DevilCraft in Gotanda was the venue for our February Keelhaul. More than 25 Members joined this event: four Bridge Officers, two prospective new Members, and four Guests. Keelhaul is our most regular social feature, followed by annual BBQs, on-the-water cruises, and Yokohama Boat Show (coming up at the end of March!). TSPS is an NPO that is dedicated to learning & gaining experience in sailing & boating inJapanese waters, to getting licensed, and to meeting likeminded people in this, the world’s largest megatropolis. The Keelhaul supplements the work of the webpage by spreading information on cruising availabilities and Class schedules, bringing-in new Members, and allowing everyone to meet with and talk (brag) about sailing with the leadership and Instructors. Here are some of the Keelhaul Participants: Timothy Langley, Secretary & Legal Officer Vllad Legeza, Boating Activities Chair Claude Strobbe, Education Officer Will Wade, Membership Chair Yves Simon, John Kratochvil, Lowell Sheppard, Nemanja Komatinovic, Ashley Smart, Alexan, Andrei Enshin, Wolfgang Bierers, Raymond Leung
Paolo Montesel, New Member Ben Knuth, New Member Tomiko Ishizuka, Guest Anthony Hardie, Guest Maya Matsuoka, Guest Kristina Stojchevska, Guest Patrick McEvelly, Guest
Please connect with everyone via Linked-in or FaceBook so we can continue to grow thiscommunity…
DevilCraft in Hamamatsucho was the venue for our first TSPS Keelhaul-of-the-Year.
More than 25 Members joined this monthly beerfest & deep-dish Chicago pizza, four prospective new Members, and two new Members. Keelhaul is the most regular social feature of TSPS, followed by our twice-annual BBQs, the on-the-water cruises, and the annual Yokohama Boat Show.
Otherwise and as you know, TSPS is primarily about learning and gaining experience in sailing & boating in Japanese waters, getting licensed, and for meeting other likeminded people in the world’s largest megatropolis.
The Keelhaul supplements the work of the webpage by spreading information on cruising availabilities and Class schedules, bringing-in new Members, and allowing everyone to meet with and talk (brag) about sailing with the leadership and Instructors (who are all drunkards in any event).
Please bookmark the webpage for the Calendar-of-Events and by all means reserve the First Wednesday of Every Month for our regularly scheduled Keelhauls (venue changes frequently).
The 2022 year-end blow-out party, the annual TSPS Bonenkai, was successfully held on December 7th at the Pullman Hotel in Tamachi. Approximately 30 Members showed-up with 7 guests. The buffet was luxuriant and food, plentiful; the libations flowing as one would expect.
In a distinct break from tradition, entertainment this year was an Awards Ceremony. Six highly-coveted trophies were commissioned by the Bridge. As the photos reveal, no-expense was spared to produce the most glorious representation of achievement in the several distinct categories.
The six awards, and the winners this year, were:
1.The Blue Bucket Award: this handsome trophy is a framed fragment of a destroyed blue-plastic bucket. This represents the accomplishments of our TSPS Member (a duo this year!) who, in spite of a mere tiny challenge, devoted incredible energy & resources, at considerable risk, to achieve a very minor goal, causing great destruction in the process.
The 2022 Winners of this Award are Tony Whitman and Hunter Brumfield, presented in absencia to Bridge Commander Michael Snyder.
2.Most Dayson the Water Award: this trophy consists of a Gift Certificate from renowned local divorce-specialist law firm Dewey Cheatum & Howe for free-consultation in the inevitable event of divorce proceedings by a distraught and neglected wife. The Award goes to that special individual who has most-successfully avoided home-duties by spending all of his available free-time on his boat (or that of a friend’s). The elaborately framed-certificate includes helpful instructions to “Break Glass In Case Of Emergency” instructions.
The Award for 2022 goes to Timothy Langley.
3.Captain of the Year Award: this framed coveted-trophy is otherwise known as “The Captain Crunch Award”. It consists of a luxuriantly-framed cereal box with a copy of a wrecked yacht pasted on the bottom: obviously tremendous thought and no expense were spared creating this gem. The Award is self-explanatory.
The Award for 2022 goes to Claude Strobbe.
4.Greatest Feat of the Year Award: this artful, highly-desired trophy represents the ability to rescue some minor token of victory in the face of otherwise total destruction. Against incredible odds, the winner exemplifies the ability in some TSPS Members to preserve a modicum of decency even in the face of abject humiliation.
The Award for 2022 goes to Evan Burkowsky.
5.Bent-Stanchion Award: this gorgeous silvery Trophy epitomizes the plight of all who devote money, resources and energy to repairing and preserving some object of great affection, only to have it reduced to junk in a single instance of inattention or cruel fate.
The Award for 2022 goes to Commander Michael Snyder.
6.Colossal Coupler Award: this desirous art-deco Trophy will occupy the entire tabletop of the proud winner. Such is the glamorous construction that it would not look out-of-place either outside behind the garage atop a pile of trash or even occupying the entry to a Fortune 100 corporate headquarters. This Trophy represents the enormous weight of responsibility and the pride of ownership conveyed to a boat-owner who is forever destined to simply pour money into a bottomless pit and still end up with a chunk of mere metal.
The Award for 2022 goes to William Van Alstine.
The Bridge acknowledges the great skill and determination of Svetlana Ilyushechkina for working & negotiating with the Pullman Hotel to host this very successful 2023 year-end event. Similarly, the Bridge is indebted to Andrew Lawson for the tremendous wit and suaveness brought to bear as a dynamic & engaging Master of Ceremony for the Awards portion of the evening. Finally, the Bridge would like to acknowledge the tremendous effort, creativity, and dumpster-diving skill evidenced by this year’s production of trophies by Evan Burkowsky and Timothy Langley (the various intellectual-property lawsuits notwithstanding).
Trophies by Timothy Langley
Bonenkai Photo Compilation:
Commander Mike Snyder opening the CeremonyClaus Eilersen, Raymond Leung, Charles Besford Evan Burkosky, Ash SmartJeff Canaday, Yves SimonSvetlana IlyushechkinaCommander Willian Van Alstine
Wishing you a great holiday season and year ahead of boating. We really appreciate your enthusiasm and look forward to seeing you at our activities, both social and educational.
This weekend’s TSPS Pool and Beach BBQ held at Acao Beach, just 15 minutes by taxi from Atami Station, was well-attended by almost 30 TSPS members, family, and friends.
After arriving in the afternoon, folks changed into their pool and party outfits and began to enjoy a friendly game of frisbee in the pool, drinks on the pool deck, and general conversation in the cool ocean breeze that came across the bay. As you can see in the photos below, the view from the pool was stunning, and there was easy access to the beach just down a small set of stairs. The party really kicked off once the plates of BBQ arrived, the grilling started, and everyone refilled their drink cups! Delicious wagyu, pork, and seasoned sausage sizzled on the grill, along with mounds of fresh king trumpet mushrooms （エリンギ）, carrots, green peppers, and other vegetables.
As evening started to set in, some folks grabbed a change of clothes for a trip to the local onsen, while Bill and others got a campfire going for everyone to enjoy. Many tales of sailing and powerboating were shared…while the details of other stories seemed to grow more heroic and daring as more cool refreshments were imbibed! After the fire died down, all retired to their tents and “glamping tents” for some much needed rest.
Folks that decided to stay were in for an incredible sunrise around 4:30am the next morning followed by more swimming and beach activities.
A return to Acao Beach is definitely on the TSPS calendar for next year! Thanks again Sveta for organizing such an incredible experience.
TSPS inaugural ladies sail training day took place yesterday, lead by Sveta. This was a trial run to ensure an all ladies beginner crew could manage the rope pulling and commanding so often left to the men. (The ladies don’t usually highlight this deviousness but you are all now in the know)! Sveta’s additional crew were 4 beginners and 1 experienced sailor. Predicted conditions were ideal and sailing until after 1400h proved magnificent, with lots of trust building through individual helming practice, a few drills, great breeze, controlled keeling and a firm decision that ‘ladies at the helm’ is the way to go!
At 1430h someone commented on the apocalyptic sky approaching from Enoshima. Another double checked weather apps but predicted conditions were unchanged. The two did not tally!
Seconds later thunder rolled and the sparkling day turned very dark. The wind immediately went from a lulling 10 knots to a constant 25-30 knots, with hail, thunder, lightening, manic black waves and zero visibility. 2 crew raced to remove the jib as a third started the engine and commandeered the main sail down. A swirling wind added to complexities for a while.
Two thirds of the crew were beginners, meaning instructions had to be concise and constantly monitored; most crucially that locking a cleat didn’t mean releasing it; that someone falling beneath a lowering boom (talking and unhurt) did not require as critical attention as getting the sail fully down; that flapping sheets did not need pulling and that donning waterproofs was low on the action list for immediate survival. Absolute teamwork ensured success.
With sails down, visibility was still zero and direction was tough to control, even under motor.
This outstanding crew proved highly dynamic and showed that calm decisions and directions can accomplish rough and unpredicted situations, even with beginners, as long as they trust the person in charge.
Thunder was still pounding as the boat approached port. Within the hour, the day returned to its earlier demeanor and all doubted their recent experience. A final flash of lightningput to bed any doubts that the storm had been imagined. Adrenalin was sky high by the end of the day and these ladies bonded for life.
Happy to report – no injuries, no loss of confidence, no boat damage but someone saw rods flying through the sky at one point and wondered what they were? Oh! That would be the four (yes, all four) battens flying to the heavens in their glorious bid farewell. A minor tip from this adventure…. The Yamaha 30 battens are not designed to stay in flapping sails. They need to design a safety mechanism such as a folded or angled pocket, velcro or a piece of string. Anyone who is sensitive to having ever lost a Hayama batten – it’s a design fault!
These 4 beginner sailors come highly recommended as quick learners, practical people and great company. Hoping they don’t expect too much further excitement on their next sail!
Go Team Sveta!
(Sveta, Aoise, Juliana, Elvira, Jenine and Tracey)
The vote was cast with no other nominations and was unanimously passed with a “Yea” from the TSPS members present, in addition to the 26 “Yea” votes and 2 “Nay” votes received by email (50 total “Yea” votes and 2 “Nay” votes).
Rick Pawell invited the newly elected officers to take the Oath of Office which duly followed, then turned over the meeting to the New Commander David Edwards.
Following a virtual “Toast to the New Bridge” the Change of Watch closed at 20.00 hours.
Richard (“Dick”) W. Schultz, an active member of TSPS for many years and former TSPS Commander, sadly passed away on Friday, October 22 following a fall near his home. He was 71 years old. His wake and funeral were held at the Machiya Funeral Hall in Arakawa-ku on October 27-28 and were well-attended by family and friends alike.
Dick was a lifelong lover of all types of boating, and he was a skilled small boat sail racer who won many trophies in the U.S. By the age of 15, Dick had even taught himself how to use a sextant. One of his favorite ways of showing visitors the beauty of Tokyo was by boat on the old canals that run through the center of the city, especially during cherry blossom season. He also enjoyed participating in powerboating events on lakes near the Tokyo area, and even was known to try wakeboarding! One of Dick’s last boating trips was to Lake Biwa with his friends.
Dick will be sorely missed by all of his friends at TSPS, and he will be forever in our hearts. Rest in peace.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Change of Watch this year was held last night, March 17th, via Zoom. In total, 33 TSPS members attended.
Following the outgoing Bridge officers reports and a brief question time, Commander David Edwards relieved the outgoing Bridge of their duties.
Secretary David Sutton-Kirkby cast a unanimous ballot for the following 2021 Bridge positions:
2021 Bridge Officers
COMMANDER – Rick Pawell
EXECUTIVE OFFICER – Stephan Riediger
SECRETARY – Timothy Langley
EDUCATION OFFICER – Jeff Canaday
ADMIN OFFICER – Claude Strobbe
TREASURER – Bill Van Alstine
The vote was cast with no other nominations and was unanimously passed with a “Yea” from the TSPS members present, in addition to the 17 “Yea” votes received by email (50 total “Yea” votes).
Chris Pitts invited the newly elected officers to take the Oath of Office which duly followed, then turned over the meeting to the New Commander Rick Pawell.
Following a virtual “Toast to the New Bridge” the Change of Watch closed at 20.00 hours.
