Traditional Okinawan Sabani Race in Zamami Island

          Okinawa, the main island in the Ryukyu Archipelago is the southern-most prefecture of Japan. It is located in the sub-tropical latitudes of the East China Sea and enjoys a warm climate and beautiful natural scenery. Okinawa also has a remarkable history and culture that is distinct from the rest of Japan and the region. The Okinawan people are very friendly and enjoy their island paradise. This wonderful place attracts visitors from all over the world for many reasons but one reason remains a secret… Okinawa is also a wonderful place for sailing!

          Living on an island, the people of Okinawa have always enjoyed playing around the sea, but the history of the sport of sailing in Okinawa looks different than in the rest of the world. In ancient times, sailing sabani craft were used for fishing and transport of goods and passengers between the islands. When engines were invented, most boats were powered this way and people enjoyed fishing and other water sports in a way that could bring them back into port quickly before a typhoon might come and make the seas dangerous. The sport of recreational sailing got off to a slow start in Okinawa however, naturally recreational sailboats made their way to Okinawa and marinas were built and sailing clubs were formed. Though not yet on a scale like some communities in the West, today Okinawa has it’s own passionate community of international sailors who enjoy afternoon and weekend cruising and races around the buoys and to the beautiful nearby islands. Cruisers from around the world also occasionally stop by and make Okinawa their temporary home while cruising around Asia.

          Sail-Okinawa is an online resource for the international sailing community in Okinawa. This nonprofit service was formed by a group of local and international sailors as a way to build the community and to show the world how nice it is to sail in Okinawa. This website can be used in different languages and provides information about local weather, marinas, sailing destinations, boat registration and licenses, cruiser’s information and boat maintenance resources. This site also provides a way for local sailors to connect, by registering and creating a profile. It’s easy and free! Registered members can use their profile page as a free blog and post photos and videos about their sailing adventures in Okinawa. Registered members can also use the forums to meet and discuss topics with other sailors in our community and also use the free classified ads to buy or sell used boat gear from other sailors. Last but not least… if you are new to sailing or you are just curious, you are most certainly welcome to join! Sail-Okinawa is also a place to learn about sailing classes that are offered here in Okinawa and to meet other sailors and find opportunities to crew on other people’s boats. Sail-Okinawa always needs crew, so please join us!

This post is also available in: Japanese