Racing and Reveling Japanese Style: Ginowan to Zamami in Okinawa
In this captivating episode of Pacific Solo, host LEL Shepherd takes us on a thrilling journey through the 47th Annual Yacht Race from Ginowan to Zamami in Okinawa. We’ll witness the heart-pumping finish line, lively afterparty, and the stunning sail back to Okinawa.
47th Annual Yacht Race from Ginowan to Zamami
The 47th Annual Yacht Race from Ginowan to Zamami is a spectacular event that brings together boating enthusiasts and novices alike. As the boats cross the finish line, we see the excitement and determination of the sailors.
The Afterparty
Following the intense race, the afterparty kicks off in full swing. Friends and families gather to celebrate the triumphs of their favorite boats. The atmosphere is electric with laughter, music, and camaraderie.
The Morning After
The morning after the race, the island is buzzing with activity. Boats are being readied for their sail back to Okinawa. As LEL Shepherd and his team discuss the previous day’s events, we gain insight into the challenges faced by the sailors during the race.
The Sail Back to Okinawa
The sail back to Okinawa is an opportunity for the participants to relax and reflect on their incredible journey. As they navigate through the tranquil waters, we see the beauty of the islands and appreciate the tranquility that comes after a thrilling race.
Meeting Local Sailors
In this episode, LEL Shepherd has the pleasure of meeting Adam Johnson and his boat, Naughty Girl. They discuss Adam’s restoration journey with Voyager and how it has become a fine specimen on the water.
A Spectacular Event
The 47th Annual Yacht Race from Ginowan to Zamami is more than just a competition; it’s a celebration of the sailing community and their shared passion for the open water. The race fosters camaraderie, skill-building, and adventure-seeking, all while showcasing the breathtaking beauty of Okinawa.
Join the Adventure
If you’re an avid sailor or just a curious onlooker, don’t miss out on this exciting annual event. Join LEL Shepherd and fellow boating enthusiasts in celebrating the 47th Annual Yacht Race from Ginowan to Zamami. Be part of the adventure that promises unforgettable memories amidst the turquoise waters of Okinawa.
Join me as I capture the excitement of the 47th annual Ginowan to Zamami Yacht Race. Having spent three weeks on Zamami Island during the rainy season (check out my previous video for more), I'm here to witness 56 boats crossing the finish line. This quiet port will soon transform into party central tonight.
Expect to see boats rafting up from my vessel, with friends and my mate Adam from Sailing Okinawa joining the festivities. It was an unexpected treat to meet up with sailors I have met in various ports in Japan!
A big shoutout to Kirari Tomonari (@kirari_ k.tomorari) for the stunning still photos. Congratulations to all the boats and crews that participated, placed, and won in their class. Thanks to Akira-san and Nanase of Island Power, who kindly let me use their outdoor shower while I was moored in Zamami.
The Ginowan to Zamami Yacht Race is Japan's oldest continually running yacht race. Enjoy the celebration and the sailing spirit that brings us all together!
Are you a Never-Too-Later? Check out https://www.nevertoolateacademy.com/
The drone shot is thanks to @SailingRamona
As always, thanks to my Patrons and Sponsors
Racing and Reveling Japanese Style: Ginowan to Zamami in Okinawa Locations
- Zamami Island (26.233338,127.3052262)
- Ginowan City, Okinawa (26.2439,127.7084)
- Zamami Village, Okinawa (26.3477,127.7492)
Pacific Solo
Hi, I`m Lowell, a 67-year-old rookie sailor, and a never-too-later! I preparing myself for the biggest challenge of my life: a solo journey across the North Pacific. I am a Canadian living in Japan, and in 2019, I purchased Wahine, a 1988 Gib Sea 402. I moved on board while she was moored in Tokyo. In March 2021, I terminated my contract with the Marina and have been cruising Japan full time since gaining valuable experience all the while working remotely from the boat. Wahine is my home, my studio, and my lab. Join me on my learning voyage around Japan, trying to prepare myself for Pacific Solo. If you want to see where I am please go to my website and click on the Where`s Wahine Button at https://www.pacificsolo.com Also, if you are a fellow never-too-later check out www.nevertoolateacademy.com PSThe History Channel asked if they follow me into various remote ports for a new series called Dare to Dream. The pilot airs in Japan July 24th at 8pm.
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Note of Recognition for Pacific Solo
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Pacific Solo and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the video description of "Racing and Reveling Japanese Style: Ginowan to Zamami in Okinawa", or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Pacific Solo but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Pacific Solo or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
Pacific Solo Lastest Videos
Japanese Walking Secrets You Need To Know! #japan #fitness #longevity
Japanese Walking isn’t just a TikTok trend — it actually has two distinct forms: 1) Traditional Japanese Walking A slow, steady, mindful style practiced by samurai and long-distance walkers. Arms and legs on the same side move together (right arm + ri...
The Moai Thread: From Easter Island to Japan #travel #japan #longevity
Still away from my boat, I’m in Shibuya, Tokyo, standing beside the iconic Moyai statue, a gift from Niijima Island. Years ago, I sailed there by chance and found these statues all across the island—modern interpretations of the Moai of Easter Island ...
What Japan Taught Me About the REAL Fountain of Youth #japan #bluezone #longevity
I have been away from my boat for two weeks and am wrapping up this leg of research in Japan’s longevity hotspots. After speaking with locals, experts, and elders, one truth keeps rising to the surface: longevity begins in the mind. Yes—diet, movement...
Only in Japan: Dotonbori Jazz Boat Moment #Dotonbori #Jazz #TravelJapan #authorlife
I’ve spent the last two days tucked into Osaka, racing to finish the 4th draft of my new book — and somehow, miraculously, I wrapped it early ahead of a November 15th deadline. To celebrate, I wandered to a quiet corner of Dotonbori and found an out...
Inside Japan’s City of Super Seniors!
I traveled to Kyotango in Kyoto Prefecture — a community with three times Japan’s national average of centenarians — to meet the people behind the statistics. From proactive health checks to a humorous breakfast song… and finally, a 97-year-old hu...
I am visiting Japan`s Longevity Capital! #explorejapan #writerslife #Aging
I’m back in Hyōgo, walking through Toyooka — a place I once cycled with my family and our dog. Today I’m heading to Kyotango, known as Japan’s Capital City of Longevity and host of the recent Global Longevity Summit. I’ll be visiting a remarkab...
One Simple Habit for Longevity: Morning Taiso #japan #longevity #MorningTaiso
This morning I joined a national ritual in the grounds of a Japanese castle — Morning Taiso. It’s a gentle stretch-and-strength routine familiar to every generation in Japan, but especially beloved by elders. One small detail I love: In modern life, m...
Lafcadio Hearn & Finding Community as a Foreigner #japan #shimane #travel
Good morning from the moat of Matsue Castle, where turtles bask, cherry trees sway, and history lingers in the quiet corners. I’ve just visited the former home of Lafcadio Hearn, the beloved storyteller who helped introduce Japan to the Western world in ...
Izumo: The Beach Where Gods Land #japan #spiritualhotspot #writerslife
Hello from Shimane Prefecture, near Izumo Taisha — one of Japan’s oldest and most sacred shrines. This is said to be the beach where the gods land. Twenty-five years ago, I cycled the length of Japan in what my publisher called “a spiritual journey t...
Secrets From a 92 Year Old’s Life in Japan #longevity #healthylifespan #japan
I left my boat three days ago to come to Shimane Prefecture, a Japanese longevity hotspot, more people live past 100 than anywhere else in the country. I came here to work on my book Longevity and the Art of Community: Lessons from Japan, but also to refle...
Left the Boat Again Seeking Japan’s Longevity Secrets #japan #shimane #longevity #writerslife
On my third research journey up the length of Japan, I’ve returned to Matsue Castle in Shimane Prefecture — the region that’s ranked number one in Japan for twelve consecutive years for the number of centenarians per 100,000 people. Just 48 hours ag...
Radio Taiso and the Fishermen — The Art of Community at Dawn #boatlife #JapanLife #writerslife
A few fishermen return from the sea, each with a single small catch, just a couple dozen fish in total. The fish are laid out in a colorful display, each one marked in its own unique way, ready for the brief but effecient auction. Local women also gathe...
The Art of Community: Japan’s Secret to Longevity
In Japan, the art of community isn’t just practiced — it’s spoken. Words ending in -kai mean a gathering with purpose — turning intention into habit. From the 90-year-old “Granny of the Fields” in Aichi, to the 84-year-old café owner on Ama I...
What Sailors Should Know About Japan’s Typhoon Season
Hi, I’m Lowell Sheppard, back on board Wahine here in Buren Bay, Japan — well, almost! I’m checking in after some time away and happy to report she’s stayed dry and mold-free. But let’s talk about typhoon season in Japan — it’s not over yet....
Shinshu Salmon with Beverly Hills Ninja #JapanJourney #FreshwaterSalmon #BlueZoneBook
Here in the mountains, far from the ocean, they’ve bred a special freshwater salmon — a cross between rainbow trout and brown trout, that can’t reproduce. A delicious reminder that not everything lasting needs to multiply to make an impact. My frien...
Longevity Casts a Long Shadow #Longevity #BlueZones #HealthyAging #Resilience #Japan
I left the boat behind in Amami and took the big boat to Okinawa ( read Ferry) and it is day 6 of my second journey this year to Japan`s Longevity Hot Spots. I am in Okinawa asking the question of what went wrong. Why is it not a Blue Zone anymore. Amon...
Beyond the Blue Zone: Why Okinawa’s Healthy Lifespan Is Falling #japan #bluezone #boatlife
At 4:30 AM I boarded a ferry south through the Ryukyu Islands, retracing the route Wahine and I had sailed just months ago. Destination: Okinawa—once called the Land of Immortals by the Chinese. But today, Okinawa is no longer a Blue Zone. In fact, it’...
Day 3: Lightning, Longevity & Leaving Wahine Behind #LongevityJourney #boatlife #BlueZone
Day 3 of my 30-day journey through Japan’s longevity hotspots took a surprising turn. While bailing out my tender in heavy rain, lightning struck close enough to shake the boat and leave me wondering if Wahine herself had been hit. Thankfully, everything...
Day 2: Exploring Japan’s Longevity Secrets #resilience #bluezone #community
Day 2 of my 30-day solo journey into Japan’s longevity hotspots. After yesterday’s Respect for the Aged Festival, today was cleanup day—but also a chance to reflect on last night’s celebration where over 100 villagers, young and old, gathered to ho...
Day 1: Celebrating Respect for the Aged Day in a Remote Japanese Village
It’s Respect for the Aged Day here in Japan 🇯🇵—a national holiday that began back in 1947 as “Old Folks Day” before being renamed in the ’60s. I just learned that you officially qualify as “aged” here at 70… which makes me a newbie to...
Prepping for Respect For The Aged Festival #Longevity #Japan #nevertoolate
When the village where you are moored asks you to wear a sumo belt, you don’t say no! It`s Preparation day in Buren Village for the Respect for the Aged Festival. The sumo ring here is over 100 years old, and Kitamura-san, 80 years young, is still part...
30 Days, 30 Videos: My Solo Journey Beyond the Blue Zone #SlowTravelJapan #LongevityQuest #author
This weekend I begin a 30-day solo journey up the Pacific coast of Japan—not on my own sailboat Wahine, but aboard ferries and big boats captained by others. I’ll be revisiting waters I once sailed, exploring longevity hotspots, and asking tough questi...
6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Buying a Boat #BoatingLife #Buyingaboat #LearnToBoat
Dreaming of owning a boat? Before you even buy one, there are six things I wish I had practiced or studied more. These are skills and habits that would have eased my anxiety, sped up my learning curve, and made the first days onboard far smoother. The best...
Something AWESOME is coming!
Be the FIRST to know⛵
Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.