2 SAILBOATS RETRACE GALLEON
ROUTE
Acapulco, Mexico, Jan. 27, 1998 -
Two sailboats, the Karakoa and the Nalu IV, are now sailing across the
Pacific Ocean in an epic 8,000-mile voyage to retrace the historic Acapulco-Manila
Galleon route. The sailboats, travelling only on sails, will take at least
two and a half months to reach the Philippines.
The Pacific crossing recalls the important role played by the Galleons in shaping the Philippine nation. For 250 years, the galleons brought the arts, sciences, religion, political thoughts and culture of the Western World to the Philippines.
The galleons, built in Sangley, Cavite, could carry up to 1,800 tons of cargo and were the largest trading ships of the 16th and 17th century. They brought silk, spices and cotton from Asia to the Americas and Europe. On their return trip they brought silver, new plant and animal species, art, books from Europe and America through Mexico.
The sailboat Karaoka is the entry of the Manila Yacht Club, and is named after the swift indigenous boats of early Filipinos. It is a 53-footer fiberglass racing boat with a crew of six and skippered by Ray Ordoveza.
The Nalu IV is a 48-footer wooden cruising sailboat owned by the husband-and-wife team of Jim and Diana Jessie. The Nalu carries a crew of six, and has circumnavigated the world once.
The Acapulco-to-Manila Galleon commemorative crossing is a joint undertaking of the National Centennial Commission, the Manila yacht Club and the Club Yates de Acapulco.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 1998
All rights reserved