January's False Start
The exploratory mission in January allowed for 3 days of sailing. Days 1 had very light and unreliable wind. Day 2 a meagre headwind. Day 3 there was more breeze and a few good miles early, but then a thunderstorm with heavy headwinds and a building sea. My hands were too wet and cold to operate the phone (in it's wet case), which meant I had to pull-in when I reached a decent size port in order to make some navigational checks... and there I stayed because to continue was most uninviting. Day 4 maybe had potential, but the wind was slow to arrive so we binned it and went to cook eggs at a hot spring instead.
50 kilometres for 3 days sailing is barely worth it in terms of distance won, but it was nice to get back on the water and a good test run for next time. Nights were spent in the tent, and were wet. It certainly isn't weather for sleeping under the sail just yet.
As previously noted, we saw many dolphins, and there were lots of little birds at sea that were shy of having their pictures taken. Easier subjects below:
No shortage of snow, but at sea level it had mostly thawed. This picture from further north (near Oma, Aomori)
First sail of 2025
The sun came out briefly (an exception to the rule of it being wet, cold and overcast)
The water is beatifully clear...
Though the beaches are not always spotless
Paddling out in search of breeze. In winter, gentle winds out at sea are unable to displace the cold air of the land
Day 3 started more promisingly
I sailed past these steaming stacks during the thunderstorm. Later we went back for an onsen where I took the picture
And the next day we boiled eggs for breakfast in the hot spring water
The ducks took shelter, and we headed back towards Tokyo