This is no joke!

March 29, 2021

Shima Yacht Harbor

Dear Patrons and Sponsors,

I trust you are well and enjoying this lovely time of year. 

I am writing to update you.

Having no autohelm has certainly impeded my solo training in the waters between Tokyo and Okinawa and as a consequence it seems my ambitious plans to sail solo across the Pacific this year have been thwarted

So, I have concluded, much to the relief of my family and shore support team who I have been able to speak with, to postpone the crossing one year (June is the recommended month to leave JP shores to Canada) and get more experience sailing and to ensure the boat is 100% ready

The Question is where do I train?

Well, the obvious option is here in Japan. The boat is here, and I have family and friends to support and assist. The downside of Japan is:

1. Permits! I have to navigate the bureaucracy and deal with constant restrictions. Even this week I am having to get the inspectors to come re-issue a permit and even then, it will have more restrictions on it. 
2. Language. I am embarrassed to say that after 23 years my JP is still quite rudimentary which makes me very dependent on others when entering harbors, dealing with agencies and procuring equipment and the services of specialists.

Therefore, I am considering a second option: That is take the boat to Canada with a Crew this June and spend several months in Canada training on the west coast in Beautiful British Columbia and sail back the opposite direction solo in 2022.  I would gain valuable experience crossing the Pacific with Crew and would be on my home turf for training in Canada where there is less bureaucracy to deal with and I can deal with issues in my native tongue. PLUS, I will see my mother! And she can see my boat! 

But, this option will require three things to happen: 

1. Change To Canadian Registration before I leave.
This was on the cards anyways and I know the process, so it is just a matter of activating it now. The process is as follows working backwards:

• Vessel Registry in Canada requires I have Proof of Ownership ( the boat must be owned by a Canadian) and proof that Wahine has been deregistered in Japan
• JCI (the regulatory agency in Japan that certifies pleasure boats like mine) has essentially three reasons they will deregister a boat: it sinks/or is disassembled, engine is removed or it is exported. As the export option is the only viable option for me, JCI requires an export permit from Customs
• JP Customs: to get the export permit I have to be inspected by customs, possibly at a bonded dock where they take an inventory of everything on the boat. Once that is done, I will be expected to leave at the earliest possible moment. Note: I had initially tried to start this process in January, but was told by Customs to do it after my training between Tokyo and Okinawa

2. Gather a Crew: 
Ideally I would like two others, with experience and the other with sailing/passage experience. I am in conversations with some folks now. The implications of having crew are

• Provisions will need to be increased proportionately. 
• Canada is not allowing non-citizens in right now with only a few exceptions. One of the exceptions is Air/Marine Crew. So, I would need my crew to be recognized as my "delivery crew"

3. Having a working Autohelm, AIS and Wind Meter.
I am now in process of resolving those issues and more news to follow.

Well, that's it. As requested by all who are supporting me, I am putting safety first.

We will see if the plan comes together.

In the meantime, I have another inspection on Wednesday (March 31st) to get a new permit that allows me to have crew. Gregor, who lived on board last October and did a lot of work, is going to join me for the month of April. So at least I will have a substitute for auto helm for a time.

Thank you as always for your support. It means a lot!

Lowell

On Board SV Wahine