Sailing in Okinawa

  I’ve been putting a sailing resume together and remembered that the hand hel GPS units I’ve used over the years had my totals on them.

  GINOWAN MARINA, Okinawa, Japan — (Apr. 24, 2021)  Spent the night with the boys aboard Knotty Girl last night. Breakfast was takeout from McDonald’s and we played several games of Uno waiting for the X-box to update.

EAST CHINA SEA, Japan (April 17, 2021) — The day started early for Knotty Girl and the YouTube Sailebrities of S/V Shinki Itten as James, Ayano and Captain J met at Ginowan Marina at 7 a.m.  We motored out Sand Island about two hours away under 10 knot winds and flat seas but gloomy and chilly overcast skies.  On the way Captain J deployed the new “poor man’s drone” a GoPro Max on a 30-foot collapsible pole to get some “overhead” shots. Upon arrival at Chibi Shi (Sand Island), Captain J launched the inflatable kayak to get some off-boat shots of Knotty Girl after the crew decided going into the 71-degree water was not going to happen. James took the helm as we motored off the coast and the two dive boats anchored off the south coast of Sand Island.  Then we motored back with the jib.  Upon return we dropped James off dockside then initiated parking procedure (backwards) in. James stood by on the slip finger ready to catch the bowline from Ayano. Total trip was 15.1 N...

EAST CHINA SEA (April 13, 2021) — YouTubers — S/V Shinki Itten — joined the crew of S/V Knotty Girl for a two-hour sunset cruise. Captain Vincent of S/V Taihei also joined for the trip. The Shinki Itten crew — James and Ayano — is visiting Okinawa for the first time so Capt. J wanted to make the trip up the coast fun with a few extra hands. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. This was also Capt. Vincent’s first sail aboard S/V Knotty Girl, a 1996 Okazaki-made 34-foot cruiser.

 Had dinner with the crew of S/Y Irene from Seattle who are on their second circumnavigation and cruising through Japan. Peter and Ginger are really nice and had a fun night with food and drinks as we talked about a variety of topics. I originally “met” them after they posted a photo in the Facebook group, “Sailing in Japan” when they posted a photo of their boat saying they had arrived at Yonabaru Marina. Told them I’d like to meet and they said they were headed to Zamami Island.  Fortunately I was also going to Zamami and we met there. Even rafted next to their 50-foot Ketch in the Zamami Harbor.  Great folks. Monday they are heading north to mainland Japan and eventually back to their home port of Seattle. You can read more about their adventures on their blog:  https://oceanswell.blogspot.com/ Fair winds and following seas, Peter and Ginger.

 If you’d like to buy me a coffee to support my efforts to increase awareness about sailing in Okinawa please click on the link below: https://ko-fi.com/sailingokinawa Thanks Knotty Captain