SVYC missing racing mark washes up in Japan
Published 07:10 on 1 Apr 2023
The Sea View Yacht Club's Outer Mark that disappeared in 2018, would seem to have washed up in Japan, where it has been causing a certain amount of confusion for the local authorities. Some have even labelled it a 'Godzilla Egg'.
The racing mark was blown out into the Spithead channel in an October gale in 2018 and vanished. AIS reports suggest that a Korean cargo ship did pass between the Forts the night of the disappearance. It seems possible that Outer Mark caught on the bow bulb of this ship and was dragged to the Korean Sea where it detached and was then carried by the Tsushima currents to a beach at Hamamatsu City, Japan. Outer Mark is a clear contender for the Commodore's trophy for boating activities outside Seaview.
Simon North, the captain of Mermaids will be in Japan later in the summer to try to teach the Japanese how to market. On his trip he also plans to try to explain to the Japanese sailing in Seaview and to try bring Outer Mark back in his check-in luggage. The Club wishes him all the best in all three of these endeavours.
One example of the local coverage can be found here.