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2004 Japan Tasar Association Spring Regatta - Bargain Spring Holiday Special Exclusive views of Fuji san, (Sunday only) First of all our thanks to Mr Soma, Mr Tanaka and the members of Sony Sailing club for making our participation possible. The internet forecast on Thursday before I left England was 28 degrees for Saturday and 18 degrees for Sunday with light to moderate winds…….. wrong! I met Mayumi in Tokyo and we travelled by train together to Hayama. The hotel was an absolute bargain. When Mayumi told her mum we were paying 7500Yen a night in Hayama she declared that she would like to come too. (But fortunately Mayumi made some excuses, fully booked, leaking roof, cockroaches…). Next morning we met the Sony club members at 6.30 downstairs and were introduced to ‘go chan’. (53) If ever you get the chance to help Sony club attend an ‘away regatta’ at Hayama YC take it. Walking Tasars down the main road with so many crazy Japanese drivers about was a great adrenaline trip. Our friends from Sony never even looked up for traffic just kept their heads down and carried on walking. Imagine coming around one of those Hayama bends and finding a couple of slow moving Tasars in front of you and a bus coming the other way. As ever arriving at the dinghy park was a great experience lots of sincere greetings and brief conversations mixed with the need to get rigged and check out ‘go chan’. We went out in light winds expecting a fairly gentle days sailing. It turned out to be cold and windy but the racing was close and fast. It was great to be sailing in such a competitive fleet. We soon learnt where our own weaknesses were. Saturday night’s party was the best sort. Walking distance from where you are staying with lots of smiling and laughing, a speech from the future prime minister and even a baby on show. Sunday we were up early and after an excellent breakfast at the hotel strolled back to Hayama YC. and rigged. The launch was delayed so I demonstrated our sailing technique to a very polite audience in the dinghy park. Unfortunately I talk too much and they were very polite. We all missed the start of the first morning race. A huge thank you to the very wise race officer who seeing the lack of breeze on the course and the new breeze filling in from the sea abandoned the race. (The cheque is in the post) The rest of the racing was hard, fast and cold. Having not sailed with you for over a year it was obvious the standard of the fleet has improved. Seeing the blue Tanaka boat leading was not a surprise, only that Ikuya and Noriko they were not in it. Mr De La Manche (Yamamoto san) was far too fast and showed the difference good practice and teamwork makes. Mayumi and I like the way everyone in the fleet wants to do better and learn. Conversation was about the racing and not about finding excuses for bad performance. I am sure you will all be practising and I hope you make it to the next regatta and keep asking lots of questions. We will be training in secret starting from mid July when Mayumi comes back to England but plan to see you all in October. Sunday night was confession time. I told Mayumi that while I was sailing I was often wondering why I went sailing as it was very cold and hard work. It was only later that I realised why, the real pleasure was sailing back to the beach, the relief as you roll the boat into its parking place, meeting everyone, talking and knowing how much better the sailing was than watching TV, going to a restaurant or doing nothing. Mayumi gave me a hug and said she was very pleased as she had the same doubts when sailing but that they were washed away when we came ashore and only the best bits were remembered and shared. Sailing Tasars is about more than winning races it is the community, the journey and the experience. As some of you know I built a dinghy for another more numerous UK class (National 12). We sailed at their championships last year with some success. I also started sailing offshore again last year. Our Tasar (Snowy The Rabbit) has had the covers on since 2002. In Mayumi’s words the other dinghy (National 12) has no ‘vroom’ and the Yacht is ok on a sunny day, but generally boring. 12 hours upwind may get you to France but it is not exciting and there are ferries. So both will be up for sale at the end of the year and we will sail the boat we enjoy, the Tasar. Tim and Mayumi Posted 2004-05-19 |
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