After four days of sightseeing on Okinawa Island, we set sail for Miyakojima, the next major island to the south in the Okinawan chain. Having just visited Okinawa's Churaumi Aquarium, I was more aware of the beautiful sea life underneath our sailboat such as manta rays, sea turtles and maybe even dugong. In addition, at the aquarium we had seen a dolphin show, never imagining it was a foreshadowing of what we would see in the open sea.
Furthermore, the aquarium had introduced us to the fish and other sea animals living among shallow reefs. We hadn't seen any reefs while sailing thus far, but as we left Ginowan port, the Coast Guard advised us to give a wide berth to Yabiji Reef, located north of Miyakojima. This large coral colony is made up of 100 different large and small reefs that extend 17 km north and south and 7 km from east to west. On March 3 of the lunar calendar, during the lowest tide of the year, the coral can be seen above the surface of the water creating a "phantom island." Yabiji is also called the "land of illusions," so take your pick! At this time each year, hundreds of people walk out on Yabiji to observe the coral.
The sail to Miyakojima was among the quietest waters we had yet sailed since we left the Seto Inland Sea in Okayama on Oct. 3. Our boat ambled along at 3 to 4 knots drifting southward in light breezes along with the swell.