Red Rocketing around the Bottom of Okinawa

Sunday, 0630 AM

Well, the Red Rocket is ready......

But i had to get back on board twice more 

...1- to get the lock key,

...2- to get my telephone.

Happens to you too?

Nice and early, Naha has for a change little traffic...

Of course i had to sneak at Naha Port to see what's in...

 Naha's main fishing port.

Isn't this a sweety?

Next to the fishing port is an other boat basin.

In 1991 we stayed here for a week with our 

sailing yacht Jan Haring.

(That trip: Fukuoka-Okinawa-HK-PI-Palau-PNG-Solomon Isl-Vanuatu-NZ)

 Back to the paddles again to get out of town.

By now it's already hot, there is more traffic and of course 

a zillion red traffic lights to slow me down.

 You see, how easy it can be to find a coin laundry...

Next stop: Ready for the shock?

This is Itoman, a lovely old and cozy fishing port.

In our memories!
We were here in 1991 as well because a Super Typhoon was heading for Okinawa.
(that basin in Naha was too dangarous to stay).

Now this handy By-Pass Bridge might be too low for yachts.

JH had stayed right across from this pix.

Have to admit..the new concrete walls are an improvement. 

(btw, that typhoon never came, it made a last minute 90 degree turn)

Further down south, i stopped at some castle ruins..

and got hit by a rain shower..and nowhere to shelter...

only walls, you know..

Luckily, the rain lasted only for 5 minutes. 

Not a bad possy to built a castle, look at the view!

The coast facing SW..

...and facing SE

This peace/piece of art stands next to Okinawa's most Southerly Lighthouse at Cape Kyan.

Don't you dare....

What a perfect day.

Being on an island...No need to bring a map...

Of course a got lost a few times..like here.

But that's fun. 

South East part of Okinawa. There are a few outer islands, but they are rarely visited by yachts as they are located into the wind...and as you know... 

gentlemen don't sail into the wind...

Oh yeh, they luff stones and memorials.

That was the course, according to GE a total of 80K.

The effort was made possible thanks to:

3 ice-creams, 

3 liter of juice/water, 

1 piece of cheese cake,

and the Red Rocket.

Salute.