Around Osaka Bay Yacht Race. 大阪湾1周レース

ROXY our X-99 Yacht and crew think it is that time again and we thank the Kansai Yacht Club for preparing the  ”Around Osaka Bay’ yacht race once again.

The race start line is set for 19:00 June 5th. The Time Limit (Deadline)  is 16:00 June 6th.

At time of written this memo there are 15 boats entered in the race and I am sure late entries will be accepted.

The annual K.Y.C. “Around Osaka Bay” yacht race is a cheap and yet fantastic event. To the best of my knowledge it is the only race on the Japan yacht race calendar that has a start line set at 19:00. This provides a night start and I can promise you night starts and indeed night racing are very special.

Last year 16 boats lined up just in front of Kansai Yacht Club start line for what turned out to be a downwind spinnaker start.  The start was quite gentle however as the night went on the fleet picked up some nice 20 – 25 knot true and managed some pretty good times running down to the Sumoto mark. The Sumoto mark is set at 34.21.2 N and 134.57.2 E a distance of about 26 miles from K.Y.C start line. I recall I was driving “Spindrift” a Takaii T301 30 foot yacht and we rounded the mark a little after 12:00 am. For our aging sports cruiser that was not a bad time at all. Having traded the T-301 in for an X-99 yacht we called ROXY we are again hoping for some nice winds to blow us around the bay.

Of course a quick look at the boat entry list below and you will see that this years race will be include some very tough competition including a GP42, Three X-35, IMX38, Archambault and on the list goes. Make no mistake these are some very competitive boats and they will be out to win across the line.  Of course this race is not all about top class brand spanking new boats.  Our X-99 is a rebuilt boat of 19 years and she is joined in the veteran class by Lucky Too. So please if you have a yacht and would like to join us, come on and give it a try.

Now if you are not doing anything 5th and 6th of June come on and join in the Kansai yacht Clubs “Around Osaka Bay” Yacht Race. If you can’t make the race then come on out and watch the start you will be glad you did.

Boat Entry List as at June 1st 2010.

IRC Division

SWING           GP42 MOD        1.257
SUMMER GIRL     FIRST 40.7      1.067
RELAXIN’        IMX38           1.057
WAILEA          X-35 OD         1.056
NEUEROVE        X-35 OD         1.056
LAPIN BLEU      A-35            1.034
FIVE STAR       SEAM 31         1.017

WHITE SAIL Division.

C.ROSSETTI     BENE45F5
CYGNUS         DHL35CWS
DYANE          BENE300SPIRIT
FIVE STAR      SEAM31
LUCKY TOO      NIC30
OTENTOSUN      YOK36ON
ROXY           X99
TAM            ID35

Sailing Japan Winter Wear

I like to sail japan all year round. Recently several people asked me what we wear out there on such cold days. I remember when I first started out I had all the wrong warm gear which was heavy and a waste of money. I also know that some great gear is available from such firms as Musto with their 3 layer combinations but the cost is quite high. So for those of you who have an interest in knowing what I wear when sailing Japan in winter here is the budget clothes guide for winter sailors.  Cheap. Warm. Lightweight.

What is important to me when choosing winter sailing clothes? Not much but what their is I see as being important.

Compact and Lightweight . Everything we carry on board add to the weight and robs space from the boat. Apart from sailing my own boat I often crew for other skippers and I know they are happy to see how weight and space conscious I am when stepping on board. It’s just good manners to carry on as little as possible. However we do not want to become a burden because we haven’t carried enough kit to stay warm.  So warm, compact, lightweight.

No Cotton or Wool. I choose to wear no natural products when sailing winter. We need to dress in clothes that will dry as quickly as possible and preferably whilst still wearing them. I am afraid that as much as I love cotton it just takes too long to dry. There are three problems with this. 1. I freeze while the clothes dry. 2. If I carry spares they add weight to my kit bag. 3. If I do change out the wet clothes will most usually not dry in the boat but will stink the boat out.

Wicking. These days there are many terrific man made products on the market. One very important aspect is wicking. This term simply means that the fabric moves perspiration away from the inside to the outside.  Since the day I first pulled on my wicking underwear, mid and outer shell I have not suffered at all with sweat related concerns. Here is a slightly nasty but incredible testimony. I once sailed 8 days non stop in the same wicking underwear. The weather was foul and I just had no chance to change. When we did pull into safe habour I headed straight to the shower room. As I stripped off my underwear I noticed I had zero underarm smell. The wicking effect of my underwear was so great that no sweat had been allowed to dry under my arm pits! Apart from the creature comfort of a nicer smelling boat this is very cool hygienically.  On that occasion I was using Slazenger Bioslyx. Cheap as can be and fantastic.

Support.  Recent underwear such as “Underarmour” and “Bioslyx” have a compression effect built in. I am not a doctor and so can not explain well as to the why but I assure you the benefit of having your muscles kept snug and in supported  place using these “compression Underwear” products is great.   These products are of course sold by yachting forms as well but if you go to KMart you can pick up the Slazenger products at a fraction of the price. Or If you go on line to Cabelas Hunting web site you can buy them on line.

Layers. Musto and competitors recommend three layers. 1. Underwear 2. Mid layer 3. Outershell.  I couldn’t afford the top name stuff and so put together my own kit on Musto idea. I know the gear I have is not as good as a matching Musto set but it is still pretty good. I am never cold while inshore sailing in Japan. I use Three layers. 1. Slazenger Bioslyx wicking compression underwear. Cost is about US$25 each piece.  2. Polartec wicking Fleece mid layer long pants. Got them from cabelas on line for about US25. Ronstan wicking Fleece jacket. Found it in a chandlers on special for $100 3. Imhoff DLX Light Outershell. The inshore racer version. Breathable and reasobaly waterproof. Cost was US$250 on sale. http://www.imhoff.nl/index.php?mat=3

Feet. I have Kmart wicking socks and spent a few dollars on top end Dubarry High Cut Boots.  As an ex service man I know feet are important so I did lash out a bit on the boots.

Neck and Head.  Cabelas hunting Polortec. Great stuff and cheap. I manged to find some with no dear or bear printed on them!

I know I am not wearing the best gear in the business. I did price the 3 layers of musto and will one day buy a full set however for now I am really quite comfortable within all my sailing / racing needs and my total cost was 1/5 the total cost of  top end set. Moreover all of this fits easily and lightly into my carry on bag and is guaranteed not to stink the boat out.  Here look I even took a  photo.

http://twitpic.com/xv0ma

Of course if you have the cash I would go with the Musto 3 layer full kit. http://www.musto.com/fcp/categorylist/activity/coastal_inshore_sailing?resetFilters=true

Happy Winter Sailing. Join me in japan anytime just drop a line. Happy to have you aboard.

Sailing Japan with Kansai Yacht Club Sept. 2009 Cruising Yacht Race.

For those sailing in Japan and wanting to participate in a fun yacht race I am happy to inform of this September’s Kansai Yacht Club Cruising Race.  The race will be held over 2 days 5th and 6th of September 2009 with a sleep over on Awajishima (Awaji Island) along the way. IRC, ORC and WhiteSail (local club PHF) will all be represented and scored.  Hope to see you at the start line.

Race entries may be made with Kansai Yacht Club.  English may be an issue and if you need any help drop us a line here at Sails.co.jp via our contact page. Entries accepted up till August 31st.

Oh and by the way, the photo above is a “Dufour 41 Classic” Mark Smith will be skippering this boat and as at time of  writing can fit 3 more people on for the race.  If you have no experience it will be no problem for this race.  Hit the Contact Page and next thing you will be on the boat. No cost. The ride is free.

DAY ONE.  September 5th 2009

07:30 am. Race day begins with the Skippers Meeting

09:00 Race start.  34 .35.7N 135. 14.3W

12:00 Time limit to gate.  Boats have a 3 hour time limit to get passed one gate along their way to Suntopia Marina The gate will be at   34.35.7N 135.14.3W.

15:00  Time Limit to finish.  34. 24.0N 135.00W  I am pretty sure if we have any wind at all most crews will have their feet up well before this time limit expires.

17:30 Party begins.

In July we ran this same course however we did it as a night race starting at 7:00pm and ran non stop all the way home. This race will be a lot less demanding and should a be a load of fun at the party. Suntopia always make terrific hosts so please come on and join us in this years 2009 KYC cruising Yacht Race.

DAY TWO.  September 6th 2009.

09:00 race Start. 34. 24.00N 135. 00.0W

12:00 Time Limit.

17:00 Time Limit.

Entry Fees IRC.ORC club 6,000 yen. Whitesail Social Club 12,000 yen.

Plus 3,500 yen for each member on boat for party.

Parking over night at Suntopia Marina will cost 63 yen per foot of boat.

KYC 非常にタフなレースとして知られています

去る6月28日の日曜日は少し暑過ぎたものの、素晴らしいレース日和でした。

この日、IRCレース出艇予定の船舶が新西宮ヨットハーバーの関西ヨットクラブ（KYC）に集結しました。

この日私が参加した日本でのセーリングは、“IRCで1日3レース”という

非常にタフなレースとして知られています。

レースは終日行われるため、午前9：20にはスキッパー（船長）ミーティングが

始まり、その後我々は各自の船に戻りレース開始となりました。

レースは過酷で一寸を争う激しい競争となりました。

私はこの日、VITE 31 TSUBOIデザインのヨット、“ブラックパール”　艇のクルー

として招待頂く機会に恵まれました。

この艇とは別にJ24クラスに同船名の“ブラックパール”という姉妹艇もあります。

（先日私は乗船する機会がありました）

“ブラックパール”艇は、空高くそびえ立ち、トリマーにとってポジション確保や移動も

明確、ダウンウィンドでのテイクオフもとてもスムーズにこなせる全てにおいて美しく素晴らしいヨットです。

私は、思いがけずメインシートとしての役割を頂く事となったので船上で少し忙しく

動いておりまして実際のビデオ撮影映像が少なくなっておりますが出来る範囲で

編集してみました。

素晴らしい人たちと共に敵味方となりセーリングを楽しんだ素晴らしい日でありました。私は今後も時間の許す限り関西ヨットクラブのIRCの皆さんと共に洋上にいることでしょう。

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