Kanmon Kaikyo

This is a little more on the Kanmon Kaikyo with some photos.  Although we were a little busy at the time so not much on photos.  The busy at the time is something to note.  Most people stress the Kanmon Kaikyo, including us, but it is actually pretty easy.  There is no doubt the currents do rip through there.  But there are three stations with huge digital displays telling you from which direction the tide is going, how fast and if the current is increasing or decreasing.  There are also a couple of spots to bail out and hide to wait for the current to change.  In our case we hit it as it was increasing and we hoped to get through while it was only 4-5 knots.  One thing to note is that the current is only strong near the bridge so we didn't get much of a boost until the end so we ended up hitting the bridge with 7 knots of current.  But not really any nasty whirlpools and was actually a lot easier than the Obatake Bridge further up near Yamaguchi.  Please note to keep your radio on channel 16 as they do call you and ask some information as you are transiting.  We had heard this from many yachts and so we were listening carefully.  And they did call us.

Entering the Straits The Speed is Picking Up

The Straits Ahead

The Japan Sea Behind

The Current is getting stronger.  This reached 12.3 Knots

The Kanmon Kaikyo Bridge

Hiroshima

We arrived!  Yesterday at about 1:30 we arrived and promptly met up with three of the other foreign boats in the rally, which meant a session in social responsibility had to be dealt with before anything else.  Our heads are a little worse for wear today, but we kept the Singapore good name going.  Will add more when we have a better connection.

Pauline's First Onsen

One of the pleasures of Murotsu is that there is a very nice onsen next to where we tie up the boat.  This was Pauline's first experience.  I asked her if she took photos to add.  But she said NO!

Murotsu

We made it to Murotsu today (33 d 50.09 n 132 d 06.98 E).  Just tied up alongside a wall in a commercial harbor.  Highest wind today was 25 knots (yes on the nose) but the temperature also got up.  The first time all summer Mark got his shirt off for a tan.  Pauline stayed covered up and under cover.   Nice temp in the afternoon, but cool in the morning and late afternoon. There is a reportedly nice onsen here five minutes walk away but we didn't make it in time tonight.  We plan to stay an additional day here before heading to Hiroshima on Sunday, so hopefully will get to the onsen tomorrow.

View from a Tied Up Sari Timur

Bridge in Murotsu Near Onsen

Sari Timur Tied to the Wall

Shinmoji

We pushed on through the Kanmon Kaikyo without stopping and went into Shinmoji for the night.  Will post pictures later.  We just missed max current going through the critical bit, but being off to the side had no problems with maintaining control.  The straits controller did call us up and ask our intentions.  He also warned us we would be hitting maximum flow of 8 knots.  We were doing five through the water and did see 12.3 over the ground but only for a very short spot.  So all was ok.  Shinmoji isn't worth stopping unless you are dog tired like us.

We were sad to leave Fukuoka.  The place will always be special.  We will add more on our last two days there later as well.  Now it is time for sleep.

Moving Tomorrow

Yesterday we took Sari Timur over to the commercial port and loaded up with diesel.  Today we will take on water and fit jack-lines etc getting ready for departure tomorrow.  We are heading for Hiroshima.  But we hope to take three days or so going up there.  We will try and make position posts where we spend the nights. But it will depend on internet connections.  The first night will actually be  at the start of Kanmon Kaikyo or the straits into the Seto Naikai or Inland Sea.  Hiroshima is where we will meet our friends from Guam and begin the Setouchi Rally.

Update

Some people are asking how our leak is.  Well the other day was wash day so we lifted the bunk and as predicted, the rudder post area was nice and dry.  We are good for a few more years.  I also added a couple of pics of us doing some of our more glamorous work.  We are fitting some more headliners at present to try and make room in the forward bunk for visitors coming in a little over a week to meet us in Hiroshima.  We are planning to leave Wednesday.  Monday we get water, Tuesday fuel, yesterday we installed the overboard water vent bypasses, etc., etc., etc.  Anyway it is all coming together.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

On Monday we decided to take the day off and go to Dazaifu Shrine.  This was to show Kate the Shrine before getting on a plane.  We enlisted Mena to come with us for a day off and act as super guide.  According to the literature, the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine enshrines the soul of Michizane Sugawara, a god of wisdom.  We found one of the prayer plaques asking for help getting into Harvard, so it is popular with students.  One of the things we learnt on this trip is no Shrine is complete without a bridge.  The philosophy of the bridge is the ability to leave the past, look forward to the future and be in the present.  Pretty good philosophy!  It also has the Komyozenji Temple, the Zen temple, with the only dry style rock garden in the Kyushu Region.  

The Street Leading to the Shrine

Mena taking a pic of us taking a pic

Learning the Purification Process

No Shrine is complete without a bridge

Komyozenji Temple

Rock Garden at the Entrance

Roof Statue

The Gardens from inside the Temple

Another View of the Gardens

Zenning Out

And no Shrine visit is complete without shopping afterwards.

The New Fireplace

Hey our new stove is finally in.  It is a Sardine made by Navigator Stove Works in Orcas Island, Washington.  For those of you in the know these little gems are not just off the shelf we ordered ours over a year and a half ago.  But it sure looks nice.  Because of the tight space we had a bit of hassle getting in all the heat shields.  Andrew from NSW came up with the phrase "shoe horned it in" and breaking drill bits cutting hands etc sure made it seem tight.  We were especially concerned with cutting the hole in the deck that was slightly over six inches in diameter.  But it all went into place.  The wood loads from the side between mast and stove.  The steel support bar is on a swivel, and can be taken right out when not under way.  Now all we need is a cast iron tea kettle for the top of it and some cool weather.  I am hoping the cool weather will stay away for a while longer.  But we are now at least prepared.

Snipe World Masters

Odo Marina, where Sari Timur is berthed, hosted the 2014 Snipe Worlds.  We befriended one of the USA teams.  Augie and Kate, we got to show them around a bit and we also helped them restitch a sail that turned out to be a little too large at one of the battens.  Gave us a chance to help them and use the Sailrite Machine both.  Anyway they had a lousy first day but then got in the groove finishing second overall.  Congrats to them both.