Significance of the Okinawa Sailing Sabani Trophy

The Cup Awarded to the Winning Team

 

 

This photo was taken last June at the end of the Zamami to Okinawa Sailing Sabani Race.

The sun was setting behind me and I was wrestling with glare, trying to take the shot.

"Sir Peter Blake Memorial" is inscribed on the plaque.

A recent invitation to attend the race, again this year prompted me to do some research.

Everyone knows Peter Blake was from New Zealand and won the America's Cup for sailing.

But, I didn't realize the significance of this trophy, until today.


He began sailing when he was five years old.

In his lifetime, he probably, broke more sailing records than anyone in the history of the world.

That includes, sailing completely, around the world.

They just don't make sailors like Sir Peter Blake, anymore.

Why There's a Memorial

In December of 2001, he was shot dead by pirates, in Brazil.

The criminals got caught and went to jail but, I think we should let them out.

That would only be on one condition.

They would have to volunteer to let someone take them out in the ocean.

AND, FEED THEM TO THE SHARKS ! 


More About Sir Peter Blake

10 Photos of Treasures Found in Itoman, Okinawa Today

Itoman Uminchu Koubou

 

 

That is the name of this place. Roughly translated: The Fisherman's Art and Craft Center.

The building is stocked full with history of the Itoman fisherman's equipment.

I've been to this town 100's of times, over the past 30 years, or so.

It was the first time, I'd ever been in this building so, I went crazy with the cameras.

They let me go anywhere I wanted and photograph, everything so, that's what I did.

 The sailing sabani (サバニ) boats are really, what I'm most interested in.

They build the boats, by hand, in a portion of this attraction. I want to learn.

See the difference between those three hats ?  I want to know about them, too.

Old wooden buckets, I'm not sure what they were used for. Maybe fish bait ?

They have some mean-looking shark specimens on display, too.

So, once I get all the images processes from the three cameras, I took, I'll be going back.

This place is better than a museum of natural history.  It's a goldmine !