Welcome to the TSPS Tokyo Tiller Newsletter for November 2026

In this issue, some interesting boating links and resources, and news about the upcoming year-end Keelhaul. But first, a word from our Commander, Remi Wyszynski:

Message from TSPS Commander

This fall a number of famous races have started, like the Golden Globe Race. Some have already crowned their victor, like the Rhoute du Rhum. 

I have been following along and participating in the virtual versions of these races. Without the wind, waves, cold, and exhilaration of the real thing, you might wonder, what’s the point? Well, I have learned more about weather patterns and weather routing than at any other time while still on land. I can now see what patterns to watch for on ocean crossings, up and down the Atlantic, beneath the Cape of Good Hope and into the Indian Ocean. 

For those of us with aspirations to cross an ocean, virtual racing can be a way to dip our feet into the ocean and train one piece of the puzzle while we gather the rest.

I hope everyone will take advantage of the nice winters in Japan to keep sailing. See you out on the water! 

TSPS Commander 

Remi Wyszynski 

Where to buy boat bits

There are various shops and websites where you can buy boat parts and marine goods in Japan. My number one go-to place if I need a boat part, a custom-sized rope with an eye-splice or a sail repair, is Yuukou Marine, run by Colin Ferrel. The shop in Nishinomiya is an amazing Aladdin’s Cave of every kind of marine equipment or clothing you can think of. You can buy items directly through their website but if you cannot find what you are looking for, send them an email (English OK) to explain exactly what you want. They will go out of their way to help and their prices are reasonable. (Link)

Another shop I use is ONZE Marinet (Link). They are the oldest marine goods retailer in Japan, having been founded in 1852! If you are working in Tokyo their shop near Shintomicho station is very convenient to pop into during the week to pick up a shackle or a piece or rope so that you can start sailing straight away at the weekend. They also have an online shop. Another option is KAZI Sea Plaza (Link), or occasionally I order things from Force 4 Chandlery in the UK (Link) who ship to Japan like many other overseas marine retailers. If you have any other recommendations, let us know.

Where to get information about boating in Japan

If you want to get information or advice about boating or sailing in Japan, your first port of call should be the TSPS! With around 100 members, there is bound to be someone who can answer whatever question you might have, whether it is how to use a Japanese fishing harbour, what licenses and registrations you need for a boat, or recommendations for the best marinas to keep your boat. Come to the monthly TSPS Keelhaul meetups (first Wednesday of the month) to talk boats and expand your network of boaty contacts. Or you can search through the many interesting articles on the Scuttlebutt page of the TSPS website (Link). One professional source of information in English is Konpira Yacht Services run by Canadian Kirk Patterson. There are a lot of interesting articles about sailing in Japan on his website, so check it out: (Link).

November Keelhaul

The November Keelhaul meetup was held on 4 November at Gotanda Devilcraft. Due to inclement weather (haven’t we had enough rain this year?!!!) only nine brave souls made it aboard. Your reporter was unable to attend so I cannot comment on what was discussed, but I have no doubt that an amazing volume of boating knowledge, nautical insight and rip-roaring tales of daring-do on the high seas was exchanged.

2026 Year-End Keelhaul

We will hold our last Keelhaul meetup of the year on Wednesday 2 December at Gotanda Devilcraft (Link) Everyone welcome! To celebrate Christmas, anyone wearing something Christmasy will receive a free beer, compliments of the TSPS Bridge Committee. The Club will also serve extra free pizzas and we will be giving away TSPS 70th Anniversary floating keyrings. See you there!

Picture of the Month

The TSPS 70th Anniversary Grand Quiz

1) What exactly happened to you if an 18th-century captain ordered you to be “keelhauled”?

A) You were dragged underneath the entire length of the ship’s bottom to get a very painful, barnacle-covered “exfoliation treatment.”

B) You were forced to carry the heaviest piece of the ship’s framework up a mountain using only your teeth.

C) You were tasked with scrubbing the captain’s personal dirty laundry using nothing but a dull pocketknife and saltwater.

D) You were locked in the cargo hold with the ship’s rats and forced to listen to the first mate play the bagpipes for 48 hours straight.

2) If a vessel is showing a white-over-red all-round light combination, what does it mean?  

3) Which planet in the solar system has the highest surface temperature?

A) Mercury

B) Venus 

C) Mars 

D) Jupiter

4) How many islands does Japan have?

A) 6,852

B) 14,125

5) If your sailboat is described as being “in irons,” what nightmarish scenario are you actually experiencing?

A) The crew has finally mutinied and locked the captain in heavy steel handcuffs in the brig.

B) The boat is pointed directly into the wind and completely stuck, unable to move or turn onto a new tack.

C) You completely forgot to iron your official yacht club blazer before setting sail.

D) The hull has accidentally been fused to a massive block of scrap metal at the harbor bottom.

6) If you see a black and yellow buoy with two black triangles pointing upwards, on what side should you pass it?

7) When returning from open sea into a Japanese harbor what color buoys should you keep on your starboard side?

8) Why couldn’t the skeleton go sailing with the rest of the pirate crew?

A) Because he was afraid of water.

B) Because he didn’t have the guts to face the waves!

C) Because he couldn’t swim.

D) Because he forgot his life jacket.

9) What is a neap tide? Tides with highest or smallest difference in height.

10) What does one short blast indicate when two power-driven vessels are in sight of one another? I am turning to port or starboard?

11) Which country possesses the longest total coastline in the world, bordered by three different oceans?

12) In a crossing situation, power-driven Vessel A sees power-driven Vessel B approaching from its starboard side. Which vessel is designated as the give-way vessel?

13) How many stations are there on the Yamanote line?

14) How many cars are there on a Yamanote line train?

15) What is the height of Mt. Fuji in meters?

The Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron celebrated its 70th Anniversary in grand style with a sumptuous BBQ party at Yumenoshima Marina on Saturday 3 October. Neptune gave us his blessing in the form of a glorious sunny and warm day, with the sun sparking off the waters of the marina and the drinks in our hands.

The party was well attended with over 25 people including current and past members and their friends and family. Commander Remi launched the event with a speech in which he reflected on the long history of the squadron and the work of past commanders and members that had laid the foundations for what we enjoy today. After a toast the BBQ got underway, with large amounts of delicious food cooked, consumed and washed down with generous quantities of drinks over the course of the afternoon. To celebrate this significant milestone in the squadron’s history, all participants received a floating keyring holder as a 70th Anniversary memento.

During the party, Remi called upon past commanders Mike Snyder, Gary Thomas and Eugen Mall to share their memories and tales of the squadron in the past. Eugen gave his recollections while resplendently dressed in a cap that was a replica of those worn by the German navy in 1911. 

Halfway through the afternoon the TSPS 70th Anniversary Grand Quiz was held, with 15 dastardly difficult questions designed to test the participants nautical and general knowledge to the limit. Tom Procter achieved the highest score with an impressive total of 12 correct answers, enabling him to have first choice of an extensive array of prizes including bottles of rum and wine, luxurious Imabari towels and other items of treasure.

Next there was a lucky draw with the winners receiving an elegant metal pin-badge of the TSPS flag, and throughout the afternoon a large selection of TSPS swag was on sale at discounted prices, including polo shirts, long-sleeved shirts and hats. Bargains galore!

No party can be successful without a huge amount of planning and organisation, and on this occasion it was largely due to the hard work of Svetlana. After thanking her for her efforts, we celebrated the fact that she and Alex were getting married the following weekend by presenting her with a wedding card signed by everyone and a bottle of champagne. Congratulations and wishing you a long and happy life together!

With the sun setting on what had been a glorious day and a thoroughly enjoyable party, it was time to take a photo of that wonderful group of people who are us, the Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron. Long may the squadron and its members thrive!

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! ⚓

SuperKeelhaul 2026