I WAS invited by my good friend Michelle Gasataya try out her newly acquired yacht named “Metana” docking at Tambobo Bay in Siaton, Negros Oriental, an invitation I could not miss for the world.
You see I am a water person, yet since I moved here in Bacolod early 2019, I am yet to experience a good beach to unwind to on my off days. Michelle’s invitation was therefore something I could not afford to miss especially that it involves sailing in the open sea.
Sure enough my weekend was one for the books as we met and mingled with yachters mostly expats avoiding the cold winter in the northern hemisphere at this time of the year. We exchanged funny stories over good food served at AB café run by a Filipino couple who also provide yachting services for sailboats docking at the said bay.
On my second day we sailed towards the open sea allowing the winds to carry us out to a respectable distance as we enjoyed the swaying and maneuvering of the yacht. It was a taster experience for beginners like me. I would definitely go back to try it again.
My weekend getaway also got me the chance to catch up with my barkada Michelle and her son Casey. I met Michelle and her British husband Jake at a sports bar in Lacson sixth early last year. I was quite new in town then and was enjoying my beer alone at the bar when they invited me to join them in their table and introduced me to their circle of friends.
Since then we clicked as very good friends and we gathered almost on a nightly basis as we shared how our day went. They became my support group as I navigated my way in this new city.
Just before Christmas, we all got busy with our respective works that we almost lost contact with everyone in the group. The next thing I knew, Jake and Michelle bought a new yacht and are prepping their whole family for more adventures.
Yachting
When asked whether having a yacht and picking Metana from among all possible boats were all planned, Michelle shared that it was a long process of choosing just the right boat that has the qualities they were looking for.
Preparation was even more than just buying the boat. Even while Jake was already a seasoned sailor, he and Michelle went to a sailing school in Pattaya, Thailand a few years back just so she can appreciate sailing as a lifestyle. It was also then that she could already understand terminologies and relate to Jake’s passion.
Metana: The other woman
Michelle would jokingly call their yacht as the “other woman.” She said since Jake bought it, the whole family noticed he’s happier, calmer and more relaxed.
She also shared that Metana has brought their whole family closer to each other as sailing has become a family affair. They even spent their Christmas last month at the boat, an intimate family experience far away from home.
Tambobo Bay community
Owning the yacht also brought them to a sailing community in Tambobo. They have been exposed to sailors in Thailand while they were living there and so it was not difficult for them to make friends and establish camaraderie with the yachters in Tambobo. In fact, they have made initial plans of reviving regatta there; a yacht racing event come 2021.
When asked about her impression of the yachting world, Michelle said she is loving how simple such lifestyle is.
“When the sun sets, you make sure that your boat is lighted. Early in the morning, you shoo the birds away, and you wake up with a very serene surrounding. The space is small and you make use of it. You know where things are. Life in the boat is very simple,” she said.
On a personal note, thank you Michelle and Jake. I am looking forward to crossing seas with your family sometime soon.