Sailing under the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Burgee, a team of Blind Sailors from NZ were invited Japan, 3 to 8 September 2009, to sail in the Yokohama International Blind Sailing Regatta as part of the year long 150th Anniversary celebrations of the Port of Yokohama.

The visit was an enjoyment of warm Japanese hospitality, the respect of official procedure and protocol and the security of Yokohama
The Port of Yokohama must be one of the busiest ports in the world, “800 ships a day” they said, and a small area just big enough for a race course was negotiated for and hard won from the Authorities.
As guests of the Yokohama Cruising Club The team were greeted and formally welcomed on arrival by the YCC Committee with cold beer and a feast of prawns. Brian Trubovich, NZ Team Coach and Ross Masters, RNZYS Vice Commodore, then met with the Japan Coast Guard.

Friday, saw meetings; with the Bureaux of Health and Welfare, and then the City Council and Port Authoritiy. After and exchange of flags it was then back to the YCC for a very tasty BBQ lunch, the weather was hot and humid. The boat draw followed, then the briefing and out for a practice sail. The waterway had to be shared, the allocated area of water was between two wharves and lumbering barges to be avoided.

Dining at the Club after sailing was always enjoyable and the host competitors and their organizing committee treated the visitors to three such evenings in Japanese style. A huge variety of food, chopsticks to eat it with, plenty more beer, a live band, Introductions and toasts and a haka from the Kiwis. On the last night saw the formality of the prize-giving and exchange of gifts.
The sense of occasion surrounding this four boat regatta was emphasized by the opening ceremony on Saturday morning. Held on the narrow parade between the Intercontinental Hotel, where we stayed, and the pier where the race boats were now docked. Many speeches from City Official Organisers and Sponsors in Yokohama plus Ross Masters from RNZYS, were all translated.
The racing was held in a Protected environment bounded by the City and its high rise buildings to the South and breakwaters to the North. A power generating wind turbine stood guard over and looking down on the race course. The conditions for both days was light with big wind shifts and large holes in the breeze.

A panoramic view of the race area

Sailing in J24s, which were drawn on the Friday prior to the regatta start. The New Zealand crews quickly came to grips with the boat and the earlier day’s testing paid dividends.
New Zealand B2 Finished the regatta as overall winners and New Zealand B1 were second overall.
Dick Lancaster Won the B1 prize and Paulien Eitjes won the B2/3 prize
New Zealand Carried off the team prize.

The Japan Crews were:
B1:
VI Helmsperson: Takao Sugiyama, VI Crew: Takayuki Kanawa, Sighted Tactician: Atsushi Akiyama
Sighted Crew: Ralf Meiranke
B2:
VI Helmsperson: Keiko Ogura, VI Crew: Yoshiaki Hakune, Sighted Tactician: Masaaki Horie, Sighted Crew: Tomonori Takeshita
Second Day Crews:
B1
Team, VI Helmsperson: Yuki Kawazoe, VI Crew: Nobuyuki Yamaga, Sighted Tactician: Tsuneo Anzai
Sighted Crew: Genju Kodama
B3 Team
VI Helmsperson: Hirokazu Itakura, VI Crew: Shigeki Morizaki, Sighted Tactician: Tetsuro Nabata, Sighted Crew: Hiroshi Fujio

The New Zealand crews were:
B1:
Dick Lancaster VI Helm, Dave Allerton VI Mainsheet, Brian Trubovich/Ross Masters, Sighted Tactician, Paul Moriarty Sighted Crew.

B2:
Paulien Eitjes VI Helm, Rob Aislabie VI Mainsheet, Gary Smith Sighted Tactician, Philip Smith Sighted Crew.

A very successful contest was concluded by a sail past. The two NZ boats flew NZ flags, and the crowd on the beach was appreciative as all four teams sailed past and were introduced to the crowd.
At the conclusion of the regatta Yokohama challenged the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron to reciprocate by running a regatta in New Zealand and even extending the concept to a Pacific Rim Championship.

New Zealand B1 Crew Regatta Winners. Bob Aislabie, VI Mainsheet, Philip Smith, Sighted Crew, Gary Smith Sighted Tactician, Paulien Eitjes VI Helm with YCC Chairman Zenko Hori and Ono-san presenting the Gold

Thanks to Yokohama Cruising Club, Port of Yokohama, Japan Coastguard, Yokohama City Council, Yokohama Bureau of Health for your support of a fantastic regatta.