(Admin) PAOAY BOAT CLUB: ILOCOS NORTES FRONT-LINER FOR INTL ROWING EVENTS Gaining nation-wide attention for its potential to host rowing events, Paoay Lake is getting its own boat club which will be inaugurated this February 1, Saturday. The upcoming official opening of the Paoay Boat Club will be witnessed by various international boat clubs and rowing authorities in the country: the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the Manila Boat Club, representatives from the Philippine Rowing Association, the Ateneo Rowing Team and other delegates from Singapore and Australia. These delegates are also competing for the first Paoay Invitational Regatta which shall feature the first official races to be participated in by the rowers of Paoay Boat Club. The regatta will be held starting February 1 to 2. According to Benjamin Ramos, the president of the Philippine Rowing Association, Paoay Lake is now one of the three rowing sites in the country. First is the La Mesa Dam though the issue of it being a water reservoir deemed it restricted for trainings; the other one is the Pasig River, the home venue for the centuries-old Manila Boat Club though some rowers would complain of pollution and passing barges. On the other hand, Mike Diaz of the Manila Boat Club said that Paoay Lake is very ideal for rowing events because it is “close to the airport, very wide and meets international standard”. Diaz, who is also a co-founder to the Paoay Boat Club, said that an estimated 20 world-class rowing boats were now purchased by the new boat club. These boats along with others to be lent by the Manila Boat Club will be used for the invitational regatta. The official quarters for Paoay Boat Club are located near Nagbacalan Elementary School at the town of Paoay. Spanning 387 hectares of clear and calm waters located a few kilometers south of Laoag City, Paoay Lake is a host to diverse biodiversity and some migratory birds including the Great Cormorants. Its mystic legend and scenic view qualified it to be one of the frontline tourist attractions in Ilocos Norte’s provincial tourism campaign, Paoay Kumakaway! In January 2013, it was inaugurated as a new-found venue for rowers when it was chosen as the venue for the 71st AREA-FEARA International Regatta aptly labeled as the 1st International Paoay Regatta. Around 15 boat clubs from different countries participated. This first major regatta inspired a number of Ilocano sports enthusiasts which include college students to take interest on the elite water sports. These formerly spectators and practicing participants now make up the Paoay Boat Club.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:52:40 +0000
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