School-based participants, with female crews, are expected to join the main sailing competition of the annual Paraw Regatta Festival next year, following a successful training workshop by the event organizer.

“This is our grassroots training for sustainability. I am pretty much sure that the junior’s category will be pursued next year to start our grassroots development,” Paraw Regatta sailing events chair Roberto Somosa said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

Somosa led the paraw sailing workshop for secondary students on Feb. 23-25 at the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University in the Arevalo district, one of the activities for the 2026 Paraw Regatta Festival.

“As of now, I am looking forward to three or four-girl teams that will be formed and compete next year, and 10 to 12 teams to compete in the boys junior category,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said that the sailing competition last Sunday was successful, with no capsizing incidents, and all participants were able to go back to the finish area.

He said it’s also the first time in competition history that almost all the participants were back to the finish area in front of Tatoy’s Manokand Seafoods in Arevalo district by 10 a.m., unlike before when the competition reached almost 2 p.m.

All spectators at the shoreline from the Arevalo district towards the town of Oton and going back to the Iloilo Fish Port were also able to witness the race.

The Paraw Regatta Festival is considered the oldest in Asia and the largest sailing event in the Philippines. (PNA)