An early start to the day when we left Himeshima at 5:30 for the 50NM leg to Tobata. The forecast changed once again but until we passed under the bridge at Kanmon at 1:30 we virtually had no wind apart from a few light airs. We had the headsail out twice but not for long. Once under the bridge we pushed current and 20 knot headwinds 15NM to Tobata, all the time making sure we kept out of the way of ships coming and going through the straits.
We finally docked at Tobata Seaside Spa pontoon at 4:45 p.m. We had planned to pull into the Tobata Fishing Harbour but the harbour itself is too small for a boat our size to manouvre easily so continued on to the Seaside Spa, knowing that Nippon Steel had already informed us that we could not stay there!! Almost there and Coast Guard came up alongside and ordered us to stop!! After a couple of minutes they said it was OK and to continue on. They followed us to the pontoon and also tied up and then invited Jon to visit their boat. They were very nice but said that we shouldn't be here and agreed the fishing harbour was no place for us. They said we could stay one night so fingers crossed the weather will be OK for our passage to Oshima Island tomorrow. It is hard to work it out as the Japanese weather seems to change every time there is an update and the GRIB files we download don't always agree with the JMA forecasts. It's always a guessing game and sometimes it works in our favour.
So now we relax with a glass of wine and try to forget the last couple of hours after an easy crossing from Himeshima and hope that tomorrow will bring favourable weather.
Position: 33-52.7N, 130-48.5E
We finally docked at Tobata Seaside Spa pontoon at 4:45 p.m. We had planned to pull into the Tobata Fishing Harbour but the harbour itself is too small for a boat our size to manouvre easily so continued on to the Seaside Spa, knowing that Nippon Steel had already informed us that we could not stay there!! Almost there and Coast Guard came up alongside and ordered us to stop!! After a couple of minutes they said it was OK and to continue on. They followed us to the pontoon and also tied up and then invited Jon to visit their boat. They were very nice but said that we shouldn't be here and agreed the fishing harbour was no place for us. They said we could stay one night so fingers crossed the weather will be OK for our passage to Oshima Island tomorrow. It is hard to work it out as the Japanese weather seems to change every time there is an update and the GRIB files we download don't always agree with the JMA forecasts. It's always a guessing game and sometimes it works in our favour.
So now we relax with a glass of wine and try to forget the last couple of hours after an easy crossing from Himeshima and hope that tomorrow will bring favourable weather.
Position: 33-52.7N, 130-48.5E
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