Tarek and I visited the Yokohama Boat Show. This is the autumn edition of the boat show that is held in Yokohama in March, but on a much smaller scale. The event was held at Yokohama Bayside Marina on 25-27 September, with around a dozen boats (all motor boats) on display on the pontoons and a number of equipment makers and other companies exhibiting in booths on the concourse. There were various activities such as boat rides. Entrance is free of charge.

We went on board a number of the boats on display and then Tarek suggested that we should go for a test drive on Toyota Marine’s PONAM-31. We booked a slot when there were only a few other people on board and this allowed Tarek to spend a good amount of time at the controls when we were allowed to test drive the boat. Tarek is a motor head when it comes to boats, and you could see he was having the time of his life as he powered her up and threw her around. Even for a yacht person like me, I have to say the ride was exhilarating. Hmm, maybe there is a motorboat somewhere in my future…
One of the cool things about the PONAM range is the TM-CAST (Toyota Marine – Captain Assist Technologies) system that allows you to control the boat from your smartphone or smart watch, including an automatic docking function.

The PONAM-31 is priced at around ¥70m but unfortunately even though Tarek and I both emptied our pockets the combined amount wasn’t enough to buy it. 

The next date for your diary is the Yokohama Floating Yacht Show that will be held 2-4 October at Yokohama Bayside Marina https://www.kazi.co.jp/yachtshow/

On Sunday 27 September I joined my first yacht race, the Yokohama Bayside Marina Yacht Club 秋帆走会, a casual, fun race. I was fully expecting to come last because Eothen is a Cornish Crabber 24’ cruising boat and not a racing boat. 

The wind was a northerly light breeze of around 6 knots and as anticipated, as soon as the race started I was quickly left behind by the rest of the fleet. With frustratingly light winds and very slow progress on the downwind leg, for the first hour I really was not enjoying myself, regretted joining the race and considered giving up. I was running directly downwind with the main on one side and the staysail out on the other, making at best 1.6 knots. With the wake of any passing motor boat Eothen would rock, sails would flap and flail, speed would drop to 0.5 knots, and I would curse. I was definitely not a happy sailor. Particularly so when the leading boats started passing me on their return leg and I was still only halfway down the first leg! 

I continued to plod on to the turning point, while all the other boats had long since disappeared on their way back. By now I was just determined to finish the race. After rounding the halfway mark and onto the upwind leg, my speed increased to around 3 knots and I enjoyed the return trip. 

I got back to the marina just in time to tie up at my berth and make it to the start of the post-race party. As I rushed to the venue I wondered (hoped) whether there might be some kind of ‘Billy’ prize to mark my efforts for the day.

While the race committee were calculating the results, one of them came over and smilingly commented that on a rating adjusted basis, Eothen had a surprisingly good score. So imagine my complete surprise and happiness when Eothen was declared the winner! I have my doubts about the accuracy of the rating system, but no one was complaining and definitely not me.

The race course was from just outside Yokohama Bayside Marina to the Okinone buoy outside Yokosuka harbour and back, a distance of just under 4 nm. The fastest boat was EVE-1 (funny, I’m called Eve too) with a time of 1 hour 49 minutes. My time was 3 hours 11 minutes. 

The first Keelhaul of the autumn was held on 2 September at Gotanda Devilcraft with 14 people attending. A survey revealed that 11 were TSPS members, two “not yet” and one “retired.” We were clearly a highly qualified and experienced bunch of people with 11 of us holding a JMRA First Class license, 2 with Second Class licenses, and one planning to get a license. The majority of attendees said they were mostly interested in sailing, two were into powerboats, and some interested in both.

Plenty of lively talk about summer sailing adventures and plans for the autumn, with three delicious pizzas generously paid for by the TSPS. Commodore Remi reminded everyone that the TSPS 70th Anniversary BBQ will be held at Yumenoshima on 3 October and encouraged everyone to sign up soon https://tspsjapan.org/yumenoshima-bbq-nov-8-2025-sign-up-now/

Remi (TSPS Commander) and Thibaud (TSPS Boating Activities Chair)

Chris (TSPS Secretary) and Tarek (TSPS Webmaster and IT Head)

Eugen (“Retired TSPS Member”) enthrals his audience with his amazing sailing stories

Almost forgot to take a photo of the pizzas!

Looking forward to seeing everyone again at the TSPS 70th Anniversary BBQ on 3 October!

Seventy years is an incredible milestone, but it isn’t measured simply by the passing of time. It’s measured by the people who made those years possible.

For seven decades, countless volunteers have dedicated their time, energy, and passion to keeping TSPS alive. Every Bridge Officer who stepped up to lead, every instructor who patiently shared their knowledge, every event organizer, cruise captain, committee member, and volunteer has helped shape the club into what it is today.

Because of them, thousands of moments have been created—first boating experiences, lifelong friendships, unforgettable cruises, monthly Keelhauls, celebrations, and countless stories shared on and off the water.

Many members have devoted decades of their lives to TSPS. Their experience, mentorship, and commitment have created a welcoming environment where newcomers quickly feel at home and traditions are passed from one generation to the next.

What makes TSPS truly special isn’t just the activities we organize—it’s the people behind them. The members who arrive early to set up, stay late to clean up, volunteer without being asked, teach with patience, lead with kindness, and always make room for one more person at the table.

As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this remarkable journey. Whether you served on the Bridge, taught a boating course, organized an event, volunteered behind the scenes, or simply shared your enthusiasm and friendship, you have helped build something that has lasted for generations.

Thank you for making TSPS more than a boating club. Thank you for making it a community.

Here’s to the past 70 years, and to everyone who will help write the next chapter.

P.S. One of my favorite parts of putting this together was diving into the Skuttlebutt archives in search of old photos. I ended up staying far longer than I planned, completely absorbed in the stories. Adventures, bravery, freedom, a little bit of craziness… they reminded me of the books I loved as a kid (yes, that wasn’t that long ago 😉).

What an incredible history this club has. If you have a spare moment, take a trip down memory lane—you might even spot yourself or some familiar faces. And if you’re newer to TSPS, it’s the perfect way to discover the amazing people and adventures that have shaped our community over the past 70 years.

TSPS Members and Friends,

We’re bringing back the TSPS BBQ Weekend at Lake Inawashiro — and this year we’ve moved it from September to July in hopes of finally getting those perfect summer lake conditions: warmer water, more sunshine, and better wind for all the fun stuff.

The plan is simple: come to the lake, relax on the beach, swim, try wakeboarding, sailing, windsurfing, or canoeing, have a drink at sunset, throw a frisbee around, and just enjoy a great summer weekend with good people. Depending on weather and energy levels, some activities may continue the next morning too.

Last year’s event had such a great atmosphere because everyone helped out a little, and that’s exactly what made it special. So bring your favorite drinks, a cooler, a chair if you can, and your best summer mood. TSPS will provide the boats, equipment, food, soft drinks, and the overall chaos management.

We’re also looking for a few volunteers to help with grilling, cleanup, watching the water, and driving boats or jet skis. Yamaha boat or jetski drivers helping for half a day will receive a ¥5,000 discount.

The event will take place again at Tate Hama in Koriyama City, Fukushima. There’s camping onsite and hotels nearby in Inawashiro and Bandai Atami.

Spots are limited to around 30 people, and payment secures your place, so don’t wait too long to sign up.

Sign up here:
 https://tspsjapan.org/asp-products/inawashiro-bbq-weekend-july-11-12/

Members:                       ¥10,000
Non-members:               ¥12,000
Child (12 and younger): ¥free

What`s included:
boats & gear
food & soft drinks

What`s NOT included:
camping equipment
alcohol

The payment deadline is June 28.

Map:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HuXBULYad4wBFTDf8

And some pictures from the previous year’s attached!

The Yokohama Boat Show 2026 is just over the horizon, and the harbor is already buzzing with excitement. While TSPS won’t be hosting a booth this year, one of our most loved traditions is making its return — SuperKeelhaul is back!

Join us for an evening of great food, great people, and great conversations as we gather just minutes away from the show venue. This is one of our favorite community meet-ups of the year — relaxed, social, and open to everyone: members, friends, families, crew, and newcomers alike.

We’ll be gathering at Wolfgang Puck Yokohama, an easy 10-minute walk from the Boat Show — the perfect spot for good cuisine, boat talk, laughter, and reconnecting with the community.

⚓ Event Details

Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: From 5:00 PM
Venue: Wolfgang Puck Yokohama
Fee: ¥5,500 per person (members & non-members)
Children: Free for little sailors under 12
Payment deadline: March 8

🎟 Member benefit:
Show your Boat Show ticket and receive ¥1,000 cashback (invitation tickets don`t work that way 😉

Spots are limited, so we encourage early booking to secure your place.
We look forward to welcoming you for another unforgettable SuperKeelhaul evening.

Hoist the sails and join us! ⚓

It’s that time of the year again!

This year we’re going back to the InterContinental Tokyo Bay’s beautiful Manhattan Room, where you can enjoy the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba shining across the bay.

This time, we want to welcome your family and friends as part of the community, so we’ve set the same price for everyone! (Except for kids – those little beasts are free as usual 🙂 )

And..! We want to give ALL OF YOU a big thank-you for being with us, so this year we’ll skip the awards and have a fun BINGO night instead!!!

Hope to see you, your family, and your friends there soon!

————————

Place:   InterContinental Tokyo Bay, 6F Manhattan
             https://www.interconti-tokyo.com/en/manhattan/

Date:    Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Time:    18:30 – 21:00

Food:   French cuisine
Drinks: Free-flow beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks
Fun:     Bingo night

Payment Info:
TSPS Members, Family and Friends
Adults (12+) :           ¥10,000
Children (under 12) : Free

Deadline: Saturday, November 26, 18:00
Payment: Online by credit card only (no cash or on-the-day payments)

PAY HERE↓
https://tspsjapan.org/asp-products/end-of-year-party-2025/

What a weekend we had at Inawashiro Lake! Sun, sails, speed, and some seriously good food made this year’s BBQ one to remember.

The Yamaha jet ski was the star of the show – a top-of-the-line machine hitting 98 kph. For several members it was their very first ride, and one even called it a “bucket list moment.” Not a bad way to spend a Saturday!
Sailing conditions Saturday morning were just right for learning, with one new Sunfish sailor logging hours of practice alongside an experienced instructor. Windsurfing and sailing kept going right up until the BBQ kicked off at 5 pm.
…And what a BBQ it was. Frank deserves legendary status for running two charcoal grills at once, chicken and potatoes sizzling on one, steaks on the other. Huge thanks also to Nao and Yumikofor making it all happen. On Sunday morning, French toast and bacon brought everyone together again – probably the one thing that actually went according to plan that day! 

Sunday’s adventures continued with the Yamaha jet boat. Five members had a blast wakeboarding and cruising, even if the ride back across the lake was a head-banging battle with the chop. Spirits stayed high, though – no waves could sink the fun.
The wind cranked up on Sunday, keeping most of the boats grounded. Safety first! By late afternoon the gusts eased and a few lucky sailors squeezed in one last session before heading home.

Even for those who couldn’t get on the water as much as they hoped, feedback was overwhelmingly positive – from the beautiful scenery, to the great food, and the lively atmosphere shared with fellow TSPS members.

Special thanks to Alex, who not only repaired the blue Sunfish after some damage but also added two extra outlets to the storage container. Future sailors will thank you!

All in all – an amazing weekend with the best crew around. Can’t wait to do it again next year!