SY Sari Timur: The Japan Sea (Hagi)

34 d 26.492 N
131 d 25.203 E

Well we did not stop at Ube. As we were getting closer we realized that we were making good progress and if we continued on we would hit the Kanmon Kaikyo at slack tide. This sounded great to us so we decided to pull an overnighter and go for it. The change would also allow us to pick up some lost time in the schedule and hopefully still catch up with the Chuas who are visiting Hokkaido from Singapore. The winds were light so we were motoring but catching the currents right so making good progress.

After the Kanmon Kaikyo and just before sunset we noticed patches of red tide and large patches of weed. During the night we were treated to one of the most spectacular biophosphorence displays we have ever seen. Anyway just after midnight we rounded the corner to head in for Hagi. This is still a distance of about 24 miles to go. The boat started to slow down. Our charts said there was a current of up to two knots against us so we attributed the slowing to that. But as time went on we began to keep slowing. Pretty soon we are down to just two knots and we realize something was wrong. The natural thought was something was around the prop. But it was dark, cold, the water had this nasty stuff inside it and we really did not know how much current there was so we decided to press on. We were also second guessing ourselves, lack of sleep will do that and thinking it might be a transmission problem.

Anyway we finally arrived in Hagi, now the wind is blowing 15 knots and the engine is not working right. We do not dare to take it in and out of gear nor go to reverse until the last minute docking is going to be the proverbial B!+€h! Luckily the dock here the end was empty and it was lined up perfect for us. We later found out it was because it was under repair. But it was our haven and we made it in without dramas.

We then dipped the camera and could see the prop was indeed fouled but could not tell how bad. Mark suited up and armed with his new knife that we bought after the Guam to Okinawa prop fouling, he went below. Cutting away batches of weed mixed with old net and line and handing it up to Pauline. In the end we had a pile about a meter wide stacked on deck. Then we went down to check the transmission. The oil level was ok and not discolored, a sign of overheating (we had seen discolored transmission oil from the old, old Paragon transmission). But now the wind is gusting up to twenty plus knots so we did not dare take the boat out for a sea trial. But we were fairly confident it was ok. We would wait for tomorrow. Instead we checked in with the marina paid our fees and waited for Customs, and the Coast Guard to clear us.

The coast guard checked out our debris pile and said it was a very old net and probably drifted from Korea! We have a picture I will try to post it later. Anyway after all the formalities we were pretty wiped out and felt we best walk some or we would fall asleep. Neither of us had more than a couple hours sleep the night before. We wandered to the local seamart and were shopping for dinner and an ice cream when the Marina lady found us and started telling us we had to come with her. Due to the language barrier we didn't know why. When we arrived back at the boat we were met by a guy who had broken English and explained that our boat was too big for the dock in its present state and he cleated a place for us to move to along the main wall. He agreed to help us with our lines. The wind is still gusting up to twenty but we see what we are doing to the dock and agree we need to move. We send up a silent prayer indeed hoping that the transmission is ok and we do not pull away from the dock into some non recoverable situation. Anyway all went well,we backed out ok, the prop wash and rudder and boat speed allowed us to maneuver out to open water in reverse and then forward to line ourselves up to be beam on to the wind just as we aligned up to the wall and to throw our lines. All looked very professional and then the guy asked if he could take us back to the seamart. We declined but when I started walking to the local convenience store to get some sushi for dinner he insisted I ride with him to the supermarket. So off I went. When we came back he brought over a 12 pack of beer and said his thanks again for us moving. He couldn't even have one with us as he had to go do some work somewhere else. What great people!

Today we went site seeing around Hagi and looking at the local pottery. Hagi is a very pleasent town to walk around. Mark easily walked 15 km today where as Pauline had enough after 7.