The annual TSPS Fall BBQ held on Saturday, 9 November from 10am til 3pm at Yume-no-shima Marina was well-attended by TSPS members and non-members alike. The weather was pleasant and the Sailability Tokyo staff ensured easy dinghy sailing for all. On the 2nd Floor of the Yume-no-shima Marine Center, TSPS members made sure that there was plenty of delicious BBQ and free flow drinks to go around.
Some fun moments from the event were captured in the photos below:
After a frustrating year of canceled cruises due to weather, from typhoons to no wind, and various other reasons, the small but growing TSPS fleet had three successful days of cruising in steady northeasterly winds. Starting out on Nov. 2 and ending on Nov. 4 for the Culture Day week-end, four hardy sailboats participated: Sentosa, Taihei, Spray and Distant Dreamer.
The first leg was from Yokohama to Misaki. A convivial evening ensued as the four crews got together and regaled each other with wild tales of adventures on the high seas (well, in Tokyo Bay). The next day Arne took his boat Sentosa back to Yokohama Bayside Marina (the three young lads aboard had school on Monday). The other three boats made their way to Hota, in Chiba, a fast beam reach for most of the way (when ships weren’t making us slow down to let them by). We were disappointed to learn that the recent typhoon has put the onsen in Hota out of commission for a while. In any case we enjoyed a great lunch at Banya, after which Ryan and his crew on Spray made their way back to YBM, arriving there after dark (good job!) The final day, Monday, the remaining two boats Vince and Taihei along with Mike and Distant Dreamer took off in sunny weather for home in Yokohama. It was probably the best sailing of all three days since the sun as dancing on the waves all day.
Thanks to the crew who came and helped the skippers. It was good to end the year of TSPS cruising on a high note and we hope next year we will have more week-ends like this.
Click on images for the originals.
The TSPS Beginning Sail class continued its OTW sailing practice sessions from Hayama Marina on Saturday, September 28th. Five students were on the boat this time, with instructor Mike Snyder. We continued to practice raising sails, steering, tacking and jibing. In addition, this time we practiced anchoring the sailboat near Morito 森戸 Beach, which is located south of Hayama Marina.
As for sea conditions, we experienced low to low-moderate winds of 8 knots max and a flat sea – conditions that were pretty much similar to the first two on-the-water classes. The boat’s max speed was 6.6 knots and we sailed a total distance of 24 km (13 nm).
On Sunday July 21 the TSPS Beginning Sail class finally got underway with 9 future sailors signed up. Six students were able to make the first class, with instructor Mike Snyder. The weather was good for a first time out, 3-8 knots. We went through raising sails, steering, tacking and jibing. It was a good start for the class. We will be holding the class through August and early September, with classes added as needed to assure that all the students have at least 4 times out on the boat.
Thanks to member Nemanja Komatinovic and sail student for the photos.
The weather not cooperating? It was downright spiteful. But 15 June was the day of the TSPS Spring Rendezvous and barbecue and like the USPS – the postal ones – our members braved the sleet and snow, sorry, the driving rain part to arrive at Yumenoshima Marina where the members of Sailability Tokyo, our very good friends waited with their dinghies. The wind was there, rain falling at a forty five degree angle, and from 1pm on, members began to show up and avail themselves of the opportunity to sail.
Non-sailing members and guests began to arrive early as well and those not sailing had the opportunity to introduce one another at the ground floor lobby of the marina, where the generous seating provided a place to relax and make new friends. The BBQ itself began at 3pm and TSPS had a turnout of 52 members and guests. Participants were seated inside the restaurant while volunteers selected themselves to man the three large grills that were already fired up and ready for the heaping trays of meat and vegetables that were brought out to cook. The food and drink were great, but the conversation and camaraderie were even better.
Of special note, Lowell Sheppard announced the imminent purchase of Wahine from fellow TSPS member Marcus Von Engel, and his open recruitment for crew. At the end of the event, those not ready to go home were invited aboard Dream Weaver, by Doug Smith who crossed the Pacific from San Diego to Japan with blind sailor Hiro Iwamoto. You will never see a more immaculate boat than Dream Weaver.
A special thanks to our member Jiro Fujiwara for arranging the dinghies from Salability Tokyo and to Rick Pawell. Rick had double duty, working as a volunteer for the dinghy sailing with Sailability Tokyo and as the arranger for the BBQ, which you can guess is a lot of work.
It was a great turnout and a great time, with less than great weather. Thanks to all for participating and making it a success.
Bill Van Alstine, contributor
After 55 days at sea, blind sailor Hiro Iwamoto and his sighted fellow crewman Doug Smith, friend of TSPS, made it to Sun Marina in Onahama, Fukushima, Japan on April 20, 2019. This was the second attempt by Hiro to sail across the Pacific, the first attempt having been cut short by a whale hitting and sinking his boat off of Japan. This time, he began from San Diego, California.
Go here for more of the story and more photos.
Congratulations to Hiro and Doug on their great achievement. They can be very proud of themselves and what they accomplished.
We hope to see them at a TSPS event one day to tell us more of their voyage.
Come Enjoy Whitewater Rafting! May 25, 2019
TSPS members and friends are invited to enjoy the thrills of whitewater rafting on the Tone River in beautiful Minakami. Snow depths that exceeded 4 meters in the mountains surrounding the area, are feeding large quantities of water down the Tone River.
Our hosts for the outing will be Canyons, the premier rafting company in Minakami (see link to their website as they also offer a wide range of other outdoor activities). Their trained, experienced guides will teach you everything you need to know to have a safe and exciting ride down the rapids, and of course they’ll be in the boat with you too, to navigate us down river. All you need is a swimsuit and a towel, they’ll provide the gear.
Here is a brief description, direct from the Canyons’ website:
Minakami Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, is the source for the Tone River, Japan’sbiggest river. During the Spring melt, April – June, the river provides consistent grade 4 rapidsfor over 10 kms of whitewater rafting bliss. There are a number of different courses available to cater for all levels, from nervous beginners to experienced rafting junkies. Canyons’ internationalteam of professional guides will ensure you a safe and memorableday of rapid action.
In 2000,the same section used for commercial rafting played host to therafting world cupqualifying tournament. Teams from around the world came to challenge the mighty Tone River.
Make sure you get up in Spring for the best rafting in Japan. April – May is the Springmelt season (this year – usually longer, but we’ve had less snowfall this year), with the river flowing high to produce world class rapids. There are three canyons that are regularly run, Suwakyo, Minakamikyo and the infamous Momijikyo, the latter of the three being the most intense. http://canyons.jp
We will raft Saturday morning May 25th beginning at 8:30 and have a BBQ lunch at Canyons afterward. In the afternoon you can enjoy a number of activities ranging from hiking to canyoning, bungee jumping, tennis, sightseeing in and around Minakami, and of course the famous hot springs. For those up for some more fun, there will be an afternoon champagne (hint àbring champagne!) and croquet tournament and late afternoon BBQ at Chez Olsen in Tsukiyono, near Jomo Kogen Station.
It’s one of the best adventures available in Japan, and only 75 minutes by train from Tokyo Station. Overnight accommodations are available at Canyons and at many pensions in the area. If you’re interested in recommendations, please let Ernie know.
Reservations are on a first come, first served basis. Book now if you want to take advantage of the fun!Minakami is easily accessible by car (2 hours from central Tokyo via the Kanetsu Expressway) or train (1:16 via Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Jomokogen Station, or 2:30 via regular express train to Minakami Station). Travel instructions will be provided at the time of your reservation.
The cost for rafting and BBQ lunch is ¥10,700/person. If you’re going up by train, Canyons can provide transportation to and from the train station.
CANCELLATION DATE IS MAY 9th. IF YOU CANCEL A RESERVATION AFTER THAT DATE, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FEE. To make your reservation or make inquiries, please email Ernie Olsen at ernfredolsen@occ-japan.com
TSPS is not the formal organizer of the rafting and barbecue event and as such takes no responsibility for either. The contract is between the individual participant and the organizers Canyons.
Sunday April 14 saw a hardy crew of TSPS members out on one of the Hayama Marina Yacht Club boats for a bracing sail in fresh gusty breezes. Rick Pawell, TSPS Executive Officer, took out four members–Leith, Alex, Svetlana, and Angela. Keith was looking to be certified as a skipper for these boats and passed with flying colors, as one would expect from a US Coast Guardsman. Alex and Svetlana are next up for certification.
If you know how to sail and want to take people out for a great day on the water off of Zushi/Kamakura (and we have a new boat in Yumenoshima, Tokyo, too)…get in touch and become a member of the sailing group. We’re also running classes to gain the skills necessary to do this…
Hiro Iwamoto, the blind sailor we posted about in February, is currently in the middle of the Pacific well on his way to crossing that vast ocean with his seeing friend Doug Smith. Take a look at that post is here, in case you missed it. We hope to have them as guests of TSPS when they have completed their voyage.
The Change of Watch for 2019 was held on March 19 at the Tableaux Lounge in Daikanyama. The new commander, David Edwards, and the new bridge officers were elected and sworn in. Afterwards, dinner was served followed by the raffle.
The new commander laid out the challenges for 2019 as achieving greater diversity and inclusiveness in the TSPS membership, meaning trying to bring in more women and young people, as well as providing more boating opportunities. Working more with Sailability Tokyo will be a big part of this effort.