Tag Archives: education

Our secret sauce: Strong Social Circles – Keelhaul September

News, Events, , , , ,

Calling All Boating Enthusiasts!

Are you passionate about sailing and eager to build long-lasting friendships in Japan? Do you want to find a vibrant community in Tokyo with other boat enthusiasts? Do you carve speed and would like to try wakeboarding? TSPS Japan welcomes you!

Our secret sauce: Strong Social Circles

TSPS Japan offers a unique environment to connect, learn, and grow alongside fellow boating enthusiasts. Beyond the technical skills, fostering strong social circles within, our vibrant community unlocks numerous benefits.  

Mentorship and support

Experienced sailors like Eugen, our Commander Emeritus, gladly share their wisdom and foster a culture of mentorship and growth. He continuously inspires us all with exciting boating stories and his past adventures.

Eugene, thank you for joining the Keelhaul in September!

Shared experiences and how to develop valuable skills while having fun

All sailors face similar challenges and triumphs. Sharing these experiences strengthens community bonds and creates a sense of belonging. It also inspires the sailors to work towards common goals and objectives. Working together on boat maintenance activities helps you develop essential soft skills like leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Plus, you’ll gain handyman skills for future boat upkeep!  

Please meet Timothy, the outspoken guy with a charming smile, who recently got a new boat that he wants to renovate. Some people say that bigger is always better, and when it comes to boating, we cannot disagree with this statement. 

Let me tell you more secrets! Some of the TSPS members are already helping Timothy to refresh his new boat and make his dream happen—a huge thank you to all who contribute with their time and expertise. I hope Timothy has been serving good pizza that we get at Pizzakaya in Roppongi during the Keelhaul events. By the way, if you need a sailboat, Tim’s dream Yamaha 26′ “Santana” is now for sale!

Celebrate Triumphs Together

Speaking about triumphs, kindly take inspiration from Claude (our resident Yoda of education in TSPS!) and his racing team with their beautiful sailboat, Anais. They all love speed and challenges and as Claude proudly says, “Nothing makes you a better sailor than participation in races”.

Their dedication and hard work paid off with a well-deserved 3rd place finish in the Tokyo Bay regatta – now that’s something to celebrate as Anais got listed in the Kazi boating magazine for this significant success. Look at that happy face!

Collaboration is Key

Strong social connections lead to better communication and teamwork on board and ashore. Our boating and activity nerds are discussing innovative ways to utilize the Hayama boats. Be prepared for exciting changes and digital transformation at TSPS Japan!

Speaking of innovation, Vlad, our energetic member, returned from his break with a renewed spirit to introduced us to a more agile process for boating activities. With the same, he decided to hide the current paperwork under his t-shirt. We all value individuals and interactions over processes and tools!

Grow Personally and Professionally

TSPS Japan offers a wealth of networking opportunities and cultural exchange. Engaging in social activities helps you develop essential soft skills and broaden your horizons by interacting with sailors from diverse backgrounds. Boating together is a fantastic way to achieve this!

Join the Fun!

Looking for some fun and recreation? We’d love for you to join our next event – a camping and boating trip to Lake Inawashiro on September 14th-15th!

Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of creepy crawlies (we’re just kidding… maybe a little!).  You can relax at the local onsen for a comfortable stay. Parking is also available at the lake, and the event is accessible by bullet train from Tokyo.  It’s not too late to join!  Reach out to us at activities@tspsjapan.org.

Education is Essential

To navigate the waters of Japan, you’ll need a boating license.  Contribute to our future sailor society by enrolling in our new boat license classes 2 and 1!  Apply online here: https://tspsjapan.org/about-our-courses/class-1-2-japan-boat-license/jmra-signup-2/

Join Our Vibrant Community!

New to Tokyo or want to learn more about TSPS Japan? We welcome you!  Reach out to us through our website: https://tspsjapan.org/

Preparing for the Japan Marine Recreation Association (JMRA) Class 2 Boat License exam through on-water practice sessions

Course Content, Events, News, Education Activities, , , ,

The JMRA summer class for 2024 has just concluded. Meet the happy team!

As participants await the results, let’s deep-dive into the details of TSPS – Water Practice for the JMRA Class 2 Exam.

Preparing for the Japan Marine Recreation Association (JMRA) Class 2 Boat License exam through on-water practice sessions provides numerous benefits. Here are some of these advantages:

Hands-On Experience:

  • Essential Preparation: On-water practice offers exposure to real-world boating scenarios under various conditions.
  • Confidence Boost: Gaining proficiency in boat controls, maneuvers, and safety procedures enhances confidence for the practical exam.

Exam Relevance:

  • Practical Assessment: The JMRA Class 2 exam includes an underway component, and practicing in advance ensures readiness for this part.
  • Navigational Proficiency: On-water sessions improve skills in navigation, buoy identification, and coastal geography.

Instructor Guidance:

  • Professional Advice: Instructors provide hands-on guidance during practice, offering feedback and rectifying mistakes.
  • Exercise Repetition: Instructors ensure exercises are repeated as necessary for complete comprehension.

Emergency Preparedness:

  • Challenge Management: Practicing on the water equips you to handle unexpected events such as engine failure, abrupt weather shifts, or navigational mistakes.
  • Safety Training: You’ll learn vital emergency procedures, including man-overboard recovery and distress signaling.

Boat Familiarization:

  • Vessel Understanding: Get to know the specific characteristics, responsiveness, and limits of boats.
  • Docking Skills: Practice essential techniques for docking, anchoring, and mooring.

Interactions:

  • Practicing on the water offers an excellent opportunity to engage with other international boating enthusiasts and also mastering the knot-tying skills essential for the Class 2 JMRA exam.

NEW!!! TSPS also provides Refresh Water Practice Classes for those who have already obtained their license but wish to improve their on-water skills. For any inquiries, please reach out to Education TSPS at education@tspsjapan.org.

Moreover, the TSPS offers advanced boating skills classes suitable for both sail and power boats, including the boat handling class from the United States Power Squadrons. This class covers practical skills like real-world docking, collision avoidance, and navigation. A new session will be available this Fall.

Remember, the more time you invest in on-water practice, the more prepared you will be for boating activities!

Wishing you safe and successful boating and sailing!

References:

Class 1 & 2 Japan Boat License | Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron
Guide to Examination for Boat’s Operator (JMRA)
Credit for pictures: Jochen Damerau & Maria M. Tenold

Gripping Hitch Knots

News, , ,

Get A Grip: BoatUS Article

In the June issue of BoatUS magazine, Evan Starzinger wrote a basic yet interesting article about three gripping hitches used to join two lines together while one line is under load. These are particularly useful when for one reason or another the load on a line is too great to manage by hand and requires transferring it to a winch or block to safely or more easily deal with.

I’ve used the icicle hitch to transfer a fully loaded jib sheet to a cleat because overwraps on the winch had tightened to the point I could no longer ease out the jib. Another use was at anchor. Voyager has an eight-foot bowsprit and leading the anchor rode to the end of the bowsprit eliminates chafing problems as the boat swings on the tides. By running a line through a block at the end of the spar then back to the bow and hitching it to the anchor rode, the rode can then be moved well forward and  away from the shrouds that support the bowsprit.

Gripping hitches are useful and important and should be in every sailor’s inventory of quickly deployable knots.

You can read the article here.