Category Archives: News

2017 TSPS Change of Watch (CoW) Date Set

02/21/2017News, EventsWarren Fraser

The 2017 Change of Watch, or CoW, is an annual TSPS event in which the Bridge reports to membership on the squadron’s financial status, education plans, membership activities, and events planned for 2017. Those present will then cast a vote for an incoming Bridge for 2017. Attending this event is a great opportunity to get up to speed on the squadron’s 2017 objectives, participate in the selection of Bridge officers, meet other members of our organization, and of course indulge in a wonderful buffet dinner and open bar. We will also be holding a raffle at the end of the evening.

Hope to see you there!

Agenda:

Doors: 6:30PM
2016-2017 Presentation: 6:45PM
Buffet Dinner: 7:30PM
New Bridge: 8:15PM
Wrap-up and End: 9:00PM

Date: Thursday, April 27, 2017

Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Place: Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Japan (FCCJ)

Deadline for Signing Up: Sunday, April 23 (before midnight)

Fees:

Members and Partners– ¥6,000
Guests/Non-members– ¥7,000

Please note: TSPS will be charged for the seats reserved for the evening. Therefore, we will request no-shows and those cancelling after April 23 to pay the event fee in full.

Sign up here:

2017 TSPS CoW Signup Page

FCCJ

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan
Yurakucho Denki North Building 20F
Yurakucho 1-7-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0006
Tel: +81-3-3211-3161; Fax: +81-3-3211-3168

Email: front@fccj.or.jp

Getting there:

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan is located on the 20th Floor of the Yurakucho Denki North Building in the heart of Tokyo.
• Hibiya Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya, Chiyoda, Mita and Yurakucho lines – exits A3 & A2)
• JR Yurakucho Station (Yamanote and Keihin Tohoku lines) Ginza, Uchisaiwai-cho, Tokyo are all within walking distance.

(The A3 exit at Hibiya station comes up in the basement of the FCCJ building. Head toward the elevator bank for the North Building (Kita-kan) and take the elevator.

Again, looking forward to seeing you there.

Fair winds,
David Sutton-Kirkby
Commander, TSPS

TSPS’ First ‘Boating In Japan’ Seminar- Report

02/17/2017News, Education ActivitiesWarren Fraser

TSPS held its first-ever open seminar at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Japan on February 16. The theme was Boating in Japan, and featured eleven different speakers talking on ten topics related to getting out on the water in Japan. Topics ranged from government regulations and licensing to dinghy sailing to how to acquire a vessel and where to dock it. The slides from the presentation can be found here.

After Commander Sutton-Kirkby kicked of the evening with a warm welcome to the 34 people in attendance, Jeff Canaday gave an informative presentation on regulatory requirements and the pros and cons of both power boats and sailboats. This was followed by Chris Pitts talking about group ownership, perhaps the most affordable (and popular) way of having a stake in a boat. Per Knudsen looked briefly at buying a boat in Japan before Mike Snyder took the mic and addressed the methods and what turned out to be considerable costs involved in importing a boat into Japan. Later, when Mike asked the participants whether anyone was planning to import a boat into Japan, one quick reply was, “Not anymore.”

Mike then passed the mic to the team of Hiina Goi and Yukina Ota from Yamaha Marina Club Sea-Style. Together, they provided information about their company’s offerings, including boat rentals, nation-wide services, and costs of membership and rental fees. TSPS Bridge member Bill Van Alstine then talked about his experiences using Sea-Style services. On the whole, he said their services are reasonably priced and that one great benefit of renting is being able to walk away from the dock free of the many concerns of boat ownership.

Jeff Canaday retook the mic and talked about boating education and that while getting a Japanese license is step one, the key to safe boating is in knowing how to deal with challenges of being on the water outside the marina seawall. He spoke about the USPS being at its core a boating education organization and then reiterated that the TSPS mission is to provide courses that educate people on safely navigating the waters in and around Tokyo. Jeff then passed the mic to Mark Smith, an RYA-certified instructor and dinghy sailing advocate. Mark provided information on how people in the Tokyo area can get involved in dinghy sailing. Commander Sutton-Kirkby, after thanking the speakers, then announced it was time for refreshments and that the buffet was open.

After the buffet platters were emptied and thirsts quenched, the commander reconvened for a Q and A session with a panel of presenters taking questions from the participants.

On the whole, it was a good first effort at an open seminar and TSPS thanks everyone that attended and those who presented. There will in all likelihood be more of these seminars planned over the next few years. Try to attend.

… Slides from the seminar.

‘Boating In Japan’ Seminar Set for Feb. 16

01/13/2017News, Education ActivitiesWarren Fraser

TSPS Boating In Japan Seminar

Getting out on the water in Japan can be an ominous task given stringent government regulations, licensing requirements, and the cost of ownership, among other discouraging factors.

TSPS is holding an open seminar which seeks to cut through these difficulties and inform participants of the breadth of options available for perspective boaters.

Seminar Topics:

1. Regulatory requirements

Skipper licensing, offshore/nearshore certification, boat maintenance, outboard engines

2. Power or sailboat?

What are the benefits and issues of each in Japan

3. Buying a vessel in Japan

4. Importing a vessel into Japan

5. Consortium ownership.

Banding together with others to share vessel costs and maintenance

6. Choosing a marina

7. Vessel rentals

Available rental services, and rental requirements. A representative from Yamaha will also present their rental offerings

8. Boating Education Opportunities

Seminar Details:

Date: February 16, 2017

Time: 6:30 – 9:00PM

Place: Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Japan (FCCJ)

Fee: ¥3500 per person. Includes buffet dinner and drinks

The seminar is open to anyone with an interest in getting out on the water.

To register, go to TSPSJapan.org/events/seminar or email bvatokyo@icloud.com

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TSPS ‘Tokyo Tiller’ and Press Clippings Dating Back to the ’60s

08/20/2016NewsWarren Fraser

1965 COW — Bridge members from the 1965 Change of Watch pose for a group photo

TSPS turned sixty this year, and as part of our preparations for the anniversary party held on June 11, we came into possession of a collection of scrapbooks assembled by Past Commander George Purdy and his wife Midori. Commander Purdy arrived in Japan with U.S occupying forces in 1945 and over the following fifty years, he became a pillar of the expat and business community, starting up many organizations like the Boy Scouts and the original Power Squadron in Yokohama, among others.

The articles in the scrapbook are largely in good condition and provide an interesting look back at the early years of the squadron, and come from sources such as The Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo Weekender magazine, and The Japan Times. For a full version of a Tokyo Tiller squadron newsletter from 1984, click on the banner below. Additionally, a slideshow of images from the 1965 Change of Watch (see above) can be viewed from this page.

We hope you enjoy the stories below from the Purdy time capsule as much as we did. More will be added soon.

Shots from 1995 Misaki Spring Rendezvous (Tokyo Tiller, August, 1995)

Fantasy Day on the ‘Indy’ (Tokyo Tiller, August, 1995)

Erie (PA.) Squadron Members Drop in For Lunch (Tokyo Tiller, October, 1991)

Safe Boating Week (Asahi Evening News, June 17, 1963)

Training Cruise (Pacific Stars and Stripes, 1963)

Power Squadron Cites Member (Pacific Stars and Stripes, 1966)

28 TACsters Pass Power Squadron Course (The Tokyo American, February, 1971)

Bob Tufts Named ’76 Power Squadron Commander (Tokyo Weekender, December 1975)

Land Ho! …But the Salty Ones Spurn it for the Sea (Pacific Stars and Stripes, 1960)

Cabin Talk – Sailing in Japan? Ah, So: Arranging a Charter (Unknown, December, 1973)

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TSPS 60th Anniversary Party Held in Velasis (Updated)

08/19/2016News, EventsMike Snyder

Past commanders from the 1980s to the present gather to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron

Over 50 members and their guests celebrated sixty years of service by TSPS to the Tokyo boating community on the evening of June 11, 2016, at Velasis Marina in Uraga, Yokosuka. After some words commemorating the event by members of the Bridge, including past Commander Per Knudsen and current Commander David Sutton-Kirby, a champagne toast was held and a fine meal of ribs, blue cheese pizza, and many other delicious dishes was provided by Velasis.

Special guests were also in attendance.

From Hayama Yacht Club there were several representatives, including Vice Commodore Tamaotu Aritomo, Councillor Koichiro Tanaka, and Director Masayuki Maruo.

Past Commander Tony Whitman, newly ensconced in San Diego, also flew in to participate. Also there was past Commander Hunter Brumfiel and wife Eiko, so long a mainstay of the organisation.

Music was provided by the Mototeru Band, which eventually resulted in people dancing “as if no one were watching.” And it was quite a sight to see.

Bridge officer Warren Fraser memorialised the event by taking photographs on real old-school film of various combinations of the participants, which will be available at cost in the future.

All in all, it was a rollicking good time and a fitting celebration of 60 years in Japan on the part of the Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron.

Photos in the slide below courtesy of Treasurer Ernie Olsen and Warren Fraser.

Sailboat Renovation in Tokyo Bay

03/22/2016NewsMike Snyder

Evan Burkosky lives in Tokyo and is currently working on a Sparkman & Stephens 30 sailboat. He has been writing a blog detailing the alternately frustrating and fascinating process of restoring a well used old sailboat. Go here to absorb yourself in the gritty details. Caution: his enthusiasm for the project might infect you!

New Bridge Officers for 2016 Sworn in At Change of Watch

03/10/2016News, EventsMike Snyder

On March 9, 2016, the Change of Watch was held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan. Llad Phillips, Past Commander of the Santa Barbara California Squadron of USPS District 13, presided over the swearing in of the new commander, David Sutton-Kirby, who is taking over from Eugen Mall, the commander for the last two years. Subsequently, the new officers of the bridge were also sworn in.

The new bridge is as follows:

Commander: David Sutton-Kirby

Executive Officer:  David Edwards  P
Secretary: William Van Alstine
Education Officer: Jeff Canaday  AP
Administrative Officer: Wolfgang Bierer
Treasurer: Ernfred Olsen  S

Ex-Com officers
Membership Chairman: John Marshall AP
Cruising Coordinator: Anne Bille AP
Communications: Mike Snyder AP
Public Relations: Jiro Fujiwara
Member-At-Large: Warren Fraser
Member-at-Large: Per Knudsen, AP

After the swearing in, food and drink were enjoyed by all, as was the annual raffle of prizes.

We all look forward to a full year of educational and entertaining boating experiences.

P/C Phillips gave a few words of encouragement from USPS to the assembled TSPS members and guests.

P/C Eugen Mall now has a new hat to add to his prodigious collection of hats: the (in)famous Tom Cod hat, traditionally presented to the outgoing commander.

Bonenkai December 3

10/20/2015News, EventsMike Snyder

The annual Bonenkai “End of the Year Party” will be held on December 3 at the same venue as last year, Churo’s D. See the old year out in a friendly boat-oriented atmosphere. There will be entertainment, too. See events for details and to reserve your space.

Aoki-san’s Ashes Scattered At Sea

10/10/2015NewsMike Snyder

On October 4th under clear blue sky and sunshine, with family and friends, TSPS Member Yoshikazu Aoki ( Yoshi ) returned to the place he loved best for the last time. Yoshi passed away at sea last November. On August 26th he had returned to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia and on the 4th of October he returned to the Pacific Ocean near Saru-Jima.

As expected there were mixed feelings shared by all in attendance, but it was ultimately a shared experience of fond memories and and a collective feeling of thanks for the time that Yoshi shared with all. Anyone who had met and spent time with Yoshi was present, if not in body, than certainly in spirit. Gone in a sense,but absolutely never to be forgotten. Fair winds forever good friend.

P/C Stuart Milne Undertakes Maiden Voyage in New Oyster

07/18/2015NewsMike Snyder

TSPS Past Commander Stuart Milne has recently had an Oyster 54 built in the UK named Fujin II. He is sailing her on her maiden voyage bound for Gibraltar, Mallorca and Valencia. You can follow the trip on Stuart’s on-line log here. Bon voyage and fair winds to him and his crew!