Category Archives: News

Golden Week Cruise

News

Two boats joined in the cruise over Golden Week, Mike Snyder’s Distant Dreamer with two crew and two TSPS member guests aboard (who left us in Misaki), and Arne Barden’s Sentosa, with Arne’s wife and three children. Sentosa formerly belonged to George Leaning and was known as Sophie. Both boats sail from Yokohama. Sentosa left first and headed for Misaki and Ito. DD followed, going to Misaki and with a plan to go to Shimoda, but rain and high winds (26-32 knots) made her stay in Misaki, where she met up with Sentosa on her return from Ito.

Besides meeting up with Sentosa in Misaki, Distant Dreamer had yacht Tonoas rafted to her with people we had met in Hota on the Opening Cruise. There was a Ukulele Festival being held in Misaki and they knew some of the musicians. Eventually, we had a number of musicians on board both boats and passed an enjoyable day listening to all kinds of music played on ukulele, violin, and jamisen (Okinawa shamisen).

With the high winds prevailing and Arne coming in from Ito, we decided to stay in Misaki an extra day and wait for him. Also, we were able to get up to the famous old TSPS Rendezvous location on the hill above Shoiso Bay and visit with long-time member and Past Commander Hunter Brumfield and his wife Eiko.

The sail back, both boats together until Uraga where DD turned in for fuel and lunch, was in beautiful weather, with 12-16 knots winds, clear skies and following seas.

 

 

 

 

Opening Cruise to Hota Accomplished

News

Delayed a week due to inclement weather on the originally scheduled week-end, the TSPS Opening Cruise to Hota took place on April 21-22. Two boats with 8 people total on board made it to Hota after a day of zig-zagging down Tokyo Bay in 18-24 knot winds. In Hota we met some fellow sailors from Yokohama Bayside Marina and Moroiso Yacht Club with whom we enjoyed a hearty seafood meal. A good time was had by all but the bunks were welcome after the day’s exertions. The next day the wind was minimal in the morning, so it was motoring back to Yokohama for both boats.  We look forward to more cruises to come.

 

 

Bridge Officers for 2018 Sworn in at Change of Watch

News, Events

On Thursday, March 15th, the Change of Watch was held at Le Petite Tonneau in Toranomon. A brief overview of what the squadron did in 2017 was given to the members who attended. Then, Bill Van Alstine, continuing as commander, was sworn in by Dick Schultz in his snazzy pink Nantucket canvas jacket. After that, the plans for the coming year were announced. Finally, food and drink and conversation were enjoyed by all until the raffle and prizes to end the evening at about 10.

The TSPS Bridge for 2018 hopes to continue and extend the progress made in 2017 in providing more opportunities for members to get out on the water. While it is still being decided whether to continue the Day on the Water activity at Velasis Marina, Hayama Marina Yacht Club has offered sailboat rental and sail training opportunities at rates given their members. More information about this, as well as the cruises and classes we have lined up, will be forthcoming.

See every on the water this year!

2018 TSPS Change of Watch

News, Events

 

The 2018 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 2018.  Those present will then cast a vote for an incoming Bridge for 2018. Attending this event is a great opportunity to get up to speed on the squadron’s 2018 objectives, participate in the selection of Bridge officers, meet other members of our organisation, and of course indulge in a wonderful dinner and have a few refreshments.

Hope to see you there!

Agenda:

Doors: 7:00PM
2017-2018 Presentation: 7:15PM
Buffet Dinner: 7:30PM
New Bridge: 8:15PM
Wrap-up and End: 10:00PM

Date: Thursday, March 15, 2018

Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Place: Le Petit Tonneau Toranomon

Deadline for Signing Up: Midnight Saturday, March 10, 2018

Fees:

Members and Partners– ¥6,000
Guests/Non-members– ¥8,000

Please note: TSPS will be charged for the seats reserved for the evening. Therefore, we will request no-shows and those cancelling after March 10 to pay the event fee in full. 

Sign up here:

2018 TSPS CoW Signup Page

Le Petit Tonneau

1F SHOSEN MITSUI Bldg.
2-1-1　Toranomon
Minato-Ku, Tokyo
105-0001
Tel: +81-3-5545-4640

Email: toranomon@petitonneau.com

Getting there:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, looking forward to seeing you there.

Per Knudsen and Anne Bille Set To Sail The Final Stretch

News
Anne Bille hoisting the TSPS colors in Gibraltar

In June of this year TSPS Past Commander and long-time TSPS Bridge member Per Knudsen sailed his vessel Bifrost II from Lymington, UK to Gibraltar/La Linea, with stops in France and Portugal.

The voyage was carried out with a complement of able-bodied crew that included past TSPS members Ian Wilson and Randy Erskine, and present member Claus Eilersen. The trip was Leg 1 in the passage to deliver Bifrost II to its home port in Denia, Spain. Leg 2 will begin soon, with Per and Anne Bille currently provisioning Bifrost for a week-long sail, before they set off for the approximately 370 nm sail home up the Spanish coast.

Everyone at TSPS wishes them fair winds and following seas on their journey. Bon voyage!

Introduction To Sailing Course Begins October 23, 2017

News, Education Activities

On October 23, we will start a four-week sail basics class comprising classroom instruction on sail terminology and theory, followed each weekend (more or less) by on-the-water sailing instruction aboard our very own (until the lease runs out) Tartan 26 Fantail. We have found that the classroom and cockpit instruction reinforce each other, making learning faster.

Classroom sessions will run once a week for four consecutive weeks, subject to classroom availability, while the on-the-water sessions will be held on Saturdays from 10AM at Velasis Marina whenever we can book the boat.

You should consider this class if you have always wanted to try sailing, but have not had the chance, or you have had the chance, but feel you would be a better sailor if you went back and picked up the fundamental theory of it all.

We have room for 10 students and will divide our time between the Kamiyacho classroom and the Velasis Marina boat. Fees will be announced soon.

Contact Jeff Canaday if you have any questions and to reserve your place in TSPS sailing history. (Or ask about it next week at the Keelhaul on October 4 at Devil Craft Hamamatsucho)

2017 TSPS Autumn Barbecue At Velasis Marina

Events, News

 

TSPS Rendezvous 2015

 

We are holding a barbecue on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at Velasis Marina.

Our barbecues are always a lot of fun with good food and drink and conversation.

Our barbecue will be in the heart of the Velasis Marina in Uraga, right up close to our favorite form of transportation, boats! This is a golden opportunity for like-minded boat people to get to know each other and TSPS, and as always you are most welcome to invite friends or colleagues interested in boating. So go ahead and mark the barbecue on your to-do list, because this is always the highlight of the Kanto social calendar. (We are barbecuing under a giant awning, so there will be nothing to dampen the great times at the party.) Also, we will try to book the Tartan sailboat and can hopefully offer people short cruises around Uraga.

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, October 28
Time: 2 pm – 5 pm
Place: Velasis Marina, Uraga, Kanagawa Pref.
Fee: ¥4,000 for members, ¥5,000 for guests, children 1/2 price.
Payment: At the door
Sign up deadline: Midnight, Wednesday, October 25

Feel free to arrive early if you wish to enjoy the historical port of Uraga, the marina, the boats, and the sun. We open up the coolers at around 2 pm with an assortment of soft drinks, cold beer, and white and red wines. The menu will include but is not limited to quality beef steaks, sausages, seafood, salad, fruit and vegetables.

So that we can be sure to prepare sufficient food, please book your place(s) on the website no later than Wednesday, October 25. (sign-up link two lines down)

Skippers: If you plan to sail in, please provide Mike Snyder with the name and size of your vessel so he can reserve a guest berth for you. Please include crew details.

Make your booking here

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Where is Velasis and how do I get there?

http://www.velasis.com/access/index.html has a downloadable pdf for access to the marina from train station or by road.

For people who are non-drinkers or have designated drivers, the easiest route to Velasis is to take the Yoko-Yoko motorway and get off at Uraga. Turn right after the exit and then follow the map or your navigation system.

For the rest of us, the easiest and quickest route is to take the Keihin Kyuko toward Misakiguchi to Kurihama, then take a taxi (¥1,200-¥1500) or bus #19 from there. Alternatively, take the Keihin Kyuko to Horinouchi, then transfer to the local train to Uraga. From there take a taxi (minimum fare) to Velasis or the hourly bus no. 19. It stops almost in front of Velasis, or alternatively enjoy the twenty-minute walk from Uraga station.

For train schedules from your point of departure to either Kurihama or Uraga, go to: http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

Looking forward to seeing you all in Velasis!
Warren Fraser

Onboard The Tartan 26 On A Clear Day

News

Our membership in the Velasis Marina Marine Club has been a great success. Here are some photos taken aboard Beluga II on the waters around Uraga by Skipper PJ Domenjoz and a few of the people who sailed with him.

The program has been a great success. In the five months we’ve been active, we’ve gone out over twenty times and have had more than thirty people aboard. We’ve been lucky with the weather and only twice have we had to cancel because of too much wind or rain. We’ve sailed three times with intermittent rain, but by and large, the sailing days have been come equipped with comfortable winds and sunshine.

More information about fees and location can be found here.

We try to sail every weekend, and TSPS members, their friends and family, and Friends of TSPS are welcome to join us.

Hope to see you on the Tartan this autumn.

Robert Radcliffe’s Flicka 20 for Sale

News, For Sale

The late Robert Radcliffe was an avid sailor who loved sailing his boat Blowfish. His wife, Shoko, has reluctantly put Blowfish up for sale.

Here is some information about the boat from Robert’s friend and previous owner of Blowfish, Alex.

Blowfish was a one-off hull, built of FRP plastered over steel mesh.  she weighs 3.5 tons, and so is a bit heavier than other Flickas by about 250 kilos.  She has plywood deck and house, and was very well built by a shipyard in Maryland. My father and I built her deck, cabin, interior, etc. She is now 40 years old, ragged but right, a bit scuffed and grimy, but seaworthy and sound. In recent years she has been well maintained by Robert and the mechanics at Oita.

She was originally a gaff-rigged catboat when she sailed on the Chesapeake  (then name “Tureen”) and was converted to sloop in 2000 when she came to Japan. She has a jib boom which is a pain (I’d lose it).  She has two good Honda 9HP outboards. The older one (2007) is long shaft with a big flat screw; it drives her very well and quietly. The newer one is short shaft with a higher pitched screw; Robert bought it for the electric starter after he was too weak to manage the other, manual-start engine. I add, she used to have a BMW inboard, but I could no longer find parts for it (and so it was removed.)

Sails are solid, new in 2000. Roller reefing on the jib, and all sheets and halyards lead to the cockpit, so she is easy to singlehand. Full keel, so an easy cruiser – she is no race boat, but a solid blue water passage maker.  Standing room in the cabin, quite a lot of boat for a 20′ waterline.

Oita is a good berth – cheap, excellent staff, great sailing ground, and an hour or so away by plane.  I would keep her there.

Blowfish is currently tied up in a full-service marina only a 10-minute walk from Oita Airport (the marina is to the south of the landing strip). Annual marina fees for the boat are said to be very inexpensive and Robert said it was cheaper to keep the boat in Oita and fly down four or five times a year than to keep the boat in the Tokyo area. With the marina so close to the airport, there are many benefits to keeping Blowfish in Oita.

The asking price is ¥300,000. This is primarily to cover the costs of the 2017-18 marina fee, recent interior woodwork and new bottom paint both done by the marina in May.

If you’re interested in Blowfish, you can contact communications@tspsjapan.org for more information. More photos of Blowfish are expected to arrive soon.