50 swimmers set for “Sarangani Bay Invasion 2012”

By JUN RAMOS GUMASA, Sarangani (April 29, 2012) – Ten teams will vie for the top honors and cash prizes during the “Sarangani Bay Invasion 2012” otherwise known through the years as Swim-Across-the-Bay, the opening salvo of the May 18-19 Sarangani Bay Festival (SarBay Fest). For the 15-kilometer swim across Sarangani Bay, there shall be a mass start at 5am from Kamanga Beach, Maasim to Reycon Beach in Tango, Glan on May 18. “Sarangani Bay Invasion 2012” is open to all swimmers (amateur and professionals) with minimum age of 14. A group of five swimmers comprises a team. The registration fee of P2,000 per team covers boat rental and gasoline. Deadline for registration is on May 4, 5pm, at the office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office at the Capitol in Alabel (look for Nemrad Butil (083) 5082267, 09163232397 or 09306534953). The first three teams to reach the finish line at Reycon Beach in Tango, Glan shall be declared winners with the 1st prize of P50,000, 2nd prize – P35,000, and 3rd prize – 25,000, all with medals and trophies. All finishers shall be awarded with the medal of “Invaders” and consolation cash prize of P6,000 each team. “Ten teams are sure to compete for the 15-kilometer swim,” said organizer Nemrad Butil. Butil disclosed the Gensan Torpedoes are deploying three teams, Koronadal City has two teams, while some teams are composed of local swimmers from Tinoto and Kamanga, Maasim. “University varsity swimmers from Manila and Davao are also joining the teams of Koronadal and Gensan,” Butil said. “This year a team from a Manila triathlon club might join.” Butil said the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, Philippine National Police–Maritime, Red Cross, and teams from provincial and municipal government offices shall assist as perimeter boat marshals. During its debut on May 18, 2006, only three teams out of six finished the swim across Sarangani Bay. The Dadiangas Torpedoes team of General Santos City (official time – 04:05:18 hours) won by just two minutes over MJ Powerpines of Maasim (04:07:12 hours). The Maasim Swimming Team clocked in with 4:57:26 for 3rd place. “This is the longest open ocean marathon swimming competition in the country and probably in Asia,” said then swim manager Giuseppe Chew. That time, a team was composed of 10 relay swimmers. “I really enjoyed it,” said swimming athlete Ergel Arcinas. “It was hard on our part since the water was salty and the bay has a strong current. We are used to swimming in the pool.” The swimmers were guided by Course Marker Boats fitted with Global Positioning System receivers to get the exact position of the shortest line from start to finish. Each team started with a lead swimmer closely followed by an escort boat where other team members wait for their turn. When a swimmer gets tired, another dives, making a tag for the exchange to be official and in order to continue to race. The Dadiangas Torpedoes received P30,000 as champion in 2006. MJ Powerpines won P7,500 while third-placer Maasim Swim Team bagged P5,000. The 2006 swim dubbed Across-the-Bay Open Ocean Swimming Competition highlighted the 1st Sarangani Bay Festival opening day. The festival was initiated by the provincial government to showcase the richness and beauty of one of the largest bays in the country. Swimmers per team in 2007 were reduced to five instead of 10. In SarBay Fest 2008, the Sta. Cruz Seafoods Inc. team of Davao City bested seven other teams to rule the swim in 3:17:05 hours. The South Cotabato team ranked second place with 3:20:14 hours. But 2007’s record by Dadiangas Torpedoes of 2:50:15.23 hours remains unbroken. Dadiangas Torpedoes did not field a team in 2008. This year, each swimmer should observe the 2-minute swim before the relay exchange takes place, unlike in other years where swimmers can relieve anytime. The Torpedoes again won the 2009 race. In 2010, the Dadiangas Torpedoes repeated as champion in 3:16:47 hours. Last year, the Koronadal City Sea Lions won with 3:41:42 hours. Seven teams competed. The second prize was bagged by Philippine Army’s 73rd IB’s Tinoto Pirates (3:53:28) and Gensan Torpedos in third place (4:05:19). For more news and updates, please visit the Province of Sarangani . Come and enjoy Sarangani Bay Festival on May 18-19, 2012. (Jun Ramos/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)