Expedition Tokara -Stay in Yaku- 7/8-11 (English)

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July 12-13, 1999 Can not leave Yaku.

On July 12, 1999 at 7:49 AM Kohno phoned the Expedition Office, "The wind is strong and the sea is rough. We can see the white caps on the waves out in the offing. We can not depart to Tanega, therefore we are going to stay over at Issou today. We can not depart until the low pressure front staying over southern Kyushu moves out. We have enough time to do this so we aren't need to hurry."

If you'd like to see the weather information of southern Kyushu, it is available in Japanese at New Japan Weather and Ocean Co Ltd.'s Web site. (http://www.metocean.co.jp/kisho/html97/kisho/index.html)

July 13 7:23 AM Kohno phoned the Expedition Office again. He said "A north-eastern wind and offshore waves make is so that we can not leave today either. Weather forecasts indicated that the direction of the wind will change tomorrow."

After they reach the inside of the Yaku, camping is prohibited at Issou. So they left the kayak in Issou and stay at a Bed and Breakfast in nearby Nagata.

July 11, 1999 Moved up along Yaku Island.

July 11 at 8:30 PM Kohno reported, "We started from Nagata at 7:20 AM then on to Tanega. But when we headed north along the coast, we were hit by a strong opposing wind at Issou, Kagoshima. It was impossible to row the kayak forward. So we landed and spent time to wait for better weather conditions but it was not getting better. We decided today's voyage is over. As result, it was "domestic" voyage within Yaku island. They have a camping tent at Issou to stay over the night.

His phone call was made with a strong background sound from strong winds. The low pressure on Southern Kyushu is the 1000 millibar tropical atmospheric depression the same as a as cyclone. The weather chart shows this depression sitting on the place where they are.

July 10, 1999 Still waiting in Yaku for a break in the weather.

Kohno's phone report of July 10 came at 7:04 AM: "We'd like to leave Yaku and row to Tanega as fast as possible. But strong eastern wind and high waves on the open sea forced us to stop today also. Tomorrow's weather report says there will also be strong north-western winds and high waves."

So, they are staying over in Yaku island. A voyage by sea kayak is subject to the wind and waves. The eastern wind is against them on the way to Tanega. High waves and the weather report's warning of high seas and unnecessary risk led them to wait over again in Yaku. They want to leave as fast as possible because of the time and budget. But if the low pressure persists over southern Kyushu then they may possibly stay even longer.

The basic plan was the route from "Yaku - Ioh - Sata". But the plan was been changed to "Yaku - Tanega - Sata" by their field judgement.

Start from Nagata, Yaku - Arrive Sumiyoshi (Nishi-no-omote City), Tanega
Start from Sumiyoshi, Tanega - Arrive around Cape Sata

They will leave Tanega and row north to Van Diemen Strait (Ohsumi Strait) on the way toward Cape Sata. They will arrive at the coast between Cape Sata and Uchinoura Town. The current is is impassible near Tapir or Ohtomari. So the point at which they will actually arrive depends on the conditions on the day they arrive. Whenever they arrive around Cape Sata, that will mark the end of the 2nd stage.

The 3rd stage will start in September according to the original plan. But if they have days left after finishing the 2nd stage, then they will continue the voyage as 3rd stage until 17th July. If they continue the voyage together they will continue to use a tandem kayak instead of the single kayak as scheduled. They will continue to use the tandem kayak as long as they continue together.

If they can not finish by the 17th, then 3rd stage will be interrupted where they are on the 17th. Then they will start again after July 25th and not wait until September. In case of interruption, then they will switch the kayak from tandem to single.

July 8 - 9, 1999 Staying over in Yaku.

At 7:26 AM of 9th, Miyake (Expedition Office staff) reported, "It is good weather with eastern wind but they are staying over at Yaku because of the ocean's condition. The weather forecast reports high seas warning ".

They spent time to visit a geothermal hot spa on the 8th. It was "Hibachi Marine Hot Spa (this link is in Japanese only)" where is was possible to soak in the bath during ebb tides. So there are only two chances per day to fully use the spa. They also visited "Yaku-Sufi Land (this link is also in Japanese only)". It is a preserve of large old cedar trees of Yaku Island.

The next part "Nagata, Yaku island to Sumiyoshi Camping Site, Nishino-omote, Tanega island" will begin tomorrow - they will row abut 60 kilometers.

Hyouichi Kohno Expedition Office
102-4 Higashiishii, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-0932 JAPAN
Voice:81-89-905-1121 Fax:81-89-957-2274
h-kohno@mbf.sphere.ne.jp