My mother RIP used to sing this as we battered against the waves in unseaworthy boats in Scotland.

Anyway, as Jigen san, his son and I were finally bending on the jib the song suddenly comes back to me. I wonder why?

You will remember that I have been waiting for months for the Japanese sailmaker to finish cutting the sail. They plead the difficulty in getting tan colored sail cloth. I do not really mind as I have a vision of ancient Japanese sailmaker cutting my new sail with exquisite care in softly lit ancient sail loft. He then hand sews the luff bead with tiny stitches. It is worth the wait.

I notice that the sail bag has Hyde written on it. I know Hyde, they are a reputed English sailmaker. https://www.hydesails.com

I realize that the Japanese sailmaker https://www.yuukoumarine.jp had simply contacted Hyde and asked them to send over a Norfolk Gypsy jib. Hmmm, I could have done that months ago.

Now I have to bend on the mainsail. I have done this before but I am sure there will be lots of missteps and stupidity.

Off to Yanbaru for a classical guitar recital at https://ada-hotel.net. The musician is Noel Billingsley whom I have known for several years. The recital is organized by my old buddies Teruya san and Rieko san, a professional harpsichordist.

Noel plays in Ichiro san’s studio.

At 7:00 the next morning we go birdwatching. Stupidly I had let the battery in my camera run down, so no photos. In fact it was wonderful just looking rather than staring through a viewfinder. Lots of Okinawa Rails, Grey faced Buzzards, Sandpipers, Wagtails. We hear many Ryuku Robins but see none. It it always worth getting up early.

Lots of fun lately.