Nakahama

Despite the heat that makes Nishi beach feel a bit like a wok ready to prepare a serving of crystal shrimp and tourists, the grandstands at the easternmost end of Nishi beach attract a sizable crowd to watch the first speedboat race in the island, at least in recent memory.

Some large fans are placed at some points to try and provide some respite from the heat, but it's barely enough. Stands and vendors selling cold drinks see large queues all the time, and many heimin merchants are also selling fans of various types and prices - paper, cloth, simple and not so simple eletronic versions are all in sight.

Stands around and behind the grandstands offer 10-Zeni Coin snacks, Tian Bubble Tea, a variety of KINSENKA BREWERIES products, as well as water and a variety of cold drinks - many of them from Crab-a-Cola Co, unsurprisingly.

Stands with many types of typical Crab clan finger foods, with a sizable presence from UOMOTO CO. . There are also some Shiawase delicacies on offer in the standsl, including boiled and lightly seared Mt. Jinsei snails. The heat makes many of the snacks, most of them deep-fried, much less inviting than they would on other days, but the stands still see considerable interest from visitors.

Those who want some more comfort (but less emotion!) will find big screens ready to transmit the competition at many of the kiosks around Nishi Beach, most of which are lined with large electric fans around their seating areas to ensure their clients can watch the race while enjoying a meal and an ice-cold drink.

Since last he heard, Bayushi Senshuken was planning on competing, Kazushi was naturally there to cheer her on...



...as are Katsumi and Kurumi, although they seem to be more focused on enjoying an afternoon on the beach...



*****

Please quote or PM if approaching, so I can be sure to notice! Thanks!

As one of (some in the stands say 'the') main organisers of the Skipper's Dream!, Itsuka never quite stands still, both before the race and during it.

Before the first competitors get to their boats and get ready to take time, she will be found walking around the stands talking to people, close to and sometimes *in* the boats verifying final details, chatting to engineers close to the boats, triple-checking race timers and a variety of other details, wearing a sunny, bright purple, red, yellow and green sarong folded around her as a one-shoulder dress, over an equally sunny red and golden yellow bikini.

Right before the start of the competition, she'll get into one of the boats for a demonstration run, which live commentary uses to present the course and its difficulties.

Then, during the race itself, she'll be found close to the water, her sarong now worn as a short skirt as she observes the competition with great interest - and ready to sail off with helping crews if anything happens.

Only after the race ends that she slows down some, finally taking a seat somewhere.

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OOC; Please quote if approaching her! She'll be busy, but talking to competitors and visitors is part of the work!

Senshu is to compete, of course, but she would really like to have a navigator with her. Going blind is well... going blind.

Before the race begins, she's at the beach, laying on a sunbed. She's dressed in a red bikini top and a black pair of shorts. There's a sign next to her.

Lone racer seeks lone navigator for serious commitment to victory.

Commitment-phobes need not apply. This partnership is not “casual rowing.”

EDITED

Kazushi waves to Senshuken - he's ready to step in if needed, but hopes that another navigator will volunteer for the job.

Having finished her run, Suh-Hyun takes to the beach to watch the rest of the racers. While standing looking intimidating and cool was an option, the Unicorn instead found a nice shady spot to watch from.

Bayushi Senshuken wrote: Wed Dec 03, 2025 2:52 pm Senshu is to compete, of course, but she would really like to have a navigator with her. Going blind is well... going blind.

Before the race begins, she's at the beach, laying on a sunbed. She's dressed in a red bikini top and a black pair of shorts. There's a sign next to her.

Lone racer seeks lone navigator for serious commitment to victory.

Commitment-phobes need not apply. This partnership is not “casual rowing.”

A tall-ish, lean and widely smirking samurai with rather wild dark hair and heavy sunshades over his regular glasses had looked out over the beach, taking in all the sights of joyful, well-populated beach. But the sign stood out as exceptional, and Soratoshi's curiosity meant that he had to read to what it said. Once he was close to read it, his body chuckled with mirth, though in the din of the beach there was nothing to be heard.

He steps a little closer, then speaks with the extra projection needed to be heard over all the other beach goers.

"What kind of fool would think a boat race is casual rowing?!" Soratoshi scoffs, obviously missing the innuendo. "Races are all about winning."

Kitsune Soratoshi wrote: Thu Dec 04, 2025 1:29 pm A tall-ish, lean and widely smirking samurai with rather wild dark hair and heavy sunshades over his regular glasses had looked out over the beach, taking in all the sights of joyful, well-populated beach. But the sign stood out as exceptional, and Soratoshi's curiosity meant that he had to read to what it said. Once he was close to read it, his body chuckled with mirth, though in the din of the beach there was nothing to be heard.

He steps a little closer, then speaks with the extra projection needed to be heard over all the other beach goers.

"What kind of fool would think a boat race is casual rowing?!" Soratoshi scoffs, obviously missing the innuendo. "Races are all about winning."

Senshu lowers her sunglasses and scans the guy before smirking. Yes, he seems geeky enough, he will do!

"I put the high speed. If you put the right direction, we are a match!"

Bayushi Senshuken wrote: Thu Dec 04, 2025 1:33 pm "I put the high speed. If you put the right direction, we are a match!"

"Well then let's do this, Bayushi Speed-san," the Kitsune says with a smirk. "Maps are just zoomed out blueprints, so I got this."