I am up early and jump in the boat. Once again I put in a reef as there is a stiffish breeze. I pootle around practising various manoeuvres, principally picking up the mooring under sail. I then decide to sail North towards Cape Maeda, the direction from which the wind is coming, to try to work out how close to the wind she will sail.

Beating up to Cape Maeda, having shaken out the reef.

Does she point well  into the wind? Er, I don’t know. I am not sure how to judge really. No boat sails into the wind. This one seems just as good as Dileas and I learn many little tricks on how to rig the sail to get it stiffer into the wind. Having passed Cape Maeda, I turn her around and go on a broad reach all the way back home. This means that the wind is more or less behind you and this the boat likes. The huge sail drives her on as the wind gets up and the sea becomes agitated.

Cape Maeda astern

Envigorating stuff. Cape Maeda now well back.

The huge sail!

Getting ready to pick up the mooring.

So this boat, which has no name, is a joy. She is remarkably stable. Today the wind was strongish and I was out for about 4 hours but she never once heeled. Dileas was much more terrifying. So much fun ahead.

Later in the afternoon I rowed out into the lagoon to have a little snorkel. The sea is still cold by Okinawan standards but for me it is just about right. Here is a movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmnOW9S1iCk

I go out as the sun is setting to prepare the boat for the week of inactivity prescribed by me having a job. I remove the sail, lower the mast and lash it to the floor of the boat. I tether the rudder put down a second anchor and generally make things shipshape.

Before

After

I think I should retire.