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Stunningly colorful vintas race during Regatta de Zamboanga

Stunningly colorful sails of vintas during the Regatta de Zamboanga
Stunningly colorful sails of vintas during the Regatta de Zamboanga

The people lining the boulevard cheered as vinta number 01 raced to the finish leaving behind rivals during the Regatta de Zambaonga in Zamboanga City, winning their category. As the other racers arrived at the finish line, the announcer at the makeshift stage called on the next division to prepare.

The colorful vinta, long been a staple of Zamboanga City’s sea has been its identifying icon, well, other than the Fort Pilar Shrine. But unfortunately, if one goes to the city on an ordinary day, he will be hard pressed to find those beautiful small sailboats prettying the rather drab coastline. Unless of course, he heads to the Paseo del Mar grounds where faux vintas are there for the tourists.

But the only and best time to see these colorful vintas, and lots and lots of them is during the Regatta de Zamboanga, one of the highlights of the Hermosa Festival celebrated every October. And, my god, for a travel photographer like me, it was photography heaven as lines and lines of colorful sails and people are there for you to take photos of.

But more than the photographic possibilities, its a fun time to enjoy these vintas race by paddling, no motorized boats allowed, around a designated route near the coastline. Seeing these colorful sailboats massing at the beach and racing at the water is just so stunning! Enough reason to visit this beautiful city during Hermosa Festival!

Racers chat while waiting for their turn to race
Racers chat while waiting for their turn to race
One of the vinta paddlers awaiting his turn
One of the vinta paddlers awaiting his turn
As their category/division is called, vinta racers head to the shore
As their category/division is called, vinta racers head to the shore
Racers readying for their category
Racers readying for their category
Life jackets have been a recent addition for paddlers's safety
Life jackets have been a recent addition for paddlers’s safety
In the heat of the moment, vinta racers paddle a designated route
In the heat of the moment, vinta racers paddle a designated route
A lad happily posing for the camera
A lad happily posing for the camera
Audience and cheerers line the boulevard strip
Audience and cheerers line the boulevard strip

My thanx to Department of Tourism Region IX for inviting me during the Hermosa Festival. It was a really memorable visit with lots of things to discover in the Philippines’s Latin City.

Regatta de Zamboanga
Hermosa Festival, every October
Zamboanga City

3 thoughts on “Stunningly colorful vintas race during Regatta de Zamboanga”

  1. MJune

    Thanks for this article, Estan. Hasta la vista..

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