The Great Siberian Sushi Run: Sailing to Japan Begins
The Great Siberian Sushi Run finally begins—for real this time
July 10, 2025
Blaine’s Back. Tangaroa’s Loaded. Let’s Go.
Life is officially better—Blaine is back onboard! And for the first time since we “left,” it actually feels like we’ve started the Great Siberian Sushi Run.
Yesterday didn’t go exactly as planned. Big surprise, right?
We got a late start because Blaine was still running around trying to finish things up. The FRS engine didn’t get done, which really bummed him out. The radiator was damaged—and of course, it’s not a stock part, so no one in Victoria had a replacement. He had to hand the job off and call it.
And if you know Blaine, you know how hard that was.
He called in a mechanic, did a full handover, and then called the owner to explain. Thankfully, she was understanding. That lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. But yeah, it wasn’t easy.
Izzie and I Move the Boat—Just the Two of Us
While Blaine was back on land sorting tools and gear, Izzie and I decided to reposition Tangaroa ourselves. At 3 p.m., we lifted anchor at Sidney Spit.
I coached her through it while I took the helm. She stood up on the bow, used her arm to signal the angle of the chain, and I guided the boat slowly forward to relieve pressure on the windlass. We nailed it. No stalling, no drama.
And let me tell you—as a mom, seeing her up there confident and proud just about broke my heart wide open.
Why the Move? One Word: Punga
Now, you might be wondering why we moved at all. Simple: Punga, our trusty aluminum dinghy, is not built for heavy cargo. With Blaine bringing back welders, insulation, and a full 4×8 sheet of aluminum, we needed Tangaroa close to shore. Otherwise, we’d be running wet laps across the channel.
Docking solo didn’t feel smart, so I anchored near Sidney instead. The current and wind were fighting each other, and I dropped the anchor the wrong way (classic). But Izzie helped me back down on it, and it held solid.
And I’ll be honest—I was proud of myself. I needed Blaine to know that I can handle Tangaroa if I have to. That I don’t need him there to make everything happen.
Blaine Returns—with Gear Galore
As expected, Blaine’s “three hours” turned into six. At 5:30, I got the call—he was on his way, with our brother-in-law Dave helping.
Izzie and I met them at the dock in Punga. Blaine had three carts full of tools and one massive sheet of aluminum that made Punga look like a metal turtle. We loaded everything aboard and made it back to Tangaroa.
At 6:30, anchor up again. Izzie’s a pro now, and I took the helm while Blaine lashed everything down. This time—it felt real.
Not Just a Departure—A Real Goodbye
We cruised north at nine knots and pulled into Montague Harbour for the night. The plan: lift anchor at 6 a.m. and make our way to Jedediah Island.
Just as we were rounding into the anchorage, the VHF crackled:
“I’m coming over for a visit,” said Uncle Chuck.
Honestly? It was exactly what I needed. I never got a proper goodbye with him during the party—it was too chaotic. He pulled alongside, gave us hugs, snapped some photos, and promised to get his passport so he could meet us somewhere out there.
And just like that—it all felt okay.
We’re finally on our way.
PS. Join the journey by joining our online crew at http://www.onboardtangaroa.com for as little as $5 usd/month!