Labor Day 2009

GINOWAN HARBOR, Japan (9/7/2009) -- Kai Johnston lowers the U.S. flag on Scarlette at Ginowan Harbor at the end of Labor Day.

We hung out around the boat and harbor today, just spending some father and son time.

Had a great day.

Sail on Aug. 30, 2009

Cap'n J (right), Tanaka and Kelly Dolan cruised off the west coast of Okinawa Aug. 30, 2009.

GINOWAN HARBOR, Japan (8/30/2009) A crew of three left this typhoon protected harbor early Sunday morning for a three-hour sail off the west coast of Okinawa.

The sail was uneventful but it was the first time two of the crew had been aboard Scarlette, a 1985 J/24 sailboat.

Tanaka, a neighbor of mine from mainland Japan, takes the tiller during his first sail ever! Whoo hoo! Tanaka doesn't speak English but Cap'n J's pigeon Japanese got him through.

The look forward. We were actually following another sailboat as we cruised past the Chatan.

Kelly Dolan -- a coworker of mine who just arrived on island from mainland (he was at Yokota) -- takes the helm with a full relax smile aboard Scarlette.

Tanaka at the helm with the South China Sea horizon on his back as we headed for home.

Scarlette's new home

Lots o' boats, stillwater & dockside power and water.

Ginowan Harbor Sunset

Second mate Kai cheeses for the camera as Scarlette heads back into her new port at Ginowan Harbor.
GINOWAN HARBOR, Japan -- (Aug. 15, 2009) Scarlette and a crew of two headed out for a maiden voyage from the 1985 Nissan-made J/24 sailboats new home.










The trip lasted 2 hours 6 minutes and 33 seconds and the crew traveled a distance of 7.8 miles.
"Basically this was an out and back trip," said Cap'n J.









Cap'n J is silhouted by the sunset on the South China Sea as Scarlette returns to her new home port.

"We also stayed aboard Scarlette for a father and son sleepover." While Kai watched a movie on a portable DVD player, Cap'n J, did some internal rearranging of the inside of Scarlette. "We were also waiting for our trailer to be delivered from Kadena Marina to Ginowan Harbor."









Kai stands aboard her new slip at Piling 13 at Ginowan Harbor as the sun sets on the South China Sea.

Going 2 Ginowan

Scarlette back in water

Today boat back in. Out since Apr. 19, 2009. Getting ready for move to Ginowan Harbor. Will check on slip tomorrow then, may move Scarlette to Ginowan on Wednesday.

Typhoon Etau misses Okinawa and Scarlette

KADENA MARINA, Japan (Aug. 10, 2009) Typhoon Etau is headed toward mainland Japan as of Monday night. The green area to the left of the blue track is Okinawa.

The typhoon's path -- away from Okinawa -- allowed Scarlette to return to her moorage at Kadena harbor.

Typhoon misses Scarlette

KADENA MARINA, Japan -- (8/8/2009) Typhoon Morokat missed Okinawa and headed straight over Taiwan.

The typhoon caused military bases in Okinawa to go to Typhoon Condition of Readiness 2.

All of the boats at Kadena Marina were pulled out of the water as a precaution.

Scarlette prepares for Typhoon

KADENA MARINA, Japan (8/7/2009) -- Scarlette was tied down with cargo straps and huge concrete blocks as we waited out a typhoon heading toward Okinawa.

The typhoon slowed down the skipper's efforts to get Scarlette back in the water by Aug. 6, 2009.

Hatch clean & seal

Boat cushions

New boat cushions

Scarlette's new varnished interior