5 Yachting Personalities in Asia-Pacific (Philippines)

The island life in the Philippines, in places such as the well-visited Boracay, the idyllic coastline of Cebu, and the fine beaches on the island of Palawan are a perfect choice for island-hopping yacht charters.

With the initiatives from the yachting dealers, national organisations and privately-held associations, they continuously help to develop the boating scene in the Philippines through expansion plans and campaigning yachts around the Southeast Asian circuit, all the while creating new interests and understanding the marine environment and improving the state of our oceans, are a foster of deep respects for the sea.

In this edition, we shine the spotlight on five outstanding yachting personalities in Yacht Style’s “Who’s Who of Yachting in Asia,” who have gone on a quest to make a difference in the yachting scene and around the region.

With a big number of entries every year, the Top 100 “Power List” salutes the people who have helped to give the industry a “personal face,” is a testament of how the yachting industry is still vibrant and dynamic, and continuously reinventing itself to meet future challenges.

Here, Yacht Style features 5 outstanding yachting personalities in the Philippines:

CACHERA Thomas (PHILIPPINES) 
Having lived near Marseille-La Ciotat, Cachera has been very well versed in refit shipyards and luxury yachting. He moved to the Philippines in 2013 for a feasibility study and became well acquainted with Robin Wyatt until he was declared lost at sea in October 2015. Cachera took over as Managing Director and saved Europa Yachts Philippines set up by Wyatt, representing Beneteau, Lagoon and Azimut Yachts in this emerging market. The company has grown rapidly and was ranked fifth largest distributor worldwide for Lagoon catamarans in 2017, delivering in particular the world’s first Lagoon Seventy7 in mid-2017.

ECHAUZ Ernesto (PHILIPPINES)
“Judes” and his yacht Subic Centennial are regulars on the Asian sailing circuit and they won the Rolex China Sea Race in 2008. Echauz actively supports young Filipino keelboat sailors wishing to participate in regional regattas and develop their sailing skills. Together with this crew, he won the San Fernando Race 2017 and hopes he will inspire others.

ORDOVEZA Ray (PHILIPPINES)
Ordoveza was a past Commodore of the Manila Yacht Club and is one of Asia’s best known big boat skippers on both the Asian and international sailing circuits. This veteran yachtsman won the IRC Racing Class in the Subic to Boracay Race 2013 on his Excel 53 Karakoa, which arrived close to second in the first Philippine Sailing Championship 2016 / 2017.

ROLLIN Jerry (PHILIPPINES)
As International Race Officer (IRO), Rollin has officiated at many Asian racing events including the Raja Muda, the Boracay Cup, the Commodore’s Cup (Philippines), Hong Kong Hobie Championships and many more. He was the driving force behind the first President’s Cup, and helps organise the Philippines Hobie Challenge, one of the most interesting multihull regattas in Asia.

SORIANO Andy (PHILIPPINES)
Soriano is an accomplished and talented owner-driver, and the past winner of Mini Maxi World Championship in 2014 with his Mills-designed 72-footer Alegre. His offshore and inshore wins go back to 2008 when he first campaigned the original Alegre, a 68-footer. Soriano joined the 52 Super Series in 2015 and continues to race in this competitive fleet.