The three GSSR boats (two N62s and an N68) are currently underway between Japan and Taiwan, headed to Nordhavn’s Ta Shing factory in Tainan, Taiwan.
As I type this we are about 12 hours into a 48 hour passage.
We’re excited about seeing the factory, and the boats that are currently under construction.
We will be the first Nordhavns ever to return home to their birthplace, and the factory has quite a party planned to greet us.
Our position can be tracked in real time at the following link:
http://www.kensblog.com/aspx/m/Current_Location
There is a storm working its way to our location, and we’ll be rounding the southern tip of Taiwan, with 20 knots of wind in our face, at 01:30 local time (16:30gmt on July 2nd). Thus far it has a relatively smooth passage, other than a constant 1 knot current which we are very tired of.
More when we arrive.
Thank you,
Ken Williams
N6805, Sans Souci
PS I’m several days behind on my blog. I’ll work on it when we get to Taiwan. Ishigaki, our last port, was a long series of problems of one type or another, so I think we’re all very happy to be moving again. Ishigaki seemed to be bad luck.
7 Responses
Hi Ken…. I have emailed you as well. I have been cruising in japan every year for about the last 10 years. As long as the paperwork is done, then you will have no problems. Of course as most people in japan do not speak English, some local assistance is always good to help you along.
The cruising here is magnificent, scenery and history spectaular and the people are awesome, and I have captained and assisted motor yachts from 80 to 300 feet in length in these waters… we do this every year…. in 2009 we had 6 mega yachts cruising in Japan, 2010 is slightly less with 4. Megayachts are even more complicated than smaller yachts as any foreign vessel over 100ft is treated basically like a container ship or oil tanker. But this is because yachting is not their core business in Japan!
However the rules are there for a reason, and with 5 marinas that can take over 300ft yachts and many many more that can take up to 120ft yachts, there should be no problem for smaller vessels cruising Japanese waters.
As for anchorages, there are literally thousands and thousands of them, but as a foreign vessel, yes, you will have to get permission to access them.
For your information I am currently working with the Japanese government on formulating a “cruising permit” for private pleasure yachts, which if successful should ease the paperwork burden for yachtmens and large yacht captains and crew.
You have probably discouvered that the Japanese culture is very different from the west. When we visit countries such as this, we have to respect that. too many people think that things should be done in the same way as the west, but this is just as rude as foreign people coming to my country and not having any respect to the way we do things!
I am glad you found friends and had an enjoyable cruise through Japan… if you go back, please contact me at my email address (sent separately) for some free advice and assistance!!!
Best regards
Nigel
http://www.superyachtlogistics.com (http://www.superyachtlogistics.com)
ken have really found it diffecult to believe that you have had a wonderful experience over in japan I would not find it enjoyeable that everytime they (Japan coast guard)seeks to move you relocate you or tell you you can not anchor here is fun. nother country nother wathever your blog witch I have followed seems to always have diffecult time while cruising in that country.I would not find it enjoyeable at all. even if the people of that country are some of the nicest people in the world. hope your travel to your ships mother country is good and the gov’t there is not worried about a few personnel water craft taking some liesure time in there nice bay’s.
Ken,
You likely are already aware of this development but in case not, this would be an ideal additional radar for navigating fish pots and other objects at relatively close ranges…
http://www.northstarnav.us/… (http://www.northstarnav.us/Products/Broadband-Radar/)
Regard,
Tom
Can you see the Japanese coast guard behind you? 🙂
Hope the passage is smooth and gentle… Be sure to check out what they’ve done to the flybridge of N8607, if that hull is still there. From the recent pics on Nordhavn.com (http://Nordhavn.com) , looks like there has been a resculpting of the flybridge to open up a sun deck area or something? Maybe Jeff Merrill can elaborate. As always, thanks for taking the time to share the adventure.
Sorry to hear that you had problems at Ishigaki. Can’t wait to read what happens next, thanks for the update.
Ken,
I hope you can get a bit of video on the arrival if possible, that would be great, as I assume that there will be a lot of workers out to greet the GSSR’s arrival.