The G2 “Edogawa 634 Cup Motorboat Grand Prix” (winner’s prize: 5 million yen) kicked off at the Edogawa Boat Racecourse on May 11. Day one saw strong southerly winds from the morning, blowing heavily against the water surface. Stabilizer plates were fitted from Race 1, and races were shortened to two laps.
With new motors, boats, propellers, and eco-friendly fuel, the opening day presented extremely challenging conditions, including high waves. The wave height exceeded 20 centimeters by Race 6, and the tide turned to an ebb current opposing the wind, creating a clash of wind and water. After some deliberation, races from Race 7 onward were unfortunately canceled.
After the cancellation decision, team leader Nagata Yorimune apologized on behalf of the athletes: “The forecast predicted stronger winds, and unfortunately it came true. The athletes gave their best, but safety comes first. We’ll regroup and give it our all from day two onward.”
The cancellation also scrapped the planned Race 12 “Tokyo vs. National Selection Dream Day 1.” Sato Ryutaro, who had been scheduled for both Race 7 (No. 3 boat) and Race 12 (No. 1 boat), remained optimistic: “It’s a shame to lose those slots, but there’s still a chance I’ll be the one smiling in the end.”
Despite only six races taking place on day one, there were some impressive performances in the rough conditions. In the opening race, Tobita Emi (from Tokyo, Saitama branch, age 25) showed a sharp start at 0.07 seconds and executed a perfect overtaking move to claim victory.
Tobita, who celebrated her 25th birthday on the pre-race inspection day, shared her thoughts after the win: “Honestly, I’m not thinking too far ahead. But my ultimate goal is to win the Grand Prix. I can’t talk about SG races yet, but I believe if I work hard, things will work out. I want to win every race in front of me. That dedication will hopefully lead to bigger things like SG and GP. This tournament is especially meaningful as my 25th birthday event, so I’m aiming to make it a championship series.” She will race in Race 2 (No. 1 boat) and Race 11 (No. 5 boat) on day two.
Meanwhile, in Race 4, Sato Yu (from Ishikawa, Fukui branch, age 30) displayed impressive extended speed from the fourth lane, delivering a powerful overtaking win. “I felt good during the pre-race inspection—the motor seems strong. I adjusted the propeller thinking, ‘If this doesn’t give me extension, I don’t know what will,’ and it worked. The extension is maybe a 6 out of 10, but the boat had solid acceleration. There’s still room for more extension,” he said with a smile.
Sato revealed that the propeller he tested on day one was a collaboration with his mentor, Shimode Takuya. “We created a gauge together, aiming for a propeller that combines extension with good acceleration. It fit perfectly from the first day, which makes me proud.” In the Hokuriku region, a school of extended propeller tuning, sometimes called “Fukui-style,” is taking root, pioneered by Shimode. The propeller crafted with his mentor bore fruit from the start, and Sato’s excitement is understandable.
For Sato, Edogawa is a river with “both good and bad memories.” In February 2024, he reached the finals from the No. 4 boat with exceptional performance, aiming for his first victory. However, a tragic capsize during the pre-race exhibition forced him to withdraw from the final race. “If I could have raced properly then… I might have won earlier,” he lamented. But seeking redemption, he returned to the same venue in March last year, again qualifying for the finals from the No. 4 boat with the same tilt of 2 degrees, and finally claimed his first victory with a brilliant overtaking move. Will the Hokuriku extended-style racer once again become the dark horse of the series? He will start in Race 1 (No. 6 boat) and Race 6 (No. 3 boat) on day two, promising two intense runs.
Day two’s Race 12 will feature the “Tokyo vs. National Selection Dream Day 2,” with participants including Yukawa Koji, Hiraoka Takanori, Nagata Yorimune, Maezawa Takeshi, Ikehara Futoshi, and Nishikawa Kenshin.
