Cruising Japan...Kyushu

HIRADO STRAITS

We had heard the stories about the extreme currents, tidal rips and flotillas of ships using the strait so we approached with trepidation. Favourable tide was due the following morning so we anchored out of the way of the expected busy traffic. A few fishing boats roared by along a with a couple of coastal freighters....all taking advantage of the tidal flow.
A fishing boat approached us and with hand signals indicated that we were anchored over their crab pot area. They led us to another spot and as we reanchored they presented us with two live optopus and 5 large crabs. After they left we released the octopus, but the crab we njoyed for our dinner.
The next morning we went through the strait with no other vessels for company...it was a wee bit of a let down, but perhaps the world economical situation has affected the number of ships in the area.

Our last night before Fukuoka was spent in a bay at anchor. In the middle of the night we were visited by the Coast Guard Police who were very excited with the change in their routine we offered. We filled in the forms by torchlight they passed to us via a fishing net, answered their questions and then they disappeared into the dust and we went back to bed.