By: Remi Wyszynski
July 13~15, 2024
Sail Plan: Hota (Chiba Peninsula), Misaki (Miura Peninsula), Enoshima Island, Isshiki Beach (Hayama), back to home-port Hota.
Photos: Timothy Langley
After a hot beginning to July, surrounded by the reflective glass and heat retaining
concrete of central Tokyo, it seemed appropriate to spend the long weekend on the
water. I inquired among TSPS members, eventually successfully becoming indentured
once again on the good ship Garuda as first mate under Captain Evan. The overall plan
was to jointly sail alongside 26′ sailing vessel Santa, captained by Timothy Langley, over
the three-day holiday weekend (Marine Day, July 15 th ). The excitement of such a
journey was palpable as we prepared to leave port, knowing we would be navigating
through the beautiful yet challenging waters of Tokyo Bay, through the tiny port of Misaki
(at the tip of the Yokohama peninsula) and into the massive expanse of Sugaru Bay.
The companionship of Santa provided a sense of camaraderie and mutual support,
setting a positive tone for the three-day adventure ahead.
We departed on a Saturday from Hota, a small local fishing port
that somehow over the years allowed 4 or 5 sailing yachts to tie onto the quay there.
We set our sights on Misaki, the wind cutting directly across our port-bow. The journey
was motivated by the promise of an evening indulging in mezcal and tacos at the
renowned restaurant Mezcal Love.
As we crossed the shipping lane of Tokyo Bay, the anticipation of the destination added an extra thrill to the voyage. The idea of a night filled with culinary delights and vibrant conversation kept our spirits high despite the challenges we were likely to face at sea.
The weather conditions were gustier than we had anticipated; wind speeds hit a thrilling 18 knots per hour from the south. Garuda, however, demonstrated her pedigree as a racer cruiser, maintaining a consistent speed of 7.5 knots under these sporty conditions. The thrill of navigating through such robust winds was exhilarating (to mention nothing about dodging and weaving through no less than 4 massive tankers going out. Thus, Garuda showcased her true capabilities. In just three short hours, we arrived at Misaki, our journey marked by both the challenges of the sea and the prowess of our ship.
Upon docking, almost as delightful as the promise of Mexican spirits was the refreshing hose shower on the dock. After being exposed to the elements, the cool water was a welcome reprieve, rejuvenating us for the evening ahead.
The anticipation of the culinary experience at Mezcal Love kept our spirits high as we gave Garuda her own freshwater shower and prepared to indulge in the flavors of mezcal and tacos, a reward for the journey we had just undertaken.
Following the delicious mezcal, we continued our revelry on the boats. The night was filled with the magical sight of bioluminescence in the water, while a gentle pattering of rain disturbed the surface just enough to make it look like a starry night in the water. Enthralled by the beauty around us, we took a midnight swim, each stroke and kick in the water creating a burst of green incandescence.
After another refreshing freshwater shower on the dock to rinse off the salt, we exchanged stories of defying death on the high seas late into the night, the shared experiences and natural wonders creating an unforgettable atmosphere of camaraderie and adventure.
The next morning, we woke up and explored the town of Misaki, venturing to Jogasaki. Just as popular as Mescal Love is Misaki Donuts which pair deliciously with the coffee from the second floor of the Urarai Seafood market which focuses on selling produce from local farmers. In season are watermelons, cantaloupe and honeydew. Some of the sweetest fruits I have ever tasted.
Our next destination lay across Sagami Bay: Enoshima, the site of the 2020 sailing Olympics, where we planned to drop off some passengers at the marina before backtracking to Isshiki Beach. In contrast to the previous day, the weather was sunny with light winds, providing the perfect opportunity to practice with the spinnaker… a kind of kite-like sail. Until then, I had never done any foredeck work and had always watched from the cockpit as the spinnaker was prepared to be flown. This time, under the guidance of Captain Evan from the helm, I set the pole, ran the lines back to the cockpit, and prepared to raise this large, bulbous sail.
Unfortunately, I made an error and ran the sheet through the pole backward, causing the sail to not fully deploy, with some of it even falling into the water. Thankfully, the forgiving weather allowed us to re-rig it without much trouble, and soon enough, the spinnaker was flying beautifully (and importantly, drying out). What followed was a wonderful run, making good time to Enoshima. Lunch underway consisted of delicious curry-flavored cup noodles, which tasted all the better as we watched the beautiful Japanese coast sail past us.
After dropping off our passengers, we beat back into the wind to anchor just off Isshiki Beach, which has good sandy bottom into which we sank Garuda’s anchor.
Just over a year ago, I had visited this same beach with a group of friends. That day, I saw a yacht come and anchor off the beach, reminding me of my childhood when my family would sail to islands and anchor off pristine beaches, close enough to swim to land. It was then that my passion for sailing and determination to get back on the water were reignited.
I made it my goal to find a sailing community and eventually join a trip to Isshiki Beach to swim to shore. At the time, I thought that was a far-off goal and that it would take years and owning my own boat to make it a reality.
But thanks to TSPS and the friends I have been able to make, in less than a year, I found myself reliving my childhood, swimming to the beach to enjoy the rest of the day among friends.
As I swam to shore, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of fulfillment and gratitude. The journey had not only brought me back to a cherished place but also connected me with a community that shared my love for the sea. We spent the rest of the day on the beach, reminiscing about our adventures and looking forward to the ones yet to come.
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This post was written by Remi Wyszynski. It is about the July 13~15 three-day weekend that included the Japanese National Holiday ‘Marine Day’. Please post a comment or reaction so others might likewise embellish the TSPS blog “Skuttlebutt” with their stories, too!