Root of the Japanese watermen

Last weekend, the 10th annual Sabani crossing Race was held in Okinawa, Japan.
I was fortunate to join that race couple years ago, it was full of big adrenalin rush, bonding with friends, humbling and learning experience in the open ocean. I was blown away how ancient Japanese fishermen used to handle those boats to go everywhere alone to travel and fish. It was very hard to control and required a lot of skill and knowledge of the ocean, it sure made me want to be better at at, too.

I didn't get to join the race this year but I was following how my friends were doing in the race.
The captain oftThe team I was in couple years ago, is a professional windsurfer named Naoto and he is born and raised Okinawan. He is a typical islander and his passion for Sabani seems to grow every year, he ended up buiding his own Sabani this year. And that's a pretty big deal.
The skill to build Sabani boat is considered almost extinct, there are only handful of boat builders left and they are all getting really old. So I thought it was a wonderful awakening of younger generation , trying to figure out to build a good Sabani boat.
Even though the boat turned out to be heavy and not go fast for the race, I think Naoto shook many people's motivation to learn more about Sabani and even to build one.
Yvon once said Sometimes it is the process that matters more than the results. I think the fact that he wanted to learn how his ancester used to build and handle those boats is such a wonderful thing that it doesn't matter the boat wasn't fast enough to win the race. Seems like not doing well in the race only put gas into his inner fire for Sabani anyways.

Talking about process. another friend of mine, who I really respect is Nakata, he is a fisherman in Ishigaki where I visit almost every time I go back to Japan. It is far down south of Japan and almost tropical. the water is so clear and beautiful, full of bright corals. He is also a long time windsurfer/ kitesurfer and standup paddler.
He has been leading a team for Sabani race for 4 years now but this year, they decided to go traditinal way.
It means they won't attach outrigger( without it, it is extremely hard to balance the boat) and they will only use the traditinal paddle for stiring( manual stiiring with that skinny paddle called EIKU is mind-wearing and physically demanding)
He said it was as hard as they were afraid of but they managed to finish the race and got 5th in the traditional sabani division.
I am sure it gave them a whole another respect for their own cultture and ancesters who used to travel across with the boat that way.

I always think going back to simple way can be good sometims, it requires more of your own judgement, your own body strength and skills and knowledge.
Just think about crossing island to island, for instance. We depend on GPS, engines to go fast, and maps and phones to travel safe, which keep us from learning about current , weather patterns, all the signs that ocean gives us and also not gaing all the physical strength and mental toughness that come with it.

Sabani Race raise the awareness and the pride for the Japanese traditional skills and knowledge of the ocean. and people in the race all have mutural passion and connection among them, it's a great feeling.
I sure hope I can make it back to be part of it next summer!

photo is Team Unajura with traditonal Sabani.