Captain’s Log: Passage to Petropavlovsk; Final Japan thoughts

May 28

Hi All,

Day 2 on passage to Petropavlovsk Russia and all is well!!

Final thoughts on Japan: Overall the experience was positive…..certainly some high highs and some low lows!! The people, culture, history and food were highlights – very impressive, experiences of a lifetime. Cruising was a challenge and at times a PITA and frustrating. Final count: 11-6-2 for the 19 ports we visited in Japan – 11 ports all went well, no hassles/moves…..6 ports we had to move 2-4 times….and TWO ports we got kicked out…..that’s a 58% success rate, barely a majority….not boding well for ease of cruising in Japan…ugh, ugh, ugh!!!! And, add to that the # of ports we were visited by officials…..14 (74%)….either Coast Guard, Customs, Immigration or Police….hmmm.

It takes a pioneering spirit to cruise in Japan….the country is just not yet ready to openly accept foreign cruisers. Information is scarce (no guide books, Kathy gets info from 5-10 blogs she follows) and add the language issues it is quite daunting at times to know where to go. Then there is the damage to Mystic…really makes us frustrated and sooooo glad we did not paint in Thailand…..no other country have we had this much damage. Most of the boats we know/read about in blogs suffered the same kind of wall damage but a few luckily escaped damage so it can be done, but not likely.

I think if we were to have gone into the Inland Sea our cruising experience may have been better….certainly more modern marinas and much calmer weather. Of course that is where the majority of the population live….Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto and around the corner Tokyo…so more touristy and more crowds!!! As it was, cruising the more remote areas we got to see the “older” generations and culture!! We will most definitely come back to Japan….do a 3-4 week road trip to continue to experience this wonderful and ancient culture, very friendly and interesting people and of course, the food…..but I don’t think we will cruise here again!!!

Day 2:

Fog: wow, came in around 5:30am and stayed with us for the next 24 hours…..thick, pea soup fog….made the day very dark and gray….yuck!!!

And cold….at night the heater could not keep up….ran full time…..ODG….yep, we have enough fuel but still…..water temp still 38*F, air temp 30*F….cabin temp 63*F….ugh!!!

Kathy made cauliflower soup for dinner….very rich and packed with veggies….warmed us all up!!!

Winds built all day, 10-15, then 15-20 then 20-25 kt most of the day…..we had expected 10-15kts so were a bit bummed to have the higher seas and winds. Seas built, 2-4, 3-5, 4-6, then 6-8’….all SW and directly behind…..to see an 8′ wave approaching the stern is impressive!!! When evening came the winds calmed to 15-20kts and seas calmed to 4-6’….ride moderately smooth…..but then built again to 20-30kts and seas 6-8’….this am it has calmed to 15-25kts, but seas still 6-8’….all directly behind….ride is moderately smooth!!!!

Stats: May 28 1600UTC (7:00am May 28 Japan time):

Position: 46 02N 151 03E; about 20nm off north tip of Urop Island…we can see some 3-4k’ snow capped mountains….beautiful!!!
Traveled: 175nm today; 359nm total; 535nm to go; ETA to Petropavovsk 7-9am (Russian time; we gain 3 hours) Friday, June 1!!!!
Course: 57M COG
Wind: 15-25kts SW
Waves: 6-8′ SW, directly behind
Speed: current speed is 7.1 kts SOG; has varied 6.8-8.2 kts today; passage avg is 7.5 kts; 1600rpm
Weather: 90% cloud cover; fog all day but cleared this am….ugh!!!; air temp is 41*F, sea temp is 38*F…brrrrr; cabin temp 63*F…..diesel heater staying on all the time, can’t keep up with these temps and wind
Boat sightings: ~5-10; all cargo ships; all taking the great circle route to Canada or USA; some right on our course and some 10-20nm east of us; Mark had to hail one to veer off our stern….they were headed to his home port of Tacoma!!!
Hit something: yep….probably a log…..3 loud thumps…..ugh….so far so noticeable damage!!!
Wildlife: many birds including several Albatrosses but where are the whales, dolphins and sea lions:((((
Fishing: Nope; too, too cold
Sail: down
Fuel burn: 1.3nmpg, not too bad considering a 0.1-0.5 foul current!!

Hope all is well!

John
Mystic Moon
GO MYSTIC GO
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