Smooth sailing in Okinawa: Windsurfing on Senaga Island’s calm waters

windsurfing (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

Looking for something to make the most of the beautiful warm March weather, I sought out a new sport I’d never tried before, windsurfing.

After some digging online, I found Blahav151, a windsurf shop on Senaga Island near Naha Airport.

With a circumference of about 1.5 kilometers, Senaga Island is tiny, but it’s still a popular destination for tourists. According to Umikaji Terrace, a shopping complex on the island, it draws about 3.3 million visitors a year.

(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

The waters around the island are relatively shallow, suitable for beginner windsurfers like me. At Blahav151, instructor Kai Shimabukuro welcomed me with a smile and congratulated me for what he said was the right choice.

Thanks to the airport’s runway, Shimabukuro explained, the beach is protected from high waves, making it an ideal location to learn to windsurf.

Before I could take to the water, Shimabukuro briefed me on the basics and four technical steps to mastering the activity.

First step would be to climb onto the board’s center from the side and stand parallel with feet spread to the left and right.

Next, the sail is pulled using the rope attached to it, then hold the sail’s vertical pole with either hand depending on the direction in which the surfer is trying to sail. Left to go left and right to go right.

After that, the surfer must turn their body to face the direction of progression and scoot feet to stand behind the sail while holding the sail’s horizontal pole with the right hand.

In the fourth step, the surfer should turn their face diagonally forward in relation to the direction of progression. I would turn my face left if I were headed to the left of my position at the beginning.

Got it? Good! I did too, but I felt a little anxious.

With a mind, and body, full of jitters, I reluctantly followed the instructor as he carried my board and sail to the shoreline. Once I reached the water, the shallowness soothed my anxiety some. I also noticed there weren’t many rocks around, so I didn’t have to worry too much about potential injuries.

We waded into the water about 20 to 30 meters from the shore. It was time to test my memory and understanding of the four simple steps Shimabukuro taught me.

I climbed on the board without any issues, a good first sign.

Step two, drawing the rope, also not a challenge.

Step three, however, was not so easy. I turned and reached for the horizontal bar, lost my balance and fell into the water. Back to step one.

There were several failed attempts to move past step two, so Shimabukuro suggested I keep the vertical pole upright.

Stabilized finally, the next challenge was to position my feet correctly. They were either too far from the sail or too close to the side of the board. Too add to that, I had to guess without looking down or else I’d lose my balance. It was an awkward feeling, and I was shakier than I was supposed to be given how peaceful the waters were.

Nonetheless, after 10 minutes, I gradually learned to stay on the board longer than before. Soon, my sail began to catch the breeze, and my board slowly floated forward with me still on it. I felt myself finally start to relax, cruising along and enjoying the view.

Commercial planes took off from the airport and flew over us in the sky, but the water was unmoved by the movement above. Fortunately, the tourists on the shore lined up to take photos of the planes, were too busy to pay attention to the clumsy windsurfing beginner.

I was finally having fun and comfortable enough on the board to try a U-turn before the end of the one-hour course. Following Shimabukuro’s advice, I put the sail down while holding its rope. Then I drew the top of the sail close to the rear end of the board. This worked like a rudder, helping the board curl away from its direction of progression.

Pulling up and down the sail was quite the arm workout. After making a few successful U-turns, I was exhausted, and I was thankful that it was time for the session to end.

Though the shop doesn’t offer lessons in English, Shimabukuro said he does get American customers and foreign tourists wanting to try windsurfing. Reservations are required and lessons are not private, so each instructor can have up to five students. Kids must be 12 years old and above to participate.

Shimabukuro said winter is the best season for windsurfing as that is when the winds pick up in Okinawa. For a novice like me, however, I’ll stick to the calm, warm spring breeze.

BLAHAV151

GPS Coordinates: N 26.17654, E 127.64418
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Closed on Tue.
Website: https://blahav151.com/
One hour course, including a 15-minute brief, costs 4,950 yen (approx. $33)
For more info and reservations, contact the shop at umiashibi@blahav151.com
*Showers and lockers are available for free at the shop.
*Free parking space available at (N 26.175549, E 127.644023)

Kodakara Iwa (Child Blessing Rock)

This landmark standing at the southern shore of the island is a replication of a rock that used to be worshipped by locals during the pre-war days.

According to a description posted on the site, a local legend has it that throwing a stone into either of the holes lined up vertically on the rock would reward one with having a baby: the top for a boy, the bottom for a girl.

After it was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, it was brought back to life in 2015, according to a report by the local newspaper Ryukyu Shimpo.

Following the tradition, I approached the rock with the idea of throwing a stone at it. On this day, however, there were many tourists taking photos around it. So, I just stayed behind them, looking at the two holes filled with pebbles and stones.

Kodakara Iwa

(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

GPS Coordinates: N 26.173740, E 127.64190 2

To visit Kodakara Iwa and the locations described below, I parked my car at a free parking space nearby (N 26.174904, E 127.645662), and took a walk. There are free parking slots by Umikaji Terrace as well, but they are often taken.

Umikaji Terrace

(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

After visiting the Child Blessing Rock, I swung by Umikaji Terrace, a dining and shopping complex sitting on the side of a hill overlooking the west coast of the island. Surrounded by white walls and corridors, this location has a Mediterranean vibe.

In my case, a visit to this location brought me back to the days I spent in South Florida about 20 years ago. Lucky for me, I found Pirates Okinawa, which was serving up various Cuban Sandwiches.

I picked a pork sandwich for 1,800 yen (approx. $12.16), which came with fried potatoes and orange juice.

Having a thick sandwich with lots of cheese, pork and pickles was satisfying. Spicing it up with Tabasco made it even better.

Pirates Okinawa