Sailing in Taiwan

Hi guys!

Just came back from Maryland, USA where they hosted the annual USA National Albacore Sailing regatta! Came in 11th! That was fun. But the Canadian Nationals had much better food. hahahaha All the beer you can drink though.

Thanks for all the info about sailing in Taiwan. I think I’ll check out the club with the hobies and lasers in Fulong. Where is Fulong? Anywhere near Taipei?

Thanks everyone!

Latest news for those interested:

Got those pesky anchors up on Saturday and managed to get the boat tied to a mooring block too. As it was gusting 30 knots on the river, and the current was maybe 5 kts too, we’re quite proud of achieving that with only minor injuries to myself and the owner.

The big event was that we finally got a sailing permit!! Yup, they gave us 2 hrs for sail testing because the permit to be in Taiwan expires next week and the boat has to leave the country. It’s been sitting in that bloody river for six months while the massed officialdom of the boat-hating Republic of China prevent it doing what it was built for, and now it has to leave.

As it will have to clear customs in Jilong we got permission to go there this weekend instead, and spend a week in the harbour. There’s another ‘friendship race’ from Ishigaki back to Taiwan on 28 April, so we’ll be allowed to come back then and can probably keep the boat in a harbour down south afterwards. Maybe.

So we congregated at 8am to catch the tide. The river is only 1.4m deep when the tide is out so we had to get moving early, and motored up to Danshui fishing harbour to get clearance. That took one and a half fucking hours, even though there was no actual problem. We had to remain with the boat the whole time, guarded by a bunch of guys in orange jumpsuits: ordinary Taiwanesers doing their national service who seemed to know nothing about boats.

They put a guy on board to search the boat, in case we had smuggled something down the river I presume, and it was quite funny watching him rummage through the lockers with a confused look on his face. I needed to get something from one of the under-seat storage areas and his amazement at all the places he had missed was priceless.

They also videod us the whole time we were in port, and a TV crew showed up as well. They took some footage, but didn’t speak to us. Most odd.

The sailing itself was a bit of a disappointment because the winds were very light and variable, and in fact I slept through part of the journey. But it was nice to be out on the water again, and the trip was long enough that everyone had a chance to drive. I got the last stretch, including the entrance to Jilong Harbour with a coastguard escort.

We tied up at 5, and they finally completed the paperwork at 6:30! What a performance. This is in a country that is promoting sailing?!?!?

The boat will go to Bisha fishing harbour tonight, and stay for a week. There was some noise/vibration from the propellor at high speeds, and we’re going to try and get an extension on the permit for another month while we check it out and fix it.

I’ll have to take a look underneath anyway, to see what the effect of six months worth of current and pollution has been on the anti-fouling. Hopefully it’s just a little something snagged on the prop, and I can go to Japan next weekend. I’m quite looking forward to that, although it would be nice to not have to do a ‘visa run’.

Best of luck on your trip to Japan mate.

As someone who comes from a sailing family, and currently being cut-off from sailing (which makes me insanely jealous).

I wan’t to know how anyone goes sailing here?? In there really a J-24 in Taiwan?
The reason I ask is:

  1. No-one at these “clubs” seems to know how to properly rig a laser sail (no vang, no clew tie-down, traveler blocks not taped together, not enough traveler tension…etc, ).
  2. Any keel boats that I’ve seen are horribly maintained
  3. The navigational aids for most of the harbors is shit, and errors bring you straight on the mole,(Mah Zhang), or the bricks.
  4. East coast wind is generally poor, especially in the summer when the SE wind blows and currents strong
  5. West coast wind is great, especially in the winter, but mud flats are no good for keelboats either.
  6. A used hobie in not-so-good shape is quoted at 100k

I just gave-up and learned how to windsurf - which Taiwan is apparently one of the best places in the world, according to some Japanese and US pros that have come to visit.

Elequa, there is a j-24, and a Melges, both owned by the same guy and neither of them is in a fit state to sail. No permits for them either.

My friend’s Janneau 47 looks set to remain in Taiwan, although I dunno if we’ll get to sail it again any time soon. the next likely event is the friendship race from Ishigaki to Jilong on 29 April. (Friday/Saturday)

It’s approximately a 20-hr trip each way. We’re looking at departing late on the 27th (Weds) to arrive there before dark Thursday afternoon, and the race starts at 12 the following day. There’ll be some round the cans events over the weekend, and last year they managed about a dozen participants.

I’ve got a list of interested forumosans, and am always glad to hear from more, but no-one has declared themselves available yet. We only need 4/5, and probably have that many already, but there’s room for a few more.

email chrisYOURPANTS@getset.com.tw, and remember to remove yourpants first.

At least it’s better than Shanghai, where I am now. I haven’t seen a sailboat the whole time I’m here.

Surprisingly we’ve got a boat show this weekend:

cmpsinoexpo.com/index.asp?la … &sub_id=86

My parents live on a (big) lake near Shanghai, so I want to get a little keelboat (maybe something around 22’). I’ll see what’s up at the boat show.

Better than Shangahi eh? I’m dreading the time when I get sent there 'cause then I won’t even be able to windsurf - no wind.

Loretta, Where are these boats kept?

BTW: Last Sat. was absolutely AMAZING conditions -sunny, 22kts gusts to 30kts, the waves were perfect for jumping.

I broke my board, punched a hole in my sail, twisted my foot and bruised my elbow & forehead. It was GREAT. (I’m still learning so I’m a bit hard on the equipment).

Elequa, you come home from sailing trips like I do. Still, that’s better than puking the whole time like someone who shall remain nameless. :laughing:

The boats I used to sail on are kept at Bisha, just outside Jilong. The boat I’m involved with now is in Jilong harbour right now, close to the cultural centre. We managed to get a permit for ‘sail testing’ this weekend on the grounds that we’re leaving the country next week.

The plan is to depart on Tuesday morning for Miyako, one of the nearby Japanese islands. There’s a race back to Bisha on Friday 29th April and I think there’s 12 boats entered. There’s a round-the-island race on Sunday 1st May and some kind of festival being organised at Bisha by the city government.

I think some of the boats will be open for ‘tours’ and there’s some kind of beauty pageant featuring ‘teenage girls in sailor suit’ according to the official announcement. Yummy!! I’ll have to take some Bacardi.

Who’s coming to visit?

NB I’VE GOT EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR A FEW GUYS WHO SAIL HOBIES AND/OR DINGHIES. ALSO FOR A GUY WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE 49er RACING IN PENGHU LAST YEAR.

BAH, I looked at the boat show site and saw ONE photo of a boat with sails. It turned out to be a model. Is there any actual sailing in China? I saw a reference to marinas being built, but do they have a legal framework to allow people to sail?

Or will it all be done on lakes?

Is Bisha on the Fulong side or the WanLi side of Keelung?

By the way, is the boat you are referring to visible from the Starbucks on the harbor or is it in some other part of the Keelung harbor?

Bisha harbour is on the Fulong side of Jilong.

[quote=“Hobart”]Is Bisha on the Fulong side or the WanLi side of Keelung (Jilong)?

By the way, is the boat you are referring to visible from the Starbucks on the harbor or is it in some other part of the Keelung (Jilong) harbor?[/quote]

Yes. I’ll be there Sunday 'til 2.

All this talk of sailing and now I’m pining for open waters and a full main, jib/genoa and spinnaker!

Talking with Loretta and Sanman last night at the HH got me athinking - ahhggg. I’m a dinghy man and not so many years ago I used to sail/race these…

It would be a good thing to get back some more time in on the old briney seas…

Most, if not all, of this thread is about larger vessels. Is there anyone out there who’s interseted in a bit of dinghy sailing? I’ve heard there are some places with Lasers but I’m more interested in two person (gotta be PC here) boats rather than solo classses (although I used really do enjoy those).

That was fun last night. Made me take a look through my old pics today. Such sweet memories…

Samdman,

Is that a froggy ensign I see flapping there???

Loretta, you just had to post the biggest picture, huh!!! :raspberry:

Impressive though :smiley:

[quote=“Elegua”]Samdman,

Is that a froggy ensign I see flapping there???[/quote]
It is. And this is the Corsican one.

Very open minded of you Sandman…

Not really. Its just sailing ettiquette to fly the flag of the country whose port you’re entering. Maybe its even the law – I don’t know.
In any case, the Corsican one is cool – made me feel like a pirate! :wink: