Captain Scott's Log ~ Saturday, May 31st, 2008

Sent: 6:32 PM

Subject: Tokushima/Osaka

On leaving the Hiroshima area we needed 3 days to get to Osaka. This would take us under 3 bridges at choke points in the inland sea. The weather was good with respect to wind but lots of rain. The Nances leather suitcase with some clothes in it is ruined with mildew--don’t bring leather suitcases aboard please. At the first bridge we had 4 kts against us. The swirling current made it hard to steer. That first night we again found no marina at the waypoints given us. So we settled for a fish farm. Later when things got quiet we noted a sound penetrating the hull that sounded like frogs. It was obviously coming from the fish pens---but what?
The last bridge has currents up to 10 kts. School children have field trips here to see the whirlpools. Anticlimactically we hit it at slack tide. At Tokushima we found our waypoints for the marina only led us to the breakwater. So with no more info we entered the river at slow speed and headed upstream to the town 2 miles away. We ran into a bridge of unknown height. Mark said no way. Jeff said maybe. So I tried at low low speed and we got under. My mast winddex is at 74ft and later we were told the bridge is 22meters at high tide. We will need to depart at low tide!! Marino San saw us and led us to a pontoon that we could use in the heart of the city.
A great night ashore!! Osaka today and the end of this leg (Thailand to Japan) now 125,224nm under the keel. Next leg is to Anchorage in July/Aug. The Nances and I fly home in a few days.