Japanese man, 83, attempts record for solo sailing across the Pacific
Tokyo, Apr 18 (EFE).- The Japanese adventurer Kenichi Horie, 83, seeks to become the oldest person to cross the Pacific solo on a yacht, and has already completed approximately one-third of his record-setting journey, according to the Japanese state media Monday.
Horie left from San Francisco, on the east coast of the United States, aboard the Suntory Mermaid III towards the end of March, and on the island of Oahu (Hawaii, USA) on Saturday, approximately a week ahead of schedule.
The yachtsman has circumnavigated the world solo in a similar boat between 2004 and 2005 at the age of 66, and is known for other such feats in his native Japan.
“I’m generally doing well without any trouble. I’m enjoying the voyage,” Horie told Japanese broadcaster NHK over telephone on Monday.
The Japanese sailor has been navigating without an engine, GPS chartplotter or radar to save space and reduce the energy consumption of his small vessel that is less than six meters in length.
He has been using nautical charts and a mobile app, and satellite-based transmission of his location, which can be checked in real time on his website.
The Suntory Mermaid III is equipped with two sails of about 20 square meters and solar panels to power the electronic devices on board.
It was custom-designed by Horie himself to minimize wind resistance and increase its maneuverability and lightness.
Horie still had 3,384 nautical miles left of journey across the Pacific to the town of Nishinomiya in his native Hyogo Prefecture in southern Japan.
The journey is expected to conclude in early June if there are no major obstacles on the way. EFE
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