Synara Project

"Made in Japan - it's the last boat left. Nicholson's giant sailing ship has returned. The return of the Shinara is a great feat for Japan."
This is an exciting headline on the latest issue (June 2021 issue) of the prestigious British sailing magazine ``Classic Boat.''
Unlike Japan, where the history of pleasure boats dates back to the end of World War II, in Europe, where the tradition dates back to the Age of Discovery in the 15th century, it is important to treat classic boats with care, restore them, and pass them on. It is a "culture" rooted in history.
However, it is rare for a wooden boat that is exposed to the sea breeze and sunlight and washed by the waves to have a long lifespan. It is said that there are currently only about 1927 sailing ships in the world that are as old as the Shinara, which was first launched in 30.
says Paul Harvey, a veteran British shipwright who served as master shipwright on the Synara restoration project. ``You are lucky if you have the opportunity to be involved in the restoration of a classic yacht on par with Synara once in a lifetime.''
The Shinara was seen as the ``last boat'' that still had the potential to be restored, and in its homeland of Europe, it was even said that its whereabouts had been ``unaccounted for for a long time.'' The fact that it was far away from its birthplace and currently floating in Japan's Riviera Sibonia Marina, where there was little information dissemination in the European yachting world, and that Riviera took the challenge of completely restoring it in Japan against all odds. These are the reasons why people involved in classic boats not only in Japan but around the world have expressed their admiration.
However, it was not surprising that there were quite a few experts and enthusiasts who, while admiring it, also wondered, ``Can it really be done in Japan?'' After all, there were no blueprints for the Cinara when Riviera launched the restoration project, let alone long after work began.

We were determined to thoroughly face the Synara in front of us, analyze its structure, draw up blueprints, and complete the restoration. In fact, each part of the damaged hull was carefully removed, numbered and recorded in detail. We then created a drawing from scratch based on the actual item. Through this analysis, we rediscovered many of the attention to detail that was not expressed in the original blueprints.
Our project took a big step forward when we later discovered that the original plans were kept at the Royal Museum in Greenwich.
H.G. Nutman of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, the first owner of the Synara, believed in ``building the world's best wooden sailboats,'' and began building the ship by carefully selecting materials such as teak wood. It is said that it took many years. The reason why Synara earned the name ``Lady of the Sea'' was due to the design by Charles Nicholson, who was said to be one of the world's best at the time, and the excellence of Camper & Nicholson's shipyard (which was gradually closed from 1979). Needless to say, along with the advanced shipbuilding technology, the shipbuilder was also particular about the materials used.
This commitment, which seems to be looking ahead 100 years, is ahead of today's SDGs philosophy, which proclaims ``sustainability.''
As a result of analysis and verification, we found that a large percentage of the materials that were carefully selected at the time of construction can be reused, such as 92% of the hull's teak. Only damaged areas are replaced with new wood, repaired using modern technology, and carefully polished. This is the ultimate restoration that focuses on the original of the rare Shinara, which remains as it was when it was built about 100 years ago.
With Riviera Country Club, which opened in 1926, as our flagship, we have a philosophy of carefully refining good old things, and we want to pass on to the future the thoughts of our predecessors, who paid attention to details that are invisible to the public. That was the subject of this project.

Japan has excellent traditional techniques for wooden construction, as well as cutting-edge marine technology. However, when it comes to classic boats from 100 years ago, it's a different story. Historically, there was no accumulation of technology to build Western-style wooden sailing ships, and it was known that there were no shipyards or craftsmen in Japan who could be entrusted with the restoration of the Shinara.
For example, it might have been easier to secure engineers and materials if it had been moved to Europe, where Cinara was born. However, if that were the case, the technology would not remain in Japan.
In order to pass on this know-how to Japan, it is significant that this restoration will be carried out at the home port of Riviera Sibonia Marina.With this seemingly adventurous decision on the Riviera, people from 12 countries around the world gathered to create a wooden structure. We are a team of 50 shipwrights and craftsmen with extensive experience in sailing ships. They left their hometown and moved to Miura for a project that took several years. Some of them brought their families with them.
Building a ship is teamwork. Normally, a single shipyard undertakes the work, and it can be said that the work is carried out by a group of well-known craftsmen who work together freely. However, the Shinara project is a mixed team of shipwrights from all over the world who have the skills needed at the time. The shipwrights did not know each other. The only thing they had in common was the spirit of craftsmanship: ``I would love to work on a classic yacht like the Synara class.'' "Craftsmen who didn't know their faces or names came together, attracted by Mr. WATANABE's passionate offer.Although our nationalities and languages ​​were different, we recognized each other's skills and respected each other, and we quickly hit it off. .As fellow restoration professionals, we were all moved by the miracle of meeting Shinara, and we formed a bond that felt like family.'' (Main Chef Paul, the same goes for the rest of the story) We were able to create a bond between craftsmen who had the same motivation and believed in the same miracles. There is probably no such thing.
“Mr. WATANABE came to the dock almost every week, looked at the ship happily, and listened to the voices of the craftsmen. I want you all to do your best.To that end, we will do everything Riviera can do, and we are determined to complete the project no matter how many years it takes.As craftsmen, nothing makes us happier than this.We also vowed to see it through. Mr.WATANABE's romance moved everyone.At first, we had a hard time with everything from where to procure materials, as we were not a specialized shipyard in Japan, where we didn't know what was going on, but after working with Riviera's staff, we were able to calm down. I'm grateful to be able to work in a beautiful marina overlooking Koajiro Bay and Mt. Fuji. We are Team Synara and we are a Riviera family."
A small number of Japanese craftsmen also participated in the special dock at Riviera Seabornia Marina to acquire authentic restoration techniques. "The Japanese craftsmen were new to boat building. Since passing on techniques is one of the main objectives of the project, I approached them with Ben and Chuck in a teaching manner at first. However, as the process progressed, I realized that I had made a mistake. .European craftsmen were also taught the precise work that only serious Japanese people could do."
At the special dock, which was filled with mutual trust and friendly atmosphere, not only were techniques passed down from Europe to Japan, but local craftsmen also learned from each other and mastered each other's techniques. This is truly an episode unique to international collaboration projects.

Now that my wish to restore the Synara has been fulfilled, the next step is to establish a Team Synara crew selected from current Riviera employees. Since its relaunch in March 2020, Synara's employee crew has been repeatedly conducting sail training in Sagami Bay. Our representative, Akira Watanabe, also comes on board almost every week and continues to lead the way.
Many people remember the old days of Shinara. Similarly, there is a current Riviera employee who entered the world of ships after witnessing Sinara on Boy's Day. Tetsu Yokokawa, who is currently at the helm of Shinara as captain, is one of them. ``I joined the company with the dream of being able to be involved with Synara in any way possible, but to think that the day would come when I would actually be at the helm of Synara...I am overwhelmed with emotion.'' (Yokokawa, same hereafter)
While struggling to operate the Shinara, which has a different handling style than the cutting-edge boats they normally drive, Yokogawa and his crew are also learning maintenance techniques that have been handed down to them. Further adjustments were made through trial and error during test sailing. The crew is responsible for polishing and breathing life into the 100-year-old hull that was brought back to life by craftsmen.
``Every time I have training and meetings with Watanabe, I feel that the faces and mindsets of the crew are changing.While understanding the meaning of the words ``challenge from scratch'' that Watanabe keeps saying, I want to improve my skills and interpersonal skills.”

As we reported in the previous issue of this magazine, Synara was honored with the award for ``Sailboat Restoration of the Year (over 2021ft)'' at the ``Classic Boat Awards 40'' sponsored by the UK ``ClassicBoat'' magazine. The magazine's June issue, which reported on the details of the award, is already sold out. It has been decided that the magazine will be reprinted, which is unusual.
As symbolized by the excitement surrounding the SDGs, there is a common understanding throughout the world that good old things should be carefully polished and handed down to future generations. Riviera has pursued this theme since its founding, and we will continue to make further efforts beyond Synara.