N 31° 46.791
E 138° 57.163

Yesterday morning all started fine. The cold front passed and we could sail fully N to get distance from the cold front behind us.

However, then the wind increased. I needed to change course towards W increasing the AWA to 115 deg The genoa reefed to 2 bars (40% reduced), and the main in reef 2 we sailed on. Wind increased. Reached for a very short time the lower 8 Bft range, stayed for an hour or so in the 7 Bft range before going back into the 6 Bft range with long gusts into 7 Bft over hours.

The waves built up 3-4 m and occasionally a wave washed over MaRe from the STB bow.

This was pulling a bit on my nerves because I could not do more but wait.

The mid night entry of the log book states 6 Bft and course of 298 deg.

Then I started going to an AWA of 110 deg and watched how MaRe sails. It was a pitch-black night and I could not see waves, so I needed feel how she is doing. I continued every about every 30 with 5 deg.

Tobi, who was on the next watch, continued until 95 deg. 90 deg was too bumpy.

At 0500, when I started my last watch, I could the waves. They were a bit further down. About 2-3 m. So I changed again the AWA in 5 deg steps down to 65 deg. Going higher into the wind, MaRe would bang into waves too often and too hard. I don’t want her to feel this.

The problem was the TWD, which did not change sufficiently south of E.

How to go the Hachijoshima?

N 30° 18.976
E 141° 36.278

Hachijoshima is an island about 180 NM south of Yokohama.

Although MaRe runs, with a small reef in the genoa with reef 2 in the main, still with STW peaks above 9 KN, ŵe will not make it until Yokohama before the wind turns on to our nose. So I decided to make a stop over at Hachijoshima to wait there for right weather window for the last 180 NM.

In the meantime we had breakfast. Shigeo feels a bit seasick and could only eat a slice of bread and one of his delicious, board made banana-oats cookies.

The wind increased after to peak TWS of 30 KN in gusts and we reefed the genoa to 2.5 bars. On top of waves MaRe accelerates sometimes to 11.5 KN. (She is not surfing down the slopes!)

I also changed the wind vane angle to 95 deg to ease the impact of waves.

I know hope the wind follows the forecast and goes down and more even, turns back to the forecasted TWD of about 75 deg in 12 h from now.

Patience is needed.

Now I’m the only one awake. Shigeo and Tobi have naps. Fortunately, there is some left from breakfast.

N 28° 10.160
E 142° 10.229

As the wind doesn’t follow the forecast at all, we discussed the situation.

We still don’t go directly to Sofu Gan, the impressive rock needle, coming out of the ocean with it’s vertical wall from very deep. I saw it once in 1994 on a sail from Guam to Tokyo and wanted to see it again. Additionally Tobi and Shigeo haven’t seen it at all.

The final decision to go to Sofu Gan will be made after the front has passed and we know the wind on the other side.

At the end we keep sailing with the genoa but I sat the wind vane angle to 120 deg. This brought us on the direct course to Yokohama. But the ride got a bit bumpy.

Finally the wind increased and we make 5-6 KN STW.

Not too bad!

N 27° 58.718
E 142° 08.348

From midnight on winds of 15-20 KN were forecasted in all 4 models. However, the wind did not obey the forcast and we still have winds just below 15 KN.

This is an unpleasant situation because we can fly the Big Blue only up to 15 KN. So we have to continue with the genoa.

I’m waiting for the cold front but this very long beast is like a train in Germany and disregards the announced schedule, so it’s too late.

For the other side of the cold front, the wind is forcasted again with 20+ KN but from almost the opposite direction.

Last night we had each two watches with 4 h sleep on between. This feels good.

Now, at 0620 I’m on my last watch and wanted to bake bread. However, the night was so cold and the bulk fermentation was too slow as well.

Patience of a saint is needed…

N 27° 05.920
E 142° 09.350

Left after lunch Futami Harbor. Now we already out and Nishi-Jima is already abeam on STB.

TWD is good, TWS could be a bit more but according to forecast the wind speed should increase.

We are sailing with genoa opened with barber hauler at an AWA of 150 deg PRT. Soon I’ll increase the AWA to go more north.

The swell comes from W and the wind from almost S, so it’s not the typical very comfortable downwind sailing. MaRe rocks a bit.

Shigeo finished his calls to two harbors, which we use for waiting for better winds. Final decision most likely on Sunday.

Behind me I’m hearing the sound of the fishing rid reel. Tobi wants to get some sashimi for dinner. However, he does not undisclosed what kind of fish he is going for.

In 1994 I was the first time on Chichi-Jima. That time I came as crew member of a Japanese yacht on the way from Guam to Tokyo. Since then I wanted to come back again. Now, 32 years later I came back as the skipper of my own boat, the sailing catamaran MaRe, on my way from Europe to Japan and back to Europe.

Arriving here was, after 5 years of sailing, also a return to Japan, my second home.

The welcome by the people here on this wonderful island was just great. Also getting to know some people a bit more because they even came on board for a cup of coffee and a chat, made me and my crew feeling special.

Also special thanks to the commodore of the local yacht club. He came by already shortly after we were docked. Gave us information and brought a long hose for freshwater, which is an important support for us.

On other days people just came by to have a chat.

It’s simply great to be here.