TSPS member Ramir Cimafranca’s recently purchased yacht Der Meer III is now moored at its new home port in Nishiura Numazu Shizuoka, https://kouyachtclub.wixsite.com/home .
Ramir, Rick Pawell and 2 friends made up the crew and arrived in Shimoda on a rainy Saturday evening. We woke Sunday morn to clearing skies, ate breakfast and departed Shimoda Boat Service’s docks by 0800.
Shimoda Boat Service had been checking the boat each day for the past week, adjusting docklines and fenders as needed and lashing additional lines around the boom cover…excellent and friendly service! https://www.shimoda-bs.jp/
Motor sailed in 5-10 knots of northerly winds and saw a waterspout far off to port (picture was tightly cropped). The winds calmed off the southern tip of the peninsula and backed to a southwester that increased to a steady 20 knots with gusts to 30 near 1400. It was a fast ride under mostly sunny skies with the wind off the port quarter as we broad reached under a reefed mainsail at 7 knots. An excellent day for sailing…good departure planning by Ramir!
We motored in to the dock where 4 people eagerly took our dock lines and welcomed us “home.” Three men helped Ramir moor the boat, rowed tenders back to the dock and two gave us a lift to the train station . There is a good drone video of the moorings and clubhouse at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njsaIhhvoQ8&feature=youtu.be
Category Archives: News
Pirates of Sagami Bay: On Stranger Winds
Early in the morning last Saturday, a ragtag crew of 5 TSPS pirates set out to deliver a Festa 31 from the southern tip of the Miura peninsula to a fabled port near Numazu on the west side of the Izu peninsula. After raiding a Family Mart of all breakfast and lunch foods for their perilous journey, the infamous Captain “Remorseless” Rick Pawell ordered the crew (First Mate Ramir “The Banyaga (the Rascal)” Cimafranca, Sailing Master Stephan “Das Meer (the Sea)” Riediger, Gunner Igor “безумец (the Madman)” Kostarnov, and Boatswain Davy “Jones Locker” Edwards, to the awaiting vessel “Der Meer”. (The sailing master later verified that this was in fact a Dutch name, not German.) The crew departed at 6:45am.
The morning wind roared and the crew suffered as cold winds came from the northeast at about 15-20 knots across Sagami Bay. After hoisting the mainsail and deciding on the route across the bay, the crew began to reminisce on the considerable pirate juice consumed at RSD Village Guesthouse the night before and the crew’s dreadful snoring that permeated the quiet night air of the peaceful village. Although the crew briefly hoisted the jib sail, a decision was made to take it down a short while later.
After passing near the southern tip of Izu Oshima island ahead of schedule, Remorseless Rick ordered the crew to jibe since the vessel was traveling too close to the dangerous shores of the Izu peninsula near Shimoda. The crew executed the jibe of the mainsail to the general satisfaction of the captain and was fortunate enough to avoid the deadly fishing buoys in the area. Finally, Der Meer motored into the dock at Shimoda Umi-no-Eki at around 2pm. The pirates had sailed across Sagami Bay at an average speed of about 7 knots – well ahead of schedule!
Of course, the ensuing celebration and consumption of libations in the port of Shimoda will have to remain off the permanent TSPS records and become a part of pirate lore…but it may have included imbibing Asahi Super Dry on the way to a beautiful beach, a long walk in search of more brew, a cramped taxi ride, a less than happy taxi driver, a search for open pubs, and a restaurant being forced open 20 minutes early by the pirates…
Tune in next week for the continuing adventures of “Der Meer” and its pirate crew from Shimoda to Numazu. (A dreadful storm on Sunday packing winds of 30-40 knots forced the crew to return by train to its den in Tokyo.)
Postponement of 2020 Change of Watch
Following the announcement of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_00032.html) to avoid group gatherings to control the spread of COVID-19, as well as the announcement of the cancellation of the Japan International Boat Show 2020, at which TSPS had planned to have a booth, the current TSPS Bridge, comprising six past TSPS Commanders, has decided to invoke Article 9.2. of the TSPS By Laws, which states that “If Circumstances makes it impractical to hold any meeting as provided herein, the Executive Committee may waive such a meeting or set another meeting date.” We believe that the prevailing circumstances warrant caution and this important decision protects our members.
However, it is important to note that this is not a cancellation of the annual Change of Watch, but only a postponement. The Bridge plans to meet on 18th March to review this position, and we will advise members accordingly thereafter.
If the situation improves over the next few months, we hope to hold the Change of Watch sometime in May after Golden Week. Failing such an improvement, the Bridge will request an “aye” or “nay” email vote for the proposed Bridge from TSPS members. We will also provide members with profiles of each proposed Bridge member in the event that this email vote is necessary.
The Bridge hopes you support this decision as we believe “It is better to be safe than sorry” with regards to the health and welfare of our members, friends, and families.
Japan Boat License English Exams 2020
The schedule for the JMRA English language exams for the Japan Class 1 and 2 boat licenses has been announced. Go here for the schedule.
The Taming of the Spinnaker
Today, Skipper Alex and a ragtag crew from TSPS sailed a Yamaha 30S rental boat from Hayama Marina and were successful in rigging, hoisting, and jibbing a spinnaker sail twice. Even though the extra sheets, halyards, guys, pole, and blocks, created mixed looks of consternation and uncertainty at first, the weather gods smiled upon us with light winds, cool temperatures, and pleasant sunshine while First Mate Rick guided the entire crew patiently through the steps required to tame the spinnaker and its accoutrements. By the end, the crew had learned how to make the spinnaker fly, how to trim it, and how to drop it when necessary. And we even practiced re-packing the spinnaker sail appropriately so that it would be primed for its next mission.
Rather than listen to anymore of this braggadocio, see the results for yourself below! We are looking to be in racing form by next year.
2019 Fall BBQ a Big Success!
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:
Final Cruise of 2019
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.
Yoav’s first time captaining his boat 
Leaving Misaki 
Bernard and USS Ronald Reagan 
Moon over our sail 
Blackhawk circling 
Party on the raft 
Rafting up 
Handshake on arrival 
Night return to YBM past Sarushima and Yokosuka 
Morning in Misaki 
Impromptu race 
Yoav & Tim outward leg
TSPS Beginning Sailing Class Continues!
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).
Beginning Sail Class Underway
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.
Nice Turnout for Rendezvous
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
