 – Departure from Bitung and CIQP clear out. Yachts may continue their trip after the Bitung festivities on their own.

Entry forms will be emailed to you upon request. This should be filled up by the Captain, scanned together with the following documents below (1 to 5) and email to wiskun AT sailsamal.com.

1. A scanned image of EVERY crewmember’s passport details page(s) only, with next of kin details.
2. A scanned image of a passport style photograph of the Captain only, a photograph taken with a digital camera with a plain light background will be OK.
3. A scanned image of your yacht's registration certificate.
4. A scanned image of the Bank Receipt for the Entry Fee – Not applicable for Sail Morotai 2012.
5. A scanned image or photograph of your yacht with the yacht name clearly visible.

The following mail came from our good friends, Ann and Eric, of SV Temerarius - of Detroit, USA. They are seasoned sailors whom we are fortunate to meet and made good friends with. We are also very happy they are here with us.

We arrived at Samal Island in May of 2010, sailing from Australia via PNG and Palau.  We chose Samal Island, mainly because our good friends, Ellen and Kjartan (Wiskun) were here, and we were anxious to reunite. Also, we needed to find a safe place to leave the boat, as we return to the States for 6 months each year to work.  For the past 20 years, we have been leaving our 50 foot sailing vessel, Temerarius, wherever we are.  Samal Island was perfect for us, as it is typhoon free, and that automatically eliminated one worry we don't need.

As we sailed up the Davao Gulf, trying to beat the sunset, we were greeted by a speedboat on our stern and the smiling faces of Kjartan and Ellen, and their dog Sheeba.   We tied up to their mooring, where we stayed for a few days, allowing for tide and preparation.  Our haul out was problem free, except that, it, of course, was raining, which everyone assured us was really rare.

While we were home, Eric was diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer.  Thus, we were unable to return as scheduled, while Eric waged his own private battle.  He has been cancer free now for the past year, and recently, we have been able to return to Temerarius. We were very unsure whether that day would ever come.  While, we were gone, it was such a relief to not have to worry over the boat, because we knew it was being so well cared for.  Ellen and Kjartan went above and beyond the call of duty or friendship.  They repainted the bottom ( a beautiful red) and towed her to the brand, new. spanking marina 10 miles up the road.  We found her floating happily with 3 other vessels, at what is now, Oceanview Marina.

Irish Melody wrote an excerpt talking about the marina, which explains rather well the daily mechanics of life here.  I can only add how very happy we are to be here.  First, our boat was in very good condition.  We have had black widow spiders in Mexico, cockroaches in Florida, and almost any other type of vermin that loves to occupy empty vessels in the tropics. Here, other than a few ants, we are bug free. Even the mold was minimal.
 
Oceanview is quite a distance from the town of Davao, but Ellen and Kjartan and her brother, Boboy (the owner of the marina, with his lovely wife, Gene) make everything as easy as possible.  They have 2 scheduled trips daily to the main ferry which will then take you to Davao.  We find it all fascinating.  The people are very friendly, and, at no times, have we felt any animosity.  Just big smiles greet us.  If you get this far in the world, you are used to the idea of provisioning, and a trip to Davao each week will fill your food lockers.  The grocery stores are truly the best I have seen.  You can find almost any product imaginable for a lower cost than in the States.  Food is affordable, and wine, liquor, and beer, also, very reasonable.

It is tropical hot here, but there has been a breeze each night, and with the help of a fan, we sleep well. It is very quiet.  There are no mosquitoes or flies!!  You can jump off your boat and go for a swim.  It is as close to being at anchor as you will ever get at a marina. And it is quite beautiful.  On daily walks up the road, we are greeted by cows, goats, chickens, water buffalo, turkeys and farmers with small children who willingly give you their fruit for a smile.

The other plus that we were not expecting, is it is turning out to be a good place to leave your boat for other overland excursions.  We are looking at a trip to Vietnam this March.  There are flights from Davao to Singapore and fares are quite cheap at times. 

I have no words to thank Ellen and Kjartan for the many kindnesses bestowed upon us.  Boboy and Gene have also been so generous and gracious. It is a joy of cruising that allows you to meet such friends.  And your faith in the world is reignited to know such friendship exists.
 
 Ann and Eric
 S/V Temerarius

INTRODUCTION

In a move to boost the economy of the outlying islands, the President of Indonesia is spearheading the development of North Maluku, in particular, the island of Morotai. It is his vision to put Morotai on the map for the world to see that Morotai is the gateway into Indonesia from the Pacific Ocean. And being close to East Asia, Morotai can be a part of the economic movement in the Asia Pacific Region. A Master plan from Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister is now in place to develop the island as a fishery, tourist, trade and services center. As part of this plan, Sail Morotai 2012 is organized and will be the main maritime event for this year's Sail Indonesia rally.

MOROTAI

Morotai is the northernmost island of Eastern Indonesia, in the province of North Maluku. The rugged and forested island has an area of some 1,800 square kilometres (690 sq mi), stetching 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-south and no more than 42 kilometres (26 mi) wide.

It is famous for its natural and marine beauty, with various coral reefs, colourful fish and marine life.

In addition, it is also known for its history in World War II, in particular, the Battle of Morotai. In July of 1944, General Douglas MacArthur had selected Morotai as the location for air bases and naval facilities which was needed to support the liberation of Mindanao. The battle began on September 14, 1944 when the United States and Australian forces landed on the south-west corner of Morotai.  With only about 500 Japanese soldiers stationed on the island, the Allied force assigned to Morotai outnumbered the island's defenders by more than one hundred to one. The ensuing rapid development of Morotai into a major military base took place. Base facilities, Naval installation, road network, 1,000-bed hospital and 2 airstrips were quickly constructed. Morotai became the staging point for Allied forces and played a major role in the liberation of the Philippines.

In light of its history, Morotai is a haven for wartime artifacts.

SAIL MOROTAI 2012

Holiday Oceanview Marina, in conjunction with the organizers of the Sail Indonesia 2012, is proud to announce that it will be the official Philippine organizer and the registration base for cruisers who are interested in joining the Sail Morotai 2012 rally. The festivities due to take place in Morotai on September 8th will coincide nicely with festivities happening in Davao City the whole month of August - the Kadayawan Festival. The highlight of this festival is the parade where different tribes and organizations compete for the best costumes and presentation. This parade normally occurs the 3rd weekend of August and the timing is just perfect for cruisers to attend the festivities in Davao before they set sail with the rally bound for Morotai.

As this will be the first year for Sail Morotai 2012, entry fee will be free and Indonesia will sponsor and cover the costs through its Sail Indonesia program. All yachts, motor and sail, are welcome to join but minimum size of 10 meters LOA is required to ensure safety to sail overseas in International waters. The Marina will coordinate and collect all required documents for the issuance of the Indonesian cruising permit (CAIT), as well for all entry and visa into the Philippines. The CAIT will be used to apply for the Indonesian Visa (non ASEAN citizens) through the Indonesian Consulate. In addition, the Marina will be offering its own programs and festivities, organization of tour packages, rally orientation seminar, free berthing, parties and get-togethers.

Route of the Sail Morotai 2012:

This is made part of the Sail Indonesia Rally and the whole map can be viewed in their website - http://www.sailindonesia.net/home/home.php and about Sail Morotai 2012 - http://www.sailindonesia.net/news/sailmorotai.php. Further news about Sail Indonesia can be found here - Sail Indonesia and Rally schedules .

All interested cruisers are urged to email me through the contact page, or through the comments sections, as it is also important for us to get an idea of how many interested participants there will be. This is an exciting rally to attend specially because of our historical ties with Morotai and also because it is the first maritime event ever for Davao to be a part of. It is our wish and the wishes of the government of Indonesia to develop stronger ties between our 2 countries and to establish an attractive route from Davao to Morotai and beyond, to other parts of Indonesia and Philippines.

More information and updates to come, so feel free to check in occasionally.

HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA is the first and only marina in the Gulf of Davao, located in the northernmost tip of Samal Island (7°11.94N, 125°42.74E).

A)    BERTHING

The facility offers 2 docks (A and B) with a combined total of 56 berths, Each berth can fit yachts up to 50 feet LOA. The end of Docks A and B can fit longer yachts up to 100 ft LOA.

B)    BOATYARD

There is one slipway for hauling and launching vessels. Vessels are hauled out using a trailer system.

A)    UTILITIES

RATES:

Visiting boats are very welcome. We ask you to book a berth in advance. Call us on VHF channel 68 or by email at holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com or by mobile phone no. 0929- 510-5160

A)     WET-BERTH RATES – in Phil. Pesos

• All berths have access to fresh water and individual power points
• No charge to water; power is at price posted
• Fuel can be arranged, at prices posted
• Laundry, shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located in the clubhouse building. Open 24 hours throughout the year to berth holders, accessible with key
• The marina is protected by security 24/7
• OFF-SEASON DISCOUNT (MAY TO OCTOBER)

- 35% OFF ABOVE RATES

B) BOATYARD/DRY-BERTH RATES – in Phil. Pesos

• Slipway for haul-out and launching (may have to coincide with high tide)
• Individual heavy duty cradle with adjustable arms (for monohulls)
• Water is available 
• Power at price posted
• Fuel at prices posted
• Miscellaneous marine services available
• Tradesmen and labor from Php100 to 400 / hr.
• To make a boatyard booking, email holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com with boat details – LOA, draft, beam, weight and type of keel.

ARRIVAL DETAILS:

A) 

The Holiday Oceanview Marina's goal is to achieve a standard that is accepted worldwidA)    SEA APPROACH

Entering the Gulf of Davao, vessels can approach on either east or west side of Samal Island.

The channel between Davao mainland and the westside of Samal island is busy with boat and ferry traffic. The narrowest  area (just over half a nautical mile wide) has a strong tidal current, mostly south-setting.  Sailing closer to the Samal side, the westside is lined with resorts and white sanded beaches.

Latitude:                7°11.94 N Longitude:         125°42.74 E

Radio Channel: Channel 68 Email or contact Marina prior to arrival is preferred.

Davao Tide Table link: http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/1502.html

B)    MARINA APPROACH

The marina is surrounded by a stone wall (breakwater).  Stay well clear of the breakwater until ready to approach. The 20 meter-wide entrance is on the NW corner, marked with red and green flags. Approach from the north and turn port into the marina. Caution: Breakwater walls are lined with rocks on the seabed.  Allow clearance. The entrance has a metal gate to prevent swells and debris from entering the marina. It is left opened when there is a vessel expected  to arrive or depart. Otherwise, it remains closed. It can easily be opened when a vessel is sighted approaching.

C)    CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) CLEARANCE

Check in or out service is provided by the Marina. A vehicle and staff will drive/assist you to the different offices for checking in or out. This is to expedite dealing with the CIQ officials. Alternate route for self check-in is to anchor on entry, at the quarantine area near Sta. Ana wharf, for CIQ boarding.

LOCAL INFORMATION:

A)    DAVAO

DAVAO CITY, being near the equatorial belt, is typhoon-free. The city enjoys a weather that remains balmy all year round. It is characterized by a uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and there are no wide fluctuations of the barometric air pressure. There are two seasons – the NE monsoons (October to March)  and the SW monsoon (April to September). The beginning and end of the seasons are normally transition periods. Northeasterly winds are predominant during the NE monsoon season and this will the best time for cruisers when the weather is pleasant and the chances of being caught in the path of typhoons are minimal. The SW monsoon is the rainy season. Winds are predominantly southerly, humid and warmer.

Davao City boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country, and proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mount Apo.   Metro Davao can also be dubbed as The City of Royalties or The Royal City, because of the presence of the kings and queens of the nature present in Davao. The Queen of Philippine Orchids which is Waling-waling, the King of Exotic Fruits, which is Durian, The King and Grandfather of Philippine mountains, Mt. Apo, the largest eagle in the world and the King of Philippine skies which is the Philippine Eagle.

B)    SAMAL

Nearby and only 10 minutes Samal-Davao ferry ride over, in the Gulf of Davao, is the ISLAND GARDEN CITY of SAMAL. True to its name, the island is a paradise surrounded by a natural garden of corals. The island has become a tourism hub for southern Philippines, boasting its pristine, white sandy beaches, natural wonders and attractions, yet it still remains unspoiled. This beautiful virgin island has been protected from commercialization to preserve ecotourism. The 116 kilometer stretch of coastline and crystal blue water is rich with underwater wildlife and the colors contrasts harmoniously from the green lush vegetation of coconut trees, to the white sandy beaches, to the dark blue color of the sea. From the hairy squat lobster to the Hawksbill Turtles to the Duggongs and a vast array of tropical fishes and corals, this island has become a diver’s haven. For the landlubbers, you have the mountains and lush forests for serious mountain-biking, camping and extreme sports. You can test your endurance as you trek and negotiate your way through caves of varying sizes.

Davao and Samal both boasts of very friendly people. Festivals or fiestas would be a good way to observe how happy and sharing the Dabaweños are. Fiestas are their way of showing their love of their homeland,  culture and traditions. Amidst the chaos, hostage taking, war and conflict happening in some parts of Mindanao, Davao is still at peace and order. This is evident during the KADAYAWAN festival, the ARAW NG DAVAO festivities and Samal’s HUGYAW Samal. One must not miss seeing and participating in these festivals. It is definitely a must-see event.

The Gulf of Davao is situated on the south coast of Mindanao Island and is approximately between latitude 6° 15' and 7° 20' East and longitude 125° 25' and 126° 10' East. It has a water area of 10,500 sq. km. and approximately 520 km. of coastline from Calian Point in Davao del Sur to Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental. Within the Gulf are the islands of Samal and Talikud in Davao del Norte, Kopiat in Davao Oriental and Lunod in Compostela Valley. Samal Island is the largest of these islands, with 118 km. of coastline.

C) GULF OF DAVAO

The Gulf has a unique pattern of water movement. During flood tide, water mass south of Samal Island flows southwest. In the northern portion of the island, between Bassa Point and Gill Point, water mass flows northeast, then southward and swiftly veers east-northeast during the peak tide current. In addition, the more saline oceanic waters flow into the gulf through the deeper section of the Gulf pushing the existing water mass northward. Tide waves occurring ahead at the eastern section cause older water to wave towards the area of low elevation at the western side. Eddies and standing oscillations are present. There are 33 rivers and creeks that empty into the Davao Gulf. Water exchange is mainly tidal with relatively good surface mixing during strong monsoon winds. The northern portion is generally estuarine in character due to the massive influx of freshwater from the flood plains especially during the rainy season. This is why there would be a lot of river debris such as tree branches and river bank debris, especially during highest tides and heavy rainfall.

Wiskun was hauled out in late 2008 and sat in the Samal boatyard next to the Samal Ferry terminal (Davao Gulf, Southern Philippines). For almost 3 years, there were a lot of work done on her. Not that she needed repairs, but more because Kjartan needed projects to do to keep busy. Some projects of course were real repairs when we found the damage - such as dry rots in the wood and rusting problems.

Dry rots:

• The masts were taken off as soon as we hauled Wiskun out. We found some dry rotting and the spreaders needed to be replaced. This project is ongoing.
• Deck boxes were rotting away. New and better desiged boxes were built.
• Deck housing, especially the area where it connects to the deck had some dry rot. This probably caused some of our leaking problems below deck.

Rusts:

• Our biggest problem since leaving Vancouver was the rust oozing off our gunwales. They became a nightmare when we reached the tropics due to the high salinity in this area. We tried so many ways to stop it and listened to so many advice. All to no avail. The rust kept on coming back. We knew that we had to somehow seal the metal embedded in the gunwale real well. But just imagining all the work covering about 100 feet all around was so daunting. Finally, Kjartan started this big project in Samal. He placed several biaxial fiberglass cloth on, sanded and sanded, painted and painted. When you look at the gunwales now, you will never know that there are several layers of fiberglassing over them. Now I dare the oxygen to penetrate and find a way into the metal part.
• Rudder post rust started to destroy part of the rudder. This too got repaired with several layers of cloth and epoxy. Probably overdone again by Kjartan, but better be safe than sorry. It is much cumbersome to repair areas under water so it is better to make sure the repair is longlasting.

Miscellaneous:

• Engine - taken out and got overhauled. Engine room got new insulation.
• Bilge area - super cleaned and painted with 2 part epoxy paint. It now looks so clean you can live in there.
• Deck - the whole deck area was smoothened, epoxied and primed. We will paint it all in white. There is a big difference in keeping it cool this way.
• Keel - lots of blistering problem areas repaired. With over 2 years of drying out time, we hope this time the repairs will last.
• Bowsprit - taken off for the time being and is already nicely painted.
• Deck boxes - newly built ones and better designed to prevent water from entering.
• Masts and spreaders - taken off and dry rot still to be repaired. New spreaders were made ready for installation.
• Body work - all scratches, nicks and imperfections were fixed and Wiskun got a new paint job.
• Waterline - Wiskun always looked port and aft heavy. Finally, we got the waterline corrected.

The decision to launch Wiskun back to the water was made because Kjartan is now busy building the 50 ft. catamaran with our friend Bill from Vancouver. Being away, Wiskun was gathering too much dust where she sat, from the ferry traffic next door and the boatyard operations all around. Also, the metal of the shed was shedding too much rust onto her deck. The moment of truth came on August 15th when she was launched. The engine purred and the gears worked! We motored slowly to Oceanview marina. While I steered the boat, Kjartan went below to check everything. Everything seemed fine, and the insulation worked so well, I couldn't hear the engine as loud as before. The only thing weird about it all was that Wiskun had no masts, no bowsprit, no sails and no anchors.

Now Wiskun sits in her new home - in Holiday Oceanview Marina. There are still lots of projects to do below deck and some things in my wish list have yet to materialize. Oh well, in due time. For now, cleaning away all the dust some of which are 3 years old plus more and throwing away many many things. By the way, I found out that batteries melted in the heat. Luckily I thought of emptying all the electronic gadgets of batteries when we hauled out.

The Gulf of Davao is situated on the south coast of Mindanao Island and is approximately between latitude 6° 15' and 7° 20' East and longitude 125° 25' and 126° 10' East. It has a water area of 10,500 sq. km. and approximately 520 km. of coastline from Calian Point in Davao del Sur to Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental. Within the Gulf are the islands of Samal and Talikud in Davao del Norte, Kopiat in Davao Oriental and Lunod in Compostela Valley. Samal Island is the largest of these islands, with 118 km. of coastline.

The Gulf has a unique pattern of water movement. During flood tide, water mass south of Samal Island flows southwest. In the northern portion of the island, between Bassa Point and Gill Point, water mass flows northeast, then southward and swiftly veers east-northeast during the peak tide current. In addition, the more saline oceanic waters flow into the gulf through the deeper section of the Gulf pushing the existing water mass northward. Tide waves occurring ahead at the eastern section cause older water to wave towards the area of low elevation at the western side. Eddies and standing oscillations are present.

There are 33 rivers and creeks that empty into the Davao Gulf. Water exchange is mainly tidal with relatively good surface mixing during strong monsoon winds. The northern portion is generally estuarine in character due to the massive influx of freshwater from the flood plains especially during the rainy season. This is why there would be a lot of river debris such as tree branches and river bank debris, especially during highest tides and heavy rainfall.

HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA

The only marina for yachts in the whole of Mindanao, it is located at the northernmost point of Samal Island. It is now operational, with yachts coming in mainly for storage purposes whilst owners go back to their home country. The marina offers 24/7 security and Davao being typhoon free, it is a perfect area to leave your yachts in. Power and electricity is available. There is a slipway for haul-outs as well. For more information and booking of berths/haulouts, just click on my contacts link.

We welcome the Marina's very first sailing yacht - S/V Skokica, from Slovenia. Miran and his crew sailed from Lankawi to Davao via Zamboanga City where they officially checked into the Philippines. They had a set timeline.  They barely had time to pack up the sails, stow them away, before they left again to fly home to Slovenia. Wow! But at least, we had 2 days getting to know Miran. He is an Olympic silver medalist in Ski Jumping!! From the mountains down to the sea, sailing the world. I think it is quite remarkable. He is rushing back fairly quickly as part of the planning committee to the World Ski Jumping Championship in Norway this coming December.

I finally had the chance to drive up to Holiday Oceanview to have a look-see on new development. I can see that the entrance, viewdeck, subdivision roads and the model home are now completed. Work has started on cementing the road down to the beach area. The area fronting the marina is cemented; the slipway for small speedboats is completed.  Landscaping and grassing of the breakwater surrounding the marina is done. If only we could have more rain, the plants can grow faster!! Just as I was thinking this, the dark grey clouds started to move in. My intention of going there was also to take virtual tour pictures. With the rain coming fast, I had to hurry and I managed to take 3 sets from the viewdeck area.

Holiday Oceanview is located on the very northern-most point of Samal Island. From the viewdeck, 30 meters high above sea level, you have a spectacular and unobstructed view of the Gulf of Davao. Only a short distance of about 7 km. from the ferry terminal, you can drive up there to take a look yourself.  But, should time and distance be a constraint, then click on the picture below and enjoy the 360-degree-view online. Listen to music, explore, pan and zoom for a closer look - get the feel of being there. Tip: Expand to full screen viewing for full effect viewing.

Remember, Flash Player version 9.0.28 or later is needed to view the tour properly.

I will add more to this tour as I go along - so come back regularly to check it out.

For more information on the subdivision and for those interested in the marina berthing prices, just email me directly using my Contact page.

Update of marina construction:

August 29, 2010 Update pictures (power and water connections all done):

Last Sunday, we had a fun day sailing on SV Backchat, a 48 ft. catamaran, to Holiday Oceanview Marina. Jock was kind enough to let the whole family invade his boat. There were 10 of us, lots of food and drinks.

It started off with only a very slight breeze. Against the current, we could barely move at about 2 knots. It didn't matter, we had all day. The marina is less than 10 miles away. To pass the time, we were munching away on the lechon (roast pig). We were ready to drop the sailing and motor straight to the marina when the wind came just as we hit the top end of the island. The sails went up again and we SAILED!! Going 10 knots speed, it felt good to have the wind blowing on my face again. No noise - just the sounds of the water as Bachchat sliced through the ripples and waves. Watch my video, and you can see all the smiles on our faces - that tells it all!!

target="_blank" title="Sailing to Holiday Oceanview Marina">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od2NUxsEEw4

The top end of the island, northernmost part of Davao Gulf, is a great area for sailing. It is a wide area, deep, no shoals and very very few boats to watch out for.

Holiday Oceanview Marina just recently opened up the entrance to let water in. Dredging is done and it seems deep enough at 2.75 meters, but that was not yet the lowest tide. Kjartan dove down and stuck his hand into the bottom and his whole arm went right through. So the bottom was silt from the excavator. The layout of the marina has been revised. All the slipways will now be uniform at 14.4 meters - no more small slipways for smaller boats. With this new layout, it can fit up to 60 yachts in there. From the video, it doesn't look big enough for 60 boats in there, but a picture was taken from up the cliff. Unfortunately, I don't have the picture yet to post, but in it, Backchat looked like it was just a speck in the middle of the marina.

I don't think the marina will be ready by the coming sailing season (November - March). But I will keep on updating as we go along, now that construction will be focused here from now on.