Tiller archive — July 1996
TPS Tiplers Tiptoe
To Treasure Trove |
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By P/C Hunter Brumfield, P On a rocky, volcanic shoreline two hours from Tokyo, 11 teams named after District 13 Squadrons spent a May afternoon scrambling after hidden golden doubloons, searching a dragon's cave and haunted house, and demonstrating their boating skills — all to gales of laughter — in pursuit of a jingling treasure "worth thousands." Planners of the Tokyo Power Squadron's 1996 Spring Rendezvous decided to do something different for the group's 40th Anniversary to the exact day: May 20. Usually, this annual event is characterized by sizzling steaks, cold beer, talk, and more talk. But an article in a winter USPS Ensign about a treasure hunt by another squadron suggested an additional way TPS members could enjoy themselves on that special day. The Sagami Bay seaside house, aka "The Misaki House," was the ideal setting for a similar treasure hunt. The squat bare-wood house overlooks a small sandy beach ideal for burying treasure, while the bluff on which the house perches is punctured by fortification tunnels left from WWII. The beachfront is laced with crevices, wave-eroded cuts and scrub bamboo forests — with thousands of great hiding spots. Still, we wanted something different than a free-for-all rush with a treasure map. Instead, after long discussions (aided greatly by numerous Internet exchanges), a sort of massive board game with humans as the playing pieces eventually took form. Importantly, the party itself would be able to continue, with kegs of icy beer drawing participants back from the hunt for refreshments, jawboning, and to toss yummy bits of fat and gristle up to Tom, the resident panhandling sea kite. Those who didn't want to be pirate-for-a-day could watch from the bluff instead, but most succumbed to the temptation, including always-ready, 86-year-old P/C George Purdy along with his wife and boating buddy, Midori-san. Teams From LA to Las Vegas Guests were assigned to specific teams shortly after they arrived at the party which started under overcast but dry skies at 11 a.m. Names for each team, comprising four or five persons, were taken from squadrons that make up District 13. (By design, Tokyo was the only squadron that wasn't represented.
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Labels sporting the names of Honolulu, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Redondo Beach, and other D13 squadrons helped team members find each other and contributed to team cohesiveness and a friendly competitive spirit. Each team appointed a captain and an official photographer, who was assigned a disposable camera and tasked to take as many pictures as possible and print the film. (As a result, more than 150 photographs were sent in within a week after the event as a superb pictorial record. See the accompanying photo pages.) The rules were simple. The main one was to have fun and take plenty of time. Every team had an equal opportunity to find the treasure. Additional rules required each team — and each person on each team — to demonstrate various nautical tasks, such as tying designated knots, lifeline throwing, and taking a compass bearing. The only exception to the "every member rule" was a single team bullseye on a dartboard. A Pirate Map and Gold Doubloons "Doubloons" were sliced from corks using a bread knife, sprayed with gold paint, marked with alphabetic characters, and placed in a variety of containers. These were hidden in eight different locations by Tiller Editor Nona Puciariello, S and Education Officer Neal Sandidge, AP. Team members worked together to discover the locations of the doubloons by following the "pirate map" skillfully drawn by Squadron Commander David Lowther, AP, with various local features given names such as Lookout Leap, Mutineer's Dinghy, Haunted Cave House, Dragon's Lair (a dank tunnel), and the like. Each team searched out each container and as proof they had found the stash, retrieved a single doubloon. Teams that accomplished all six nautical tasks ("Feats") and found each of the eight doubloon hiding spots ("Finds"), were then eligible to go on to the final event of the day scheduled at roughly 4 p.m. on the beach. Eight out of the 11 competing teams finished all Feats and Finds, so the natural solution was janken pon (rock, scissors, paper), with the first pick going to the winning team and in order of next best team until all treasures were unearthed from their burial ground. Each prize burial point was marked by a bamboo stick flying a TPS burgee with its distinctive Mt. Fuji emblem. In addition, a child's dirty sock, a rock and — nothing — were buried in containers as booby prizes.
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With nearly the entire party assembled on the beach, this became the most fun part of the day. Chris Pitts of the Long Beach Team, with his long hair tied back in a ponytail, looked strikingly pirate-ish. Being a university instructor and former high school science teacher, however, he announced his careful reasoning for bypassing this or that burgee, and finally selected the "obvious" treasure spot in the line. "This is where I would have put it," he grandly announced. After mugging with a spoon, sand flew as he heaved mightily on a shovel. Cameras clicked and onlookers cheered, hooted, and catcalled as he struck something hard. A moment of drama ensued as the container was unscrewed and he produced ... nothing. Other treasures were soon unearthed. Team two dug up a specialty sake bottle made of dried squid skin, which got mixed reviews. Team three had even worse luck, with some unfortunate person taking home the single dirty sock. Next, a rock... but where was the treasure? Thus did the clamorous competition continue as each prize was brought to surface to the groans of some and the applause of others, until the sixth-place loser of jan ken pon, Redondo Beach, finally got their choice and unearthed the jingling loot of 10,000 yen in 100-yen coins. Each team member went home 2,000 yen (about $20) richer. Ghostly Pirates in Designer Sunglasses? An ironic twist, however, left several diggers —mainly Nona assisted by a vehement Neal — searching in vain for $450 worth of donated designer sunglasses. Eventually they gave up, mystified as to what happened to the prize that Neal swore he had buried. Was it swallowed by the sand, or did some ghostly pirate crew claim their final booty on this treacherous coastline? The day ended with the sunset and there was little question about the successfulness of the event. It had been a great turnout of about 65 people, the best in memory for a TPS Spring Rendezvous. Ideas for next year, including pirate costumes, a string tied from burgee pole to each elusive prize, and a plastic garbage bag for a bit of litter patrol, have all been recorded for further discussion. Oh, and the "Mystery of the Disappearing Sunglasses" was solved. I had forgotten to give that particular container to Neal and the glasses were discovered up at the house several hours later. From the patio weeks later you could still see the hole Nona and Neal dug approximately halfway to Las Vegas. |