Cruising experience: Central/Northern Chinese, Southern Japanese and/or South Korean

[Wondering Star]

Good day everyone

I hope that I am posting my question under the correct subject category?

May I ask?

Has anyone experienced cruising in Central/Northern Chinese, Southern Japanese or South Korean waters in the most recent years?

I have recently did some sailing in South Korean waters and it was very beautiful. Although lacking some marina services, however, with over 3000 islands and many islands within a day's sail from each other, I could see some positive potentials as an additional East Pacific destination for the future. In addition, South Korean government seems to be actively trying to promote marine leisure including sailing as the country's next tourism industry.

I am hoping to do some more East Asia sailing in the near future and would appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced cruising in South Korean, Southern Japanese or Central/Northern Chinese waters. (*No plans to be sailing North of Tokyo on the Pacific side as a plan)

In particular because Southern Japan and South Korea is not on the top of many people's list for Pacific sailing destinations, your views and experiences with the countries regulations, rules, laws and general attitude toward visiting vessels would be a great resource.

Thanks for the opportunity to ask a question and hope to learn from your views and experiences.

Cheers

[impi]

There is a sailor who posted on this forum earlier under 'BAMBOO YACHTS' (I think) ... his name is Dirk and he is cruising those waters with his family. If you could locate him through that thread, he has a wealth of experience and knowledge there. He has a blog at bambooyacht

[Wondering Star]

Hello impi

Thanks for your support, I will try to find 'BAMBOO YACHTS' postings.

Cheers

[Wondering Star]

impi

Just looked at your blog, sorry to hear you had to depart with your second mate aboard your vessel.
Your website set up and contents are very nice and it shows that you care and appreciate your present life style.

Good wishes

[impi]

Originally Posted by Wondering Star

impi

Just looked at your blog, sorry to hear you had to depart with your second mate aboard your vessel.
Your website set up and contents are very nice and it shows that you care and appreciate your present life style.

Good wishes

Thanks for the kind words ... we love to share our experience with people and equally love to learn from others ... not a day goes by where I do not count my blessings for being able to do what we do ... I truly wish so many more people could be out here doing this ... I know Dirk has done this before and in discussion with him back in Simons Town he had mentioned that he had sailed there before. I'm sure he could give you some good advice. We are also planning on sailing up that way

[Wondering Star]

Dear impi

Although gaining more knowledge as weeks go by, I am just learning about that part of the world. When and if you do decide to voyage toward Central/Northern Asian waters, specially South Korea, I am able to provide some valuable information and possibly some local contacts.

I hope that we will be able to communicate and learn from each other as months go by. Again many thanks and best of thoughts to you, your family and your adventures.

Cheers

[tropicalescape]

That area is a political hot bed ...big problems are in the making between many nations ...several areas you mention have had a lot of press as of late ..Google Diayou Island ,Haungyin Islands, South China Sea, or conflict between Japan and China over Pacific Island dispute...Good luck..DVC

[impi]

Originally Posted by Wondering Star

Dear impi

Although gaining more knowledge as weeks go by, I am just learning about that part of the world. When and if you do decide to voyage toward Central/Northern Asian waters, specially South Korea, I am able to provide some valuable information and possibly some local contacts.

I hope that we will be able to communicate and learn from each other as months go by. Again many thanks and best of thoughts to you, your family and your adventures.

Cheers

Thanks wondering star ... we are looking to be up there and will learn more about Tropical storm conditions in the Pacific, what places to be at when and where to go to be out in time etc.etc. .. that pretty much will 'route us' and 'manage the timing' of our travels

[Wondering Star]

Originally Posted by tropicalescape

That area is a political hot bed ...big problems are in the making between many nations ...several areas you mention have had a lot of press as of late ..Google Diayou Island ,Haungyin Islands, South China Sea, or conflict between Japan and China over Pacific Island dispute...Good luck..DVC

Hello tropicalescape

Thank you for your reply and you are very right to see the demanding issues surrounding the South China Sea as well as waters between South Korea and Japan and all the relevant historical conflicts between China, Japan and South Korea over not only island territorial rights, but many other geo and socioeconomic based subjects. One additional continuing territorial rights issue concerns an Island call Dok-do Island located between Japan and South Korea. Historically identified as South Korean territory going back hundreds of years, however, Japan began to challenge the boarder since discovering possible underwater natural resources in the recent years.

Who would have figured? Governments fighting over land and resources?
Nevertheless, although I am only foundering at the edge of any understanding on all conflict issues, I have been advised and learning more that the majority of any contamination or infection involving the country's confrontation is directed toward commercial industry members, and leisure community has been field outside of the interest by all parties.

One country's reactions involving territorial boarder issues that may and most likely directly concerns people like you and I as a leisure yacht/cruising society must be or has to be, in my opinion, with the N. Korea. This is the reason that all and every effort will be utilized to stay well away from even a chance of being near or above the 38' parallel that which is so clearly has been identified with the post Korean War boarder conflicts in theory and as shown on CNN exercised physical present day military confrontation with property and lives lost.

On lighter and more welcoming note, I am told by ocean going cruisers whom I met in Asia that the water surrounding the political dismay is open to the general cruising public with shyness and often confusingly lack of general knowledge concerning documentation and paperwork. The lack of familiarity with visiting yachts procedural has often left some areas to not even bother with any paperwork and redirect the visiting cruisers to visit the larger ports in there travel to complete any and all documentations.

This is the reason why that I was hoping to learn from those who may have experienced first hand. What the actual standing practice has been in recent years or months.

It must be truly an area lacking yacht visits because finding first hand knowledge has proven to be more rare than advised.

Thank you again for your support and impute
If you gain more incite, I would appreciate you sharing the knowledge with me.

Cheers

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by Wondering Star

Hello tropicalescape

Thank you for your reply and you are very right to see the demanding issues surrounding the South China Sea as well as waters between South Korea and Japan and all the relevant historical conflicts between China, Japan and South Korea over not only island territorial rights, but many other geo and socioeconomic based subjects. One additional continuing territorial rights issue concerns an Island call Dok-do Island located between Japan and South Korea. Historically identified as South Korean territory going back hundreds of years, however, Japan began to challenge the boarder since discovering possible underwater natural resources in the recent years.

Who would have figured? Governments fighting over land and resources?
Nevertheless, although I am only foundering at the edge of any understanding on all conflict issues, I have been advised and learning more that the majority of any contamination or infection involving the country's confrontation is directed toward commercial industry members, and leisure community has been field outside of the interest by all parties.

One country's reactions involving territorial boarder issues that may and most likely directly concerns people like you and I as a leisure yacht/cruising society must be or has to be, in my opinion, with the N. Korea. This is the reason that all and every effort will be utilized to stay well away from even a chance of being near or above the 38' parallel that which is so clearly has been identified with the post Korean War boarder conflicts in theory and as shown on CNN exercised physical present day military confrontation with property and lives lost.

On lighter and more welcoming note, I am told by ocean going cruisers whom I met in Asia that the water surrounding the political dismay is open to the general cruising public with shyness and often confusingly lack of general knowledge concerning documentation and paperwork. The lack of familiarity with visiting yachts procedural has often left some areas to not even bother with any paperwork and redirect the visiting cruisers to visit the larger ports in there travel to complete any and all documentations.

This is the reason why that I was hoping to learn from those who may have experienced first hand. What the actual standing practice has been in recent years or months.

It must be truly an area lacking yacht visits because finding first hand knowledge has proven to be more rare than advised.

Thank you again for your support and impute
If you gain more incite, I would appreciate you sharing the knowledge with me.

Cheers

With President Obama telling China that we will send 60% of our navy to the region and the realinement of forces all thru the pacfic basin(troops in Austrlia,Guam,Pacfic trust territories etc) it dosent take a thinking man to realize what is about to happen in this area of the world...the lines in the sand have long been draw n and now they are all standing face to face with a military buidup of the greatest proportions ever known... the flash point will most likely start on one of these uninhabited rocks and then onto the Formosa Straight(Tiawan, Chinas main objective) and then spread like wildfire across the region..With the Chinese economy slowing down and the world economic problems it starts to look like the time is ripe for the "Greatest" reshuffle of world Geopolitics since WWII...we have secured the fuel to go and fight the big fight and now it is a matter of time before we all see something the world has never seen... I will be out there in a matter of months so I hope everything I have said is wrong,but I dont think so! Good luck on your "Adventure" and I hope good luck follows me as well,maybe I will get in and get out before it gets to tense,I have at least 3 yrs maybe 4 in the area and then I hope to be able to retire and just sail around,knowing my luck I will endup in some story like "The African Queen" or "Casablanca"LOL..Good luck to you..DVC PS. There is a website on here about a boat called Atom(the irony of it all)I belive he sailed the area, although the info would be very dated by now it is a good read..

[Wondering Star]

Hello tropicalescape

Yes, the potential is most definitely there surrounding the East/North East Asia. As you, I hope the situation will not end up as some may fear that it might.
Nevertheless, hang in there, 3 to 4 yrs, will go by quickly and hope that your adventures will begin under the moon and sun of better, more comforting Geo/Political atmosphere global wide.
I thank you again for sharing your thoughts and hope to stay in contact for possible mutual assistance and encouragements.

Many good thoughts and best of all wishes

Cheers

[Wondering Star]

Originally Posted by tropicalescape

Hey , I was wondering why that area of all places ? I like it myself for the zannyness of it all ,but often find most aint like me

No particular reason, except that it is a different area from the typical tropical South Pacific area - Please do not think that I do not enjoy clear blue water with tropical back ground setting - NO - I most definitely do LIKE. However, I have done the South Pacific, Central Pacific, U.S. Waters, North Atlantic, EU and Etc and would enjoy experiencing a different setting and new beautiful places of a different style.

The East/North East Asia offers new back ground, new food and new people to experience.

What I would like to experience after that in may be another five years is the passage North "The North Passage"

I enjoy going to places before it get spoiled by the other 95%+ of the general population. May that be sailing community or any other community. I do know and understand that there are also other places less explored, but after experiencing South Korean waters and South Japanese water. I would like to learn more about the potential these area hold that has not been written about in many sailing related publications through the eyes and from a boat.

As always be well and be safe while you expend your adventures

Cheers

[Wondering Star]

* P.S.

Please note: I do mean to show any disrespect to the sailing or any other traveling community. I only meant to express that I enjoy experiencing the receiving community/cultures fresh reaction to a new traveler or a traveler traveling in a new or different manner.

Cheers

[stevewrye]

Hi Wondering Star,

Good for you to look for new waters to explore. But I'm wondering about the summer cyclone season in that area. Would you go in the winter season or brave the cyclone season? Winter I'm sure the waters are cool and there is a lot of rain.

Best to you.

[Wondering Star]

Hello stevewrye

It is becoming warmer as each season goes by in the North East Asia. The weather patterns are noticeably changing, including the allocations, duration as well as intensity of summer storms and winter weather.

With the exception of Mid-July through the early Sept., the summers are not so bad and the cyclone patterns are in most cases reasonably predictable and possibility toward running to a fairly protected harbors can be pre-planned in the routes chosen as secondary ports.

It would be more ideal to adventure the prospective new North East areas during the months of Mid-March to Early-July or Late Sept. through November.

I will not be doing either itinerary because I have other responsibilities at the moment. If all goes well and I have achieved all that I need to accomplish and healthy as well as Geo-political issues sustain its normality without conflicting destructive behaviors, may be, I will adventure the area next year.

Best of thoughts and well wishes to your on going endeavor completing your new boat.

Best regards and good health