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| Location: | Okinawa, Japan |
|---|---|
| Type: | Downwind, SUP Race |
| Tagged: | Japan, O2Y, Okinawa, Okinawa to Yoron, Shuri Araki, Takuji Araki, Yoron |
| Date: | 28 - 30 Jun 2025 |
| Organiser: | KANAKA Okinawa |
| Website: | https://www.kanakaokinawa.org/o2y/ |
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What’s O2Y ?
O2Y is a special race for all Okinawan people that revives the history of the Ryukyu waterman crossing the islands during with seasonal summer breeze. In 2021, on the 50th anniversary of the return of Okinawa to Japan, we hoped to cross the 27th parallel, where the national border used to be, to connect Okinawa and the world with beautiful seas, we have realized a race that crosses the strait with SUP paddling for about 30 km between Okinawa and Yoron Island. It was an epic challenge. We, KANAKA Okinawa, have been hosting and operating SUP races on the main island of Okinawa for 10 years. In the meantime, we have worked to spread SUP and educate children in the beautiful Okinawa ocean. And in November 2022, Shuri Araki, a native Okinawan, reached the glory of the youngest ever SUP world champion in the history book. At the same time, overseas paddlers began to voice their desire to visit Ocean, where world champions grew up.
