With Eric Due and Jeff Canaday as crew, Distant Dreamer (a Columbia 43) cruised in the western Setonaikai. We covered about 135 nm over 6 days. We didn’t to get to Shimo-Kamigari Island as per the sail plan due to rain and light winds, but went to Nakajima Island and then Matsuyama from Nuwa-jima. I had wanted to go to Shimo-Kamigari because there was supposed to be some remains of a pirate (sea warrior) stronghold there. The trip then was Marinpia Musashi Marina – Kaminoseki to Nuwa-jima to Nakajima to Horie Matsuyama back to Kaminoseki to Marinpia Musashi Marina. (see map)
The first day we left in the rain which let up as we approached Kaminoseki but had to mostly motor. The second day we went to the north shore of Yashiro Island, passing under the Ōshima Bridge between the Yamaguchi ken mainland and Yashiro Island, south of Hiroshima and Iwakuni. The day was clear and beautiful, but alas no wind. One highlight was passing through the area where the Japanese warship Mutsu blew up and sank in an accident killing all on board during the war. The wreck is still there but way under the water, so not visible, though marked on charts and even Google Maps. We had two short sails from Nuwa Island to Nakajima and then over to the uminoeki at Horie Matsuyama, where we had a reservation. On both days there was pretty good wind and pleasant sailing, though overcast. It was the first time for DD to stop at Nakajima, which proved to be a very nice friendly island. We enjoyed good food and drink at both Nakajima and Horie Matsuyama. The longest day of sustained sailing was on Day 5, a broad reach from Matsuyama back to Kaminoseki along the southern coast of Yashiro Island in blustery northeast winds and rain. The last day back to Marinpia was again a low wind and motoring. The Setonaikai is an interesting area to sail in, but winds are often light and there are strong currents at times in the major straits and between islands due to the tide going in and out.
All in all, it was a very good cruise, though with the often problematic Golden Week weather!
Due to difficult sailing conditions, we decided to delay departure and shorten the voyage. Our four day journey from Yumenoshima to Ito became an overnighter to Misaki.
We set sail early hoping north winds would push us far enough south that we could reach Misaki before dark.
We reached the Aqua Line under clear skies, fair winds and calm seas while Mount Fuji kept watch over us, peeking-out from over the clouds.
We even had time to relax and take turns catching a few winks.
Suddenly and much earlier than forecast, the wind changed direction and we were confronted by a strong southerly wind. Complicating this was a damaged traveler that literally broke apart spilling bearings out into the track.
I thus made the call not to motor the rest of the way to Misaki, turned-around and headed back to home port.
Safety first, as always!
With the wind now at our back, we finally had the chance to deploy the gennaker and flew home at a brisk pace passing Tokyo Disney Resort.
Back on dry land, we imagined we did the full journey and were camped out in the forested hills of Ito!
The next day, we did not sail but did lavish some necessary repair & maintenance on my beloved 26’ Figaro.
To our great fortune, there was a Hawaiian festival going strong in the background at Yumenoshima Marina, which made for a satisfying and exciting day!
All-in-all the Captain and crew of Figaro had a wonderful fun-filled Golden Week!
——————–
I am the newly minted Captain of the good ship Figaro, a 26 foot NJY Libeccio moored at Yumenoshima Marina. I sailed Lasers in the UBC Sailing Club and after many years of absence from the sport, re-ignited my passion for sailing recently. After a career inside the Tokyo Disney Resort I now see DisneySea from the sea.
Here are some highlights of Anais trip around the Tokyo Bay this Golden Week:
We had a crew of 5 people (Captain Claude, Ogi, Remi, Nikolai and me) for a 2 day cruise from Yumenoshima Marina to Misaki and racing back to Yokohama.
The weather was nice but not much wind on the first day, so we had to motor almost all the way. On the race day, at the start there was no wind at all, so most of the racing boats couldn’t even cross the start line for a long time. Wind picked up a little later though, and we had a smooth sail. We were enjoying the sunshine, playing guitar and enjoying nice Nicaragua cigars.
We were going on a spinnaker fairly quickly. But then we decided to try to jibe with the spinnaker up and that ended up in a disaster. The spinnaker wrapped around the forestay as the wind picked up, we lost control of the sail and had to drop the mainsail and motor to the nearby marina. Luckily we were accompanied by Darren on Halcyon, and he had a harness on board. So we had Remi go up the mast and the forestay and bring the spinnaker back down.
We finished the race as DNF, but when we arrived to Yokohama, we found out that all of the race participants in the cruiser boat class were DNF, except one, who got the winners trophy.
Day 3 and 4 was just Claude, Maksim and Ogi, we went across the bay to Hota along with Halcyon, spent the night in Hota drinking British rum, Russian cognac and Romanian wine and had 2 remaining Puerto Rican cigars.
Anais crew decided to go back to Yumenoshima on day 4 due to weather forecast warning of strong winds and possible storm, Halcyon spent another day in Hota and later went to explore Izu islands.
Here are some pictures we took during the trip. It was a great adventure, made a lot of good memories during this Golden Week.
I’ve been sailing Eothen for two years now. She is a beautiful 24′ Cornish Crabber, a rare boat for these waters. I am a little embarrassed to admit that so far I’ve only done day sailing out of Yokohama Bayside Marina, and the furthest trip I did was a day-tip to Velasis Marina in Uraga. So this year I was determined to go a little further and spend a night somewhere away from YBM during Golden Week. Thanks to TSPS Bridge Secretary Timothy posting the sail-plans & destinations of various TSPS boats on the website, I was compelled to pursue this determination with a trip to Hota to coincide with Golden Week visits by Claude and Darren in their boats. Here is a brief story of those two days on the water:
I wanted to make the most of my visit to Hota so I set off early at 05:30 from YBM on Monday 29 April. There was no wind when I left the marina, but it was a beautiful morning with the rising sun painting the flat sea sparkling gold. I motored until I was nearing Saru-Jima (Monkey Island) off Yokoska, when the wind started to build so I raised all sails and tacked my way down towards Kannnonsaki, taking care not to stray into the traffic separation scheme. The wind continued to strengthen and just when I as nearing Kannnonsaki I was struggling, so I brought in all sail and resumed motoring.
I continued south until I was safely below the start of the traffic separation scheme, when I turned east so as to cut across the shipping traffic as near as possible at a right angle. Lucklily there was not a lot of traffic and I was able to get across without interfering with any ships.
Approaching Hota I was a little bit nervous about finding the entrance to the harbour, avoiding the fishing nets that I had been warned about, and also berthing my boat single-handed in an unfamiliar harbour. I cautiously entered Hota harbour and stood off the berths while I prepared fenders and lines, and deciding which berth to go alongside. Luckily, a boat belonging to a member of the Hota Yacht Club was moored at the end of one of the berths and the owner helped me come alongside, tie up and showed me where to pay the mooring fee. I entered 10:30 as end of passage in my log book. After tidying up, I chatted and soon became friends with my helper, Ishii-san.
Ishii-san told me that although the Banya seafood restaurant was good, the best place to eat was the Sakaemaru restaurant on the other side of the harbour. Based on this advice, I invited Ishii-san to join me for lunch at Sakaemaru and we had a most enjoyable meal and conversation. It turns out that Ishii-san’s son is currently studying navigation in Plymouth, England, which is where I studied when I was as a cadet in the merchant navy. What a small world!
After lunch I went to the supermarket to by some ice for my cool box, relaxed on deck of Eothen in the beautiful surroundings of Hota, and then went for a bath at the Banya bathhouse. Later in the afternoon I made another new acquaintance when Tony Hardie came on the berth to wait for the arrival of Claude and Darren. Tony gave me some tips on nice anchorages to visit near Hota for future visits. I was fascinated to hear about Tony’s business trading and sourcing classic and rare cars. Turns out that Tony is from Coventry in the UK, next to my hometown of Warwick. What a small world!
Claude and Darren arrived in the evening, and we all went for dinner at the Banya restaurant. Another very delicious meal, this time washed down with beers. After dinner we retired back to Claude’s boat Anais for some after-dinner drinks and conversation. I was tired after a long day and was planning to make an early morning start back to YBM, so I retired back to Eothen at around nine. I won’t say my sleep was disturbed, but I do remember looking at my watch around midnight and hearing some lively conversation and laughter still emanating from the direction of Anais.
The weather next morning was rainy and dull, and I motored most of the way back to YBM. I really enjoyed my trip to Hota and look forward to visiting again sometime soon, as well as checking out the places that Tony had recommended.
About the author:
I have always loved the sea, boats and ships, even though I grew up in Warwick, about as far as you can get from the sea in England. As soon as I could, I joined Cunard as a deck officer cadet and gained my Second Mates ticket while sailing on the company’s cargo ships, tankers and the Queen Elizabeth 2. I started sailing dinghies in my teens while at nautical school. Fast forward to coming to live in Japan in 1990, I sailed dinghies and Hobbie Cats off Zushi beach for many years until I bought Eothen, a second-hand Cornish Crabber 24, at the end of 2021 and joined TSPS. Eothen is berthed at Yokohama Bayside Marina. Professionally, I run an exhibition organising company, and it is no secret that of all the exhibitions I do my favourites are Sea Japan and Bari-Ship which serve the maritime industry.
The notice for this month’s Keelhaul went-out late, probably due to the fact that only a week earlier everyone returned from a long Golden Week holiday? With apologies. Also, this Keelhaul fell on the second Wednesday whereas traditionally every first Wednesday is reserved for this seminal TSPS event. Don’t forget: always a Keelhaul, always first Wednesday, every month. Except when it is not.
If you have never been, this is the entrance to Pizzakaya… right across the street from the new onsen on Roppongi-dori, Thermae-Yu.
In any event, this was another vibrant success! Eight people showed-up at the centrally-located Pizzakaya in Nishi-Azabu. To all’s delight, ole’ timer and former Commander Eugen Mall showed-up! Always the dapper-dresser, Commander Eugen regaled the swaying throng of TSPSers with tales from the past. I hadn’t heard until then that the Keelhaul originated at Pizzakaya many years ago, first facilitated by Bridge Governor Jeff Canady and under Eugen’s leadership. Wow, thank you Jeff and Eugen!
Anyway, Keelhaul is one of the legacies we get to enjoy as Members. It is the only regularly-scheduled event of the club. You can always expect some salty dogs to show-up. It was great to see Commander Eugen (who incidentally was the individual who got me introduced to TSPS ~12 years ago!).
You just never know who will show-up: Gerard Brady chowing down after a successful (apparently) streetfight just to get into the Keelhaul!
Well-traveled Gennady Gordeev livening-up the atmosphere! Born and raised on Sakalin island, Gena also attended Georgia Tech in my home-state of Atlanta! What a small whirled!
Hamming it up for the camera, Bridge Secretary Timothy (me) and new Member Gaspard Dessy imbibing on the other essential element of any Keelhaul.
Wishing it was a real gun, Maksim Ziurin jealously guards his bottle of Tabasco… another essential…
Former Commander Eugen explaining the whatever to Gena….
Eugen Mall with a draft draft…
Ole’ blue eyes… easy to see why he was elected Commander. Pizzakaya co-Owner Michael in the background overseeing the mosh-pit.
Dapper Eugen pulling-out a reef of ancient documents on celestial sailing and navigating from a lifeboat. Where in the hell does he GET these things?! He says he has a whole cardboard box of them!
In closing: TSPS Members who provide sailing-related or TSPS-related stories for Skuttlebutt-publication will drink for free at the next Keelhaul. Posters of relevant, engaging Comments receive slaps on backs and “atta-boy!” recognition at the Keelhaul. Please consider submitting a description of your experience for others to enjoy or add a pithy Comment. Submit stories to any Bridge Member for uploading.
By Timothy Langley, April 23, 2024 (as of 0830, 4/23) (check-back for updates!)
Building our community: these 6 yachts are headed out over Golden Week; plenty of opportunity to see each other out on the waves or in ports-of-call.
Provide your sailplan for inclusion.
Captain Darren Halliday.34.5’ Hanse: Halcyon.
Crew: solo, Naomi, Kiwi joining in Niijima
Sat. 27: Yumenoshima —> Misaki
Sun. 28: Misaki —> Yokohama Bayside (race-day)
Mon. 29: Yokohama Bayside
Tues. 30: Yokohama —> Hota
Wed 1: Hota
Thurs 2: Hota —> Ito
Fri. 3: Ito —> Shimoda
Sat. 4: Shimoda —> Niijima
Sun. 5: Niijima
Mon. 6: Niijima —> Yumenoshima
Captain Evan Burkowsky. 33’ Peterson: Garuda.
Crew: Timothy Langley, Freddie Snoxall
Friday 26: Katsuyama —> Hota
Saturday 27: Hota
Sunday 28: Hota —> Mikurajima (~24 hours)
Monday 29: Mikurajima/Miyakejima (5 hours)
Tuesday 30: Miyakejima
Wednesday 1: Miyakejima (foul weather, hunker down in-port)
Thursday 2: Miyakejima —> Kozushima (4 hours)
Friday 3: Kozushima
Saturday 4: Kozushima —> Niijima (6 hours)
Sunday 5: Niijima —> Oshima (7 hours)
Monday 6: Oshima —> Home-port Hota (8 hours)
Sea trials to & from Misaki last Saturday/Sunday (4/20~21) revealed several needed fixes and allowed things to break which would have broken anyway (just when we didn’t need them to!). All addressed now: refrigerator also now working, depth-finder connected, foresail furling-line replaced.
UPDATE: here is the actual sail plan as recorded on our on-board navigation device. On the right is the departure route, all the way out to Mikurajima (~70 nm from the tip of the Chiba peninsula), then hop-scotched back to home port Hota. The entire trip covered 268 nm over 7 days.
Captain Claude Strobbe 33′ Kawamoto-made / New Japan Yacht design ANAIS
Update: Here are a few pics from our cruise in the western Setonaikai. We covered about 135 nm over 6 days. We didn’t to get to Shimo-Kamigari Island as per the sail plan due to rain and light winds, but went to Nakajima Island and then Matsuyama from Nuwa-jima. The trip was: Marinpia Musashi Marina – Kaminoseki to Nuwa-jima to Nakajima to Horie Matsuyama back to Kaminoseki to Marinpia Musashi Marina. Crew consisted of Jeff Canaday and Eric Due. The longest day of sustained sailing was on a broad reach from Matsuyama back to Kaminoseki along the southern coast of Yashiro Island. Sorry, no pics of actual sailing.
135nm over 6 days of sailing!Murotsu Port with Hatonokoyu onsen and restaurant in foreground on the way back to Marinpia.Nifty little transportation cart for sending oranges down the hill from the orchards above. They are all over Nuwa-jima. Japan Defense Forces warship off of Nuwajima. At the floating dock in Nakajima. Nakajima is much larger than Nuwa-jima and we found a nice yakiniku restaurant there.
At the dock in Murotsu Harbor Kaminoseki.
Starting out from Marinpia Musashi Marina in the rain and mist.
On the way to Nakajima from Nuwa-jima.
On the way to Nuwa-jima along the northern coast of Yashiro-jima. Sunny with no wind, so the sail isn’t even up.
Or even if you aren’t quite sure, Captains, or you are spending your time working on maintenance, please just post a Comment to let us all know?
Spell-check, word-selection, syntax, punctuation, extra-barbs aimed at Evan:
By Timothy Langley April 17, 2024
Beware anyone saying, “hey, you want to go sailing this weekend?” I spent Sunday helping a couple guys switch-out some rigging… a great experience but, jeeze, what taskmasters! Anyway, it was a wonderfully different kind of day and, in fact, we did actually get out onto Tokyo Bay for a sail in the end. But I think I paid my way. Here is my story:
Intrepid author, Remi Wysznski
To get to my appointed destination out on the Chiba coast required four separate train-changes interspersed with a highway bus ride. Destination is a backwater called Kyonan, a collection of tiny fishing ports next to a famous Hota Harbor (I had never heard of before!).
It is here where Captain Evan’s vintage 33’ Peterson is berthed; my first time out there. It is indeed a beautiful, rugged, rural area.
Recently renovated deep-blue 33′ Peterson “Garuda”; 45 years old but doesn’t look it!
To arrive at 10 a.m., though, required a grueling three-hour odyssey. Arriving in the sticks of southern Chiba, there wasn’t even a coffee ready to welcome groggy-me but, instead and amazingly, a glitzy old chauffeured Rolls-Royce materialized in the junky parking lot to pick me up! What a surprise, but just the first sign of the zany kind of day I was in for.
Five minutes later, “Oh, hi Remi,” said Captain Evan, already on the quay and eyeing my jogging shoes: it looked like he had been drinking all night. I immediately regretted not getting those discounted Docksiders at the boat show last month. Massive sea hawks circle ominously overhead.
Captain Evan Burkowsky, Captain Tony Hardy, me.
“We are getting ready to launch so your timing is perfect! All we have to do,” Captain Evan said off-handedly as if shooing away a pesky mosquito, “is replace the fore and back stays, including the rollerfurler… and of course in the process make sure the mast doesn’t fall down.” The last part of his sentence made my throat tighten involuntarily. I thought, “okay… this is ‘sailing’… right?!?” Little did I know that, yes, sailing with Captain Evan is sort of like that.
“See… it just goes in here!”
Then, with great authority, Evan jerked me back from this revery: “Hey, pay attention! … all you have to do is just slide this pin into that hole,” pointing at some contraption on the pavement, “easy-peasy.” I turn to look at Tony, suddenly feeling something cold and heavy being surreptitiously slid into my palm. I look down to see I am now clasping a wrench. My mind flashed to a scene of some old jungle-prison movie with Dustin Hoffman.
To get started, we needed to hoist Evan (in a bosun’s chair) so that he could complete the arduous task of detaching the old, and then attaching a brand new, shiny wiring to the top of mast, then re-attach the wiring to the bow of Garuda: 48 feet of 7 mm stainless-steel marine wire, I learned.
With Evan dangling 40 feet up, and once his part of that cakewalk of a job was finished, the truly difficult part of aligning the bottom of the forestay was left to those of us on deck: Timothy and me, with oversight valiantly provided by master-craftsman, Tony, of course relaxing in the shade.
After hours of struggling away in the blistering 22-degree heat with nary a breeze while Evan enjoyed the refreshing zephyrs at the top of the mast and yelling down at us, we were frustrated in completing the task at-hand: it was just very difficult, in tight quarters, with equipment that did not want to cooperate.
Down came Evan, mumbling underbreath like some Scotsman, “if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself.” So, still-hung-over Evan took over the chore, dropped a tool into the water, and had to go in to retrieve it. This was developing into a truly lovely sailing day, I thought quietly to myself. Admittedly, some glee was gained by now seeing Evan in the water. But it was shortlived.
Eventually, through unfortunately undocumented in photos (the search took 20 minutes), the dropped-parts were retrieved and the forestay properly installed: but no ‘victory’ yet.
I forgot to mention that The Captain had earlier announced (with great magnanimity) that beers would be distributed after both forestay and backstay were secured. Now reminding us that the backstay remained, and teasingly mentioning the waiting beers again… well this conjured an image of that scene on the prison-rooftop in “Shawshank Redemption”. I eyed Evan with suspicion. And thirst.
Back up went Evan, Timothy and me laboriously cranking the winch to get him up 40 feet again. This time we were able to, “get the pin in the hole, easy peasy” ever so fearful of enticing the The Dangling Captain to come down again. Finally, with all stays installed and tightened, the two-beer-reward consumed, we pushed off the moorings in elation for a quick sail (also undocumented). While not far enough out to quite challenge the tankers crisscrossing the narrow channel, Evan gave a great lesson on how to set-up and manage a preventer line and how to heave-to. It was great fun and a beautiful day. Finally.
Sailing a very responsive Garuda in open waters confirmed that the mast would not fall on top of me. As we returned to port. I learned that the reason everything looked so ramshackled on shore (from a much better vantage-point on the water) was because a rare tornado-packed typhoon hit dead-on 5 years ago and the hamlet was still recovering. But in any event, after tidying-up the boat and securing the moorings, we headed to the famous bathhouse in the Hota harbor. An event (again, thankfully) undocumented.
At the end of the day Timothy graciously gave me a ride back into civilization in what may have been the most comfortable car with the best sound system I have ever had the pleasure to experience. But he did try to charge me a taxi fare.
Anyway, sailing opportunities are not always evident in Tokyo nor elsewhere in Japan. I mean, for foreigners, things are limited in any event. The point is you have to chase them down. Joining TSPS helped me greatly and allowed me to meet some new, significant people and somehow finagle a day of sailing… okay, a half-day. But it opened doors and vistas I could not envision the day before I made this trek. And re-rigging a sailing yacht: THAT was pretty awesome, too! I learned a lot. Now I have to get some proper deckshoes.
Thank you for reading.
———————————-
TSPS Members who provide sailing-related or TSPS-related stories for Skuttlebutt publication drink for free at the nearest Keelhaul. Posters of relevant, engaging Comments receive slaps on backs and “atta-boy!” recognition at the Keelhaul. Please consider submitting a description of your experience for others to enjoy or add a pithy Comment. Submit stories to any Bridge Member for uploading.
As usual, TSPS’s monthly was held on the first Wednesday of the month (April 3).
And even though the Super Keelhaul was a mere 11 days ago, no Keelhaul-exhaustion from the hail & hearty 15 who showed-up: four Bridge Members (Gary, Svetlana, Brendan, Timothy), one new Member (Toshikiko Tanaka), one guest via Remi Wyszynski of-shallow-water-fame (Tomo), the rest Members. Most stayed until kicked-out.
Our next Keelhaul, and for the foreseeable future this year, monthly Keelhaul will be at Pizzakaya. If we can generate 30 people to show-up regularly, we get Pizzakaya exclusively for TSPS! This will allow us to let our hair down, sing songs, pillory the laggard, hoist-up on petards the smarmy, reward to truly gregarious, and wear funny hats with resplendent swag. Please log Keelhaul into your calendar and let’s establish a home-base!
Comments and songs-of-appreciation welcomed!
Pizza doesn’t tell the whole story here when we gather monthly: ~8 pies were sacrificed to the ghods.Craft-beer connoisseur and Bridge Officer Brendan Morris going on-and-on about the richness and boldness of his selection of a powerful stout… just drink it fer crissakes! Just to stay healthy, Pizzakaya also offers a tremendous avocado salad and, surprisingly, a nice carrot cake! Both were consumed and only a little was flung across the table.Everything goes better with Tabasco… (went deftly into the lawyer’s briefcase later).Derek runs a tight ship at Pizzakaya… welcomed us on short-notice and didn’t call the police like usual. Svetlana getting ready to slap rugby-playing Dominique (again).You can tell that Bridge Officer Brendan already imbibed the 14.5% stout here. The menu is chalked on the wall… we went through the whole list, it seems (but I can’t quite remember). Brennan chugging as usual.Newest Member Toshiyuki Tanaka joining for his first-ever Keelhaul. Welcome, Toshi!Timothy (Bridge Secretary & Legal Officer), Brennan, Svetlana (Bridge Officer) and Dominique.Usually chatty Maya apparently tight-lipped at hearing someone’s off-color remark; must have been potty-mouth Svetlana!Shallow-water-sailor Remi brought a gregarious Tomoo Machiba for a taste of TSPS wildness. Tomoo fit right it (took three pints, though).Many people feel this same irresistible urge to similarly address Governor Gary Thomas, though common decorum usually takes over. Here, Steve Bettink follows-through with aplomb, generating great appreciation from the gathered throng.Governor Gary catching his breath while Steve sets his sights elsewhere. Hard to keep a good man down (after 4 pints).
The March Keelhaul was another vibrant success! 15 people showed-up at the delectable DevilCraft in Jiyugaoka: 5 Bridge Members, 5 first-timers, 5 additional die-hards.
DevilCraft in Jiyugaoka 3/06/24 Wednesday
A fabulous selection of Craft Beers, always something new… I had two Mo Sun (#2), 5.7% IPA…Vlad, Gennady, Maria, Michelle, Ash (giving us the finger… ummm thumb)…A look of shock: someone stole Gennady’s topping before serving him.Jeff, John, Claude: discussing the finer matching of guacamole with IPA vs Stouts… Max, guy shooting the peace-sign, Vlad, Gennady still crying about his pizza….Vlad and Gennady… trying to share the table fairly…. “you stay on your side, I on mine…”Max, working on his third IPA… the fact that he has tons of napkins around him makes everyone nervous.Accomplished sailor Remi, negotiating with his pizza (and winning!). Grew-up sailing the Bahamas and places where you can see the bottom.Fully recovered, now, Gennady obviously working on his 5th pint.Vlad instructing Gennady how to properly hold a pint… but still getting it wrong.Vlad, Gennady, Marie… rumor has it that Marie will be taking over the On-the-Water Executive Position from Vlad… she looks absolutely elated.Max so excited about Remi’s topping that he is sending a photo of it to his Mom.Wow: Devil Craft deep-dish pizza is a marvel. Thank you Commander Bill for springing for the first three!John looking in his dictionary to convey a thought to Jeff (who is just off camera); Claude praying John selects the right word THIS time! .. and Remi contemplating: refill beer or grab another pizza (before they disappear again!)…?Privateer Langley wondering who threw-up on his plate (but not really caring about it toooo much). Because Tabasco.John flashing his finger painting and attempting to drum-up some beer money to pay for tonight. Following in Hunter Biden’s footsteps, I hear.Claude studying the beer menu (he has had 6 different pints so far) (he’s been at it for 15 minutes though); Jeff grimacing as John happily digs his heal into Jeff’s big toe.Proof there is a God.John, hawking his wares… Remi unconvinced.After several failed attempts, Remi gets his due… hot sauce at the ready!I tried this one, too. It was an Amber Ale but too smoky for my tastes. Others loved it and rubbed it on their faces. I went back to “Mo Sun!”Well before the beers arrived. Bill attempting to look “approachable” but scaring the beejesus out of small children. .Dominique, Jeff, Claude. Claude (you can see) is starving. Pizza not yet arrived.Commander Bill, Captain Claude, John and Remi. Waiting waiting waiting… John obviously contemplating strangling Remi… as most of us did too.Here’s that guy again, arriving empty-handed. Again.Marie and Did-you-say-pizza-Michelle.Remi, Max and two-fisted beer-waitress!Education Officers Jeff and Claude discussing how to train Members, teach them to sail… without killing them. It is a long discussion. Not sure if they resolved anything.
Though the core of TSPS …
…is helping people qualify for the Japanese boat licensing tests (the schedule of Tests and classes are now posted on the TSPS website) in English (and doing this successfully for 40+ years(!), there are regular social components and skills-upgrading opportunities, too. Similarly, there are opportunities to get out on the water, crew on someone’s boat, join in overnight sailing ventures, purchasing a yacht or rescuing/restoring something of timeless worth (a couple of those projects on-going and wildly bragged about over beers).
Please join the April Keelhaul at the Pizzakaya in Roppongi https://pizzakaya.com/ from 7:00.
In other news:
Annual Change-of-Watch
March 13 at 7:00 Our annual shareholder meeting.
Yokohama International Boat Show.
The 21st ~ 24th of March. Four days at the Yokohama Pacifico and on-the-water-display of new boats & yachts at Bayside Marina (https://www.boatshow.jp/jibs/2024/). Members have free passes
Last year was a blow-out with almost 50 attendees! This event is held on March 23, the Saturday evening after the Boat Show closes doors at 6:00. Either rendezvous at the Booth or at Wolfgang Puck’s… but you MUST register and pay in advance: please see https://tspsjapan.org/super-keelhaul-2024/
This is the collection of participants to the Super Keelhaul in 2023 at Wolfgang Puck’s! (… minus, of course, the 5 or 6 still sprawled under the counter after one-too-many)
Member Evan Burkosky, an acknowledged sailor not just within TSPS but throughout the sailing region far & wide, has owned and gradually brought-up-to-snuff several sailboats in the last 10 years: Watari, a handbuilt dinghy, Santana, etc. But like all sailors, Captain Evan always longed for something larger (though capable of single-handing)… something with pedigree. He succeeded by finding an abandoned 33 feet Peterson of 45 year vintage last year. It needed a lot of work.
Here is what he did over a period of 9 months, a testament to anyone who is interested in expanding their scope and exploring more of Japan (or themselves) than is evident to the casual observer. Plus, it is a pretty interesting story:
8.26 This is 45 year old Garuda, a Peterson design built-in-Japan, in original condition, as found in September ’23… after 5 years of laying unloved and deteriorating.3.24 Garuda in home-port a stones-throw away from Hota. This is the photo-journey of how ole’ Garuda got from derelict to a fast-moving proper ocean-going yacht.
The restoration process:
The bow after many hours of working on deck to remove the accumulated dirt and grit and prepare for marine paint.. Here, the deck is not quite ready and needs hand sanding through the several previously laid layers.40 feet up, Evan photographing Langley who has suddenly lost interest in lowering him back down: 33′ Peterson 45 years old. Note: dirt, filth and gloom.1.20 A’danglin’ Evan… he was up there for almost 2 hours. Note: Evan’s dirt, filth and gloom.
Interior
9.2 Rat-warren-looking interior of V-berth when acquired.Main cabin floorboards, a bit spongy when acquired.Week 4, remove floorboards, repaint bilge, cake-on cushioning material (to silence squeaking), rebuild floorboards.10.14 Unending job or repairing, sanding, cutting-out rot, replacing with good wood.11.18 Rip out all the teak planking encapsulating the ceiling, remove all wiring: repaint and re-wire with marine-compliant wiring.12.16 Waterproof, epoxied and handbuilt new foorboards. Base for the mast also completely rebuilt.A brief respite after working 15 weekends non-stop. Behind the staircase leading up to the deck, the engine compartment. Chart table to the left.2.17 Not just the interior but the engine compartment and the storage lockers also needed full re-build. Here, the flooring was laid by handcut plywood, then treated for durability and waterproofing. To the side, entry into engine… panels similarly treated but layered with fireproofing 1/8 inch thick foam, and on top of that 3/4 inch soundproofing. Jeech!Cutting-to-measure… wood-paneled flooring…Tedious work in close-quarters requiring precision and skill which not everyone possesses!Partially done…Fully complete… took about 5 hours…3.20 Now, warmth and tranquility. Luxuriousness…. but now on to the next project!
Exterior: deck and helm
7.20 Grime, soot, mold… several years of just sitting and waiting for some rescue. The sticker says “12 person capacity”.Climbing into the cockpit locker allows access to the engine compartment and more. A favorite workspace for about 6 weeks running.8.20 The helm, or cockpit as it originally appeared 15 weeks ago. Note the teak-strips to keep your feet out of constant water… they of course needed to be removed completely…The helm tidied-up a bit, scrubbed as much as physical labor can possibly manage over two weekends. Doesn’t seem to have made a dent.3.9 Starboard side with huge winches and french-cleats. Scrubbed and sanded.More scrubbing and sanding, prep for painting. Requires 3 coats marine-paint: paint upon clean-surface (hahahaha, right!), wait to dry, paint on dry surface again, wait; apply final coat, wait.3.10 First Mate Freddie Snoxall of Niijima fame, slaving laboriously in-between naps and lunches. That is a LOT of hard work… stubborn stains and grime.3.10 Captain Evan Burkosky besides Garuda. Two weeks later, with sails re-attached and lines replaced, off to Kisarazu Marina for hull treatment then to home-port ~3/25/24. Congratulations, Captain! Welcome back, Garuda!1.20 When you need a hole when there was none. But you’d still like to have one….Masking tape on all brightwork or metal… thousands of these everywhere: buckles, clasps, hooks, hinges, buttons… endless.2.24 Scrubbed and sanded bow, ready for painting. That is a windlass, a crank for lifting-up the anchor. I think it works… will find out next weekend!First coat applied… need to do it all within shortest amount of time. Dirt, soot and debris seems to just fall from the sky!Cabin hatch just above V-berth… newly installed, of course.Lots and lots of masking…. the steeering-wheel or rudder is called the helm.And more winches (the mechanical kind, not the female kind); Winches are otherwise known as blocks (the mechanical kind, not the male kind).I kind of don’t envy the job or tearing off all the masking tape but when we do, wow the boat will appear completely different than before! Already kind of does!Lots of French-cleats… lots and lots of masking-tape. I have bad dreams still of masking tape… And then there’s the removal…3.9 What an unbelievable improvement of the cockpit and helm. This isn’t lipstick-on-a-pig!
Engine
“Oh hell why not? Might as well just yank out the old engine and put in a larger and more powerful one I just found laying around!” once said Evan Burkosky.12.16 A vacant engine bay. Discovered in the process: the crank was cracked and misaligned… so replaced the whole mechanism from the propeller-to-driveshaft in one fell-swoop (without sinking the boat). Oh, right: the new engine did not quite “fit” so had to chew-down on the bedding a couple centimeters. Fun!12.27 The ties that bind us. Notice the entire engine bay has been striped, so new walls, fireproofing and sound-proofing needs to be measured, cut, and adhered. 1.20 New engine: quieter, more powerful, tons more dependable… shinny, too! New engine bay to boot!
The hull
3/22 Hoisted out of the bay, thick layer of growth all under the waterline… that’s what 5 years of inattention will give you!Gunk: in places almost an inch thick… the red color is the last paint applied.. which is designed to keep the barnacles and growth from proliferating: generally needs to be redone every two or three years.This monster we use to force-off the layer of growth. After the hull dries, then scrape everything again. Wash-off again. After drying, sand to a flat layer, look for damages to the hull (found / repaired several, using various techniques Evan has perfected since working on fishing boats as a kid). Wash-off again, paint with two coats when dry. Whew.We were fed, from time-to-time… never enough, never of enough substance. But at least Tabasco.3.23 Like ghost busters. This work is filthy and arduous. The pressure hose works great but blasts gunk everywhere including all over the slaves.Piles and piles, mounds of accummulated junk.3.23 Removing the propeller to replace the cutlass, reinstall, prepare everything for years of use without worry.3.9 Several victims were involved in this months-long process…. almost a year! …but at least the rudder is now looking ready for coats of epoxy and strengthening treatment before the final two coats of black hull paint.Removing years of oxidation and grime… a nice result with plenty of elbow grease.Keel needed some serious repair, then sanding to a fine finish.A couple of bubbles from hull osmosis-damage: identified, cut-out, refilled with fiberglass and then sanded, painted, then the final two coats of black underwater paint.3.22 Shiny above, fully prepared below: ready for the undercoats.
Sails
1.25 Not terribly out-of-shape or damaged… just dirty and unused. Need professional cleaning and minor restitching. All the lines and halyards, of course, to be replaced. Woo-hoo!2.18. Two weeks later, back from the sail-cleaning shop. Nice job! Notice that this is the foresail, much bigger than the mainsail!
Architect
3.24 Captain Burkosky finally at the helm, traversing Tokyo Bay to snuggle in, for Garuda the first time, into home port Katsuyama… the end of (well, not quite… STILL needs to replace that 45 year-old, used-to-be-bright-red, cutesy pink life-preserver) a long journey. .Bimini and dodger added, ready for anything!
Please post your comment or observations if this tickled any of your fancy…