We Made It To Okinawa!!

The Port of Inobe to the Port of Iejima : 78 nautical miles

09:00 Departed from the Port of Inobe

17:00 We arrived Okinawa!

A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained wind speed over 30 knots was developed, so we got stuck in Okinoerabu Island for three days.

While we were there, we kept checking the weather forecast from the Japan Meteorological Association.


On July 30, 2010, the tropical cyclone moved away. We finally departed from Okinoerabu to Okinawa. It was cloudy. The wave heights were around 1.5 meters to 2.5 meters. Of course it was not the best cruising condition but I thought it was good enough to go to Okinawa.

We gradually started to see Okinawa, and it looked like a huge dragon sleeping on the surface of the sea. We have finally come here. A long long time ago, ancient sailors/people must have seen the sight just like this......the same imager as I was just looking at it....... I thought.....

Well, bad news. We couldn't reserve a hotel room in Okinawa today. Most of the hotels in the main island of Okinawa had no room because there appear to be some big events taking place. We were hoping that some hotels in Iejima would have vacancies because it is far away from Naha, the capital city in Okinawa.

Also we needed to refuel Lukia as soon as we could. The Port of Iejima was the nearest one. So we turn Lukia in the direction of Iejima.

I heard Iejima Channel was the most difficult sea to cruise in Okinawa area.

The currents were strong, but it wasn't too bad for a Minor 29DC.
The port which we arrived was newly constructed and very easy to use.

We refueled our boat. Mr. Miyagi, the owner of the fuel station near the port gave us a warm welcome. He asked us where we came from and what our plan would be.

He called his friends at a restaurant and we all got together. We all had great conversations about our cruise for a long time. They were very kind and friendly. The local food in Okinawa was very good.
They suggested that the Port of Iejima would be a better place to moor than the Port of Ginowan.
Additionally, Mr. Miyagi offered us that he would be willing to maintain our boat, if we would want him to.

Indeed, Iejima is one of the most beautiful places in Okinawa. There are beautiful coral reefs surrounding the island, amazing white sand beaches, blue sky, clear water and dazzling sunlight. This is a tranquil southern island, a tropical paradise!

Next morning, we told Mr. Miyagi that we decided to moor our boat at the Port Iejima. He certainly welcomed our idea, and was more than happy to help us.

As we were leaving, we were looking at our boat, Lukia. She was now saferly moored. We kept staring at her.........until we could no longer see her.........

Our long cruise from Yokohama to Okinawa was, finally, over.

Okinoerabu

Tokunoshima to  Okinoerabu: 29 nautical miles

06:20 Depart from Hiradono port

11:00 Arrived Inobe port.

A little cyclon was developping. The big waves surrounding Amamioshima were around 4 to 6 meters today, but the waves around here Tokunoshima were about  2 meters fortunately. If we would depart one day after, It might be dangerous cruise.

We departed from Tokunoshima to Inobe port in Okinoerabusima at 7:00.

It was only 29 miles journey. However, the waves were over 2 meters with strong wind and rain. It was deadly if we might be careless.
The speed was limited within around 4 to 8 knots. but a semi-displacement type boat like Minor 29 was tough in such case.

Our boat Lukia was waving on the sea for four hours. Our Camera(EOS kiss) on the shelf dropped down to the floor and the prism lens in it was not in the right place unfortunately. That was a hard cruise.

Inobe port.

Inobe port has a new port. We entered into it.

Tokunoshima

July 26, 2010

Amamioshima to Tokunoshima : 59 nautical miles

A kind fisherman helped us to moor Lukia to the quay safely.  Mami presented him soaps we have. He gave us a fresh tuna for a return gift.

He said

"You should better pass the east side of islands. In other words, China Sea."

In summer season, the southward wind blows on Okinawa district. The wind is weakened by the mountains on the island, the northern sea of the islands become calm down.

"Is there any fuel stations?"

"Every islands are available for fuel."

Fishermen have good information always.

We departed to Tokunoshima from Amamioshima.

Tokunoshima. It was cloudy.

We reached Hiradono fishing port.
Hiradono port is a small port, and leafs are spread out under the water. You know, You need attention in the new port.

Hiradono port

We could get water and ice and fuel (307L) at fisherman's cooperative.

We ate sashimi cooked by Mami.

Tide lifted our boat at the limit level of the quay. The pencil fenders are not so effective for this type of quay. I checked lines sometimes all the night. 

Pass throgh Tokara

July 25, 2010 

Kuchinoshima to Amami Island : 118 nautical miles

Today we challenged the chain of islands Tokara. That is a difficult zone.

We depared from Nishinohama port at 05:00. The master, his mother, Taro(goat) and  Jiro(dog) saw us off at the quay.

"What's her name?" He asked me the name of our boat.

"Her name is Lukia.", I answered.

"What does it mean?"

"It's a kind of names! for example Santa Lucia, St. Light in Latin!!"

I shouted to him on our boat Lukia leaving the quay.

Suddenly he started to sing Italian song "Santa Lucia" for us with very very genuine voice.
The singing voice gently pushed Lukia out to the ocean, and slowly but surely she started to cruise.

It was a tranquil moring.

Nakanoshima

Nakanoshima

Suwanosejima

Some wild dolphins came near us all of a sudden.

While passing Suwanose island to Akusekijima, we encountered huge group of dolphins

As we kept speed at 8 knots constantly, the number of dolphins increased more and more. Eventually there were around  30 - 50 dolphins swimming parallel to the boat over 30 minutes.
When our boat stopped, they also stopped, as if they were saying "Don't stop. we want more."

Dolphins seemed to enjoy swimming with us, however, as a matter of fact they were waiting to snatch fishes we might catch.

Seems like they thought we were fisherman who troll. Whether it is true or not,  we were so happy to meet dolphins.

Akuseki Island

The waves between Takarajima and Amamioshima were gradually getting higher, reaching around 1.5 to 2 meters. However, we had no problems to get through that area as long as we could cruise at 8 knots(1700RPM). We could saved the fuel consumption as well. The fuel consumption of 100 miles from Kuchinoshima to Amamioshima was only 320L.

We stopped Lukia at Okuma fishing port in Amamioshima island. The dangerous zone for the under 30 footer boat was finished.

We could moor Lukia at the quay. A fisherman leaded our boat an appropriate place of  the quay.
He asked us

"Where do you come from?"

"Yokohama"

"Crazy!"

Many person interested to our boat.
I heard a man said  to his friend, "That is a boat I read in a boat magazine."
I feel Minor fan is increasing in Japan.

We passed through chain of islands Tokara!

We took a hot spring, dinner, oil massage at the Sea Side View Hotel.

The Most Dangerous Spot in Tokara

July 24,2010

Yakushima to Kuchinoshima : 49 nautical miles

10:00 Fuel

11:45 Depart from Yakushima

15:50 Kuchinoshima Nisinohama port

18:00 Fuel by myself

We depated from Yakushima at 11:45. We could take a good rest in a boat.

The distance of the route of passing Tokara Islands is about 150 nautical miles.
Tokara chain islands is very very difficult route. There are rapid current and strong wind making choppy waves, and there is no port for fuel.

If you are going to pass through Tokara, you need a boat she has 300 miles range for safety journey. The range of Minor 29 is estimated about 150 miles with 400L fuel.  

We departed from Yakushima with 400L fueled main tank plus 200L reserved fuel. 

Yesterday we ordered a fuel station to bring a 200L fueled dram to Kuchinoshima island for back up. So we passed trough Tokara Islands with totally 800L fuel.

However even ancient people lived in Tokara moved from island to island by a tiny simple raft. There is no reason we can not do it!

The Kuroshio current was very weak today and it was fine day with no wind. I thought It was the best day to pass through Tokara Islands.

Kuroshio current

Just a soft wind makes such a wave like that.

Kuchinosima.

Nishinohama port

Kuchinoshima Nisinohama port. I've never seen such a blue water until then.

The master of the Hamayuso  inn was a principal of the musician school in Hiroshima.

He taught many famous professional singer in Japan. He has a  specialty in jazz music. 

He retired and is managing the Hamayuso with his old mother and Taro and Jiro. Taro is a goat and Jiro is a dog. That was a kind of the wonder land.

He helped us putting the fuel from dram to our boat very kindly.

Yakushima

July 23, 2010

Miyazaki Marina to Aburatsu : 24 nautical miles
Yakushima Island : 91 nautical miles

05:00 Depart

10:00 Depart from Aburatsu port

16:00 Arrived to Yakushima

Miyazaki marina is very shallow, it is available only high tide.

We had to depart there at 5:00.

It was calm and fine day. We cruise out from the marina into the silent sea. We Japanese love sun rize very much.

Next port for fuel is Aburatsu. It is a good harbor too.

We changed the engine oil of Minor 29 there.

In the case of Minor 29DC, the engine is installed under the pilot house.
Its merit is
1) Weight balance. engine located on the center of the boat is advantage.

2) Safety. engine room is covered by cabin, the water can not penetrate easily.

The demerit is its noise.  we have to cruise in a noisy cabin.
The more important demerit is unpleasantness of working condition for maintenance.
It is narrow and hot to change the oil like the picture!
You should better be your weight appropriate if you own Minor 29DC.
 

Tanegashima was Dead calm. This area is usually rough sea.

Makejima

Yakushima

There is kuroshio current between Kyushu and Yakushima island. But it was not high tide, the current was not very strong.

Yakushima island was the one of our goal for a long time. Because our boating begun from Yakushima. But it was not a boat but kyayak.

Abo port( Yakushima)

Fortunately we've got to reach Yakushima, we wanted to go so far.
The climate was fine, no wind, the current was not so strong - I thought they were very rare condition to across the Tokara island.

Now we decided to go to Tokara!
I looked up the Scorpion watching down us silently.