Question 1

Tell me about the Hobie 16 you are sailing.

Accepted Answer

A Hobie 16 is a 16-foot (5 meter) long catamaran sailboat. Unlike traditional sailboats that have one hull, a catamaran has two. Connecting the hulls is a square aluminum frame with fabric in the middle — the trampoline — about 7 feet (2+ meters) by 7 feet. The Hobie 16 was originally designed for fun, exciting day-sailing, and — believe it or not — riding waves too. Created in Southern California by Hobart 'Hobie' Alter in 1968, its popularity spread quickly around the world. With its cool, innovative, and fast design, it became a favorite at resorts, marinas, private beaches, and on the international racing circuit. It is one of the most iconic and beloved sailboats ever built — more than 100,000 sold — and is in the Sailing Hall of Fame.

Question 2

Why did you choose a Hobie 16 for this adventure?

Accepted Answer

First, I absolutely love sailing the Hobie 16 — they are so much fun, and I have been sailing them since I was young. Secondly, it is a great boat for this adventure. Its elegant, very efficient design — big sail area and very thin hulls — makes it fast, even in light winds. It also floats very shallow in the water. Many of the Philippine islands are ringed by beautiful coral reefs and rocks, so a shallow-floating boat reduces the chance of hitting coral or rocks coming ashore in the evenings and sailing out in the morning. The other important thing about a Hobie 16 is they are designed to be pulled right up onto a beach. I come ashore every night to sleep, so a boat I can simply pull onto the beach and pitch my tent next to is perfect.

Question 3

Does a Hobie 16 have a cabin?

Accepted Answer

No, there is no cabin on Hobie sailboats. I am sitting on the trampoline, exposed to the elements, the whole time I am sailing.

Question 4

Let's talk about the Guinness World Record (GWR) attempt.

Accepted Answer

Yes, I am very excited that GWR has finally accepted my application. Frankly, GWR was not an idea I had when I started thinking about this adventure — it first came from other people. When I started sharing the idea, occasionally people asked if it would set a world record. I had no idea, so I looked into it and found distance records for individual women and men sailing dinghy monohull sailboats (like Lasers), but I could not find any records for solo distance sailing on a small catamaran. I first applied to GWR more than a year ago and heard nothing. I applied again at the end of last year — nothing. When it became clear I would sail this year, I applied a third time — still nothing. I can get a bit obsessive when I put my mind to something, so I scoured the internet for any email connected to GWR. After two dozen-plus emails around the world, I finally got a reply from GWR Japan. After a month of back and forth, Japan connected me with GWR USA. After more than two months with GWR USA, they created a new category for my voyage: 'Longest distance sailed by an individual in a two-person catamaran (male).' If I am able to finish this sailing adventure and receive a Guinness World Record, it will be a childhood dream come true.

Question 5

What route will you take?

Accepted Answer

I am starting from Blue Lagoon beach, in the town of Pagudpud, on the northern tip of Luzon. I'll round Maira-ira Point — the northernmost point of Luzon — and then begin sailing south down the west coast of Luzon. I'll weave down through the archipelago, ending by sailing down the east coast of Mindanao, around Tinaca Point at the southern tip of Mindanao, and finishing in General Santos City on the south coast.

Question 6

How far will you sail?

Accepted Answer

I estimate I will sail about 3,700 km / 2,300 mi / 2,000 nm.

Question 7

How long will this take?

Accepted Answer

I estimate it will take 2–3 months to complete.

Question 8

What safety equipment do you have?

Accepted Answer

I have a hand-held chartplotter (Garmin 86i) — like the navigation maps on our smartphones, but designed for the ocean. I have satellite communication capabilities. I have a hand-held VHF radio that all ships and coastal maritime organizations use to communicate. I have a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) in case I need emergency rescue. I carry two mobile phones connected to the two largest cell companies in the Philippines. I have emergency flares and smoke aboard, a whistle, signaling mirror, waterproof light, and an old-school magnetic compass. No, I do not have a sextant. I'm not that old school, haha.

Question 9

How will you protect yourself from the sun?

Accepted Answer

I am pretty much covered from head to toe — hat, sunglasses, balaclava, long-sleeve shirt, gloves, leggings, and booties. Early or later in the day the sail may provide some shade, depending on the position of the sun, the direction of the wind, and the course I am sailing.

Question 10

What happens if the boat flips over?

Accepted Answer

Hobie catamarans can capsize — I have capsized them a few times over the years. I have a 'floater' on the top of the mast that keeps the boat from turning completely upside down. There are ways to right a Hobie floating on its side. With the boat on its side, you stand on the center of the lower hull in the water. You toss a rope over the hull that is in the air and lean out on the opposite side from the mast and sail, using your weight to tip the boat back down on both hulls. Because of the additional gear strapped to the top of the trampoline, in certain situations I may need extra weight. I carry a big canvas bag that I can fill with sea water and put over my shoulder to give me more weight to right the boat.

Question 11

What if you fall overboard?

Accepted Answer

The harness I will be wearing clips into the rope that controls the main sail. So if I fall overboard, I am still connected to the boat and can crawl back aboard.

Question 12

Isn't this dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Yes, somewhat :) There are three main dangers: ships, lightning, and medical emergencies. Ships — getting run over by large freighters and ferries is a real danger. I cross multiple shipping lanes and there are countless ferries and freighters delivering people and cargo daily. To minimize this, I travel only during the day. I have a radar reflector high up the mast that makes me more prominent on ship radar, and a VHF radio so I can communicate with any ships around me to confirm they see me. Lightning and storms — I am sailing mostly during the dry season, locally called Amihan (November to April), avoiding the typhoon season known as Habagat (May–October). I am starting later than I hoped, so we'll see what happens as typhoon season comes. I come ashore every evening before sunset and sleep on land. In the morning I check radar, weather forecasts, talk to the locals, and look at conditions around me. If it doesn't look favorable, I simply stay ashore until the weather improves. Medical emergencies — most of my sailing is along or near the coasts, but there are a few longer open-sea crossings. With good wind I can make even the longest planned crossing in roughly a day. I have satellite communication, a PLB, and a VHF radio. The danger is if something happens far from shore and help can't arrive in time.

Question 13

What are you bringing on the boat?

Accepted Answer

Because I am traveling solo and unassisted, everything I need has to come with me. Most of it fits into four waterproof dry-bags (3 × 60L, 1 × 30L). I have designed a custom, one-of-a-kind bag, hand-sewn in Subic Bay, that sits on top of the trampoline and is strapped around the aluminum frame. It holds the four dry-bags. The custom bag is made of heavy-duty trampoline material — strong and porous, so it can air out and not get too funky inside. I also had smaller hand-sewn bags made to hold an anchor, the righting line and bag, and additional water bottles. The three 60L dry-bags hold everything I need onshore: tent equipment, clothes, toiletries, first-aid kit, food for 2–3 days, tools, spare parts, electronics. The 30L dry-bag is everything I need at sea: tools, a few spare parts, snacks, first-aid, spare batteries — so I can get to what I need without opening the big bags. Another place I carry gear is in a vest I wear over my harness/lifejacket. In the vest pockets are all the communication essentials in case I get separated from the boat: Garmin 86i, VHF radio, my two phones, whistle, waterproof light, signaling mirror, knife. (My harness clips into the mainsail rope, so if I go overboard I'm still attached to the boat — but if I do get separated, I want the rescuers looking for me, not the boat.)

Question 14

How much water are you bringing? What about food?

Accepted Answer

I carry 8L of water — four 1L bottles in pockets on the top of the custom bag, easily accessible while sailing, plus 4L stowed away for emergencies or longer stays onshore with no water source. I have granola and peanut butter aboard, and tablets to purify water. I have carefully gone over satellite maps of the entire route. Nearly every day I can come ashore on a beach with a town or small community. A few years ago I rode a scooter 30,000 km / 20,000 mi around the Philippines for nearly three months. What I discovered is that if there is a community of more than a few families, chances are there is a 'sari sari' store selling snacks, and larger communities have a carinderia (local food stall) selling cooked food. I'll support these local businesses for my dinners and breakfasts. They often sell purified water too. I don't really eat lunch while I'm sailing.

Question 15

Where do you sleep at night?

Accepted Answer

I come ashore every afternoon before sunset. I have a tent and sleeping pad, so I'm prepared to camp on the beach. In a pinch, I can sleep on the trampoline of the boat. If there's a little hotel or an offer of a homestay, that's nice too.

Question 16

Do you have any 'luxuries' on the boat?

Accepted Answer

There is not much space for luxuries — most of the boat is taken up with essential gear. Plus the Hobie 16, even in moderate winds, commands your attention at all times, or things can go sideways very quickly. The only two non-essentials I brought are a simple legless camping chair and an umbrella. The chair gives me some back support — when sailing conditions are calm, it's like a throne. The umbrella isn't for rain; it's for shelter from the sun when the wind stops and I'm floating under the blazing midday tropical sun. One of the wonderful benefits of getting out of our comfort zones is that we develop a heightened appreciation of the little things in life. This adventure affords me these in abundance.

Question 17

Are you bringing any music with you?

Accepted Answer

I love music — it's the soundtrack of our lives. But while I'm sailing I'm not really interested in listening to it. I don't have any speakers on the boat. For 6–8 hours a day I'm simply enjoying being in the moment, taking in the natural sounds, the peace, the awe of being out at sea surrounded by Mother Nature. It's like a meditation. On shore I might listen to a little music before falling asleep or waking up, but mostly I'm more interested in exploring and being with the locals. After a long day of sailing, securing the boat, sorting out a meal and a place to sleep, there isn't much time for music or movies. In the provinces, things wind down fairly early. I'll happily drift off to sleep with another epic day only a few hours away.

Question 18

What's the point? Why are you doing this?

Accepted Answer

The starting point is that I love sailing. I'm sailing in the Philippines because it is a beautiful country to sail and explore, with wonderful, friendly people to meet. Beyond the joy of it, there are two advocacies I am excited to be working on: supporting Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines and their nationwide research, conservation, and protection of marine megafauna — whales, dolphins, dugongs, sharks, rays, and sea turtles — and raising awareness of the dangers of drowning, encouraging more Filipinos to learn how to be safer around water and how to swim. Unfortunately, 3,000–4,000 Filipinos die from drowning every year (Philippine Statistics Authority). The WHO says drowning is a top-five leading cause of death for children 1–14 worldwide. In the Philippines, drowning rates rise during the hot Summer months (March, April, May), often spiking during Holy Week — which is why March is both Fire Prevention Month and Drowning Prevention Month here. Whatever attention this voyage receives, I hope to direct toward water safety. We have translated water-safety information into Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon — free for anyone to share. We are also compiling a list of swimming lessons across the Philippines, both private and free/low-cost programs from local governments, NGOs, charities, and volunteers.

Question 19

What happens if you don't succeed?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how we look at success. Many adventures are not just about the end goal — the journey itself provides the smaller goals, challenges, and successes that are often far more meaningful and memorable. I think this is why most people embark on journeys, whether they know it before they start or discover it along the way. I will set off from Pagudpud and head south toward General Santos City. I will do everything I can to make it all the way. But my successes will be counted day by day.

Question 20

How can people follow the journey?

Accepted Answer

Thank you for your interest in being part of this adventure! Visit philippinehobiesailingadventure.com and join us on social media for updates, photos, and videos. Links to our social media are at the bottom of the website.

Question 21

Can organizations, sponsors, or individuals still get involved?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our project welcomes logistical support, advocacy amplification, media engagement, and we are open to other ways people would like to share in this adventure. Learn more on our website or contact us directly at philippinehobieadventure@gmail.com.

Everything you might want to know.