Readers may recall my post of March 18th concerning Kenichi Horie, the Japanese adventurer who planned to sail from Hawaii to Japan in a boat powered by the motion of the waves.
Well, he's done it! He arrived on July 5th, to a hero's welcome.
TOKYO (AFP) - Record-setting Japanese sailor Kenichi Horie said Sunday he would seek out new adventures until he turns 100, after his world-first solo voyage across the Pacific in a boat propelled by wave power.
The 69-year-old sailor and environmentalist reached waters off the Kii Peninsula in western Japan late Friday, completing a 110-day voyage from Hawaii without a port call.
"I'll hold out until I reach triple digits," the silver-haired Horie said of his age as he greeted supporters in his home harbour in Nishinomiya in the west.
"If there is a chance in the near future, I want to sail out to sea," the adventurer said at a welcome ceremony carried live on television.
He was originally scheduled to return home in late May, but weak waves and ocean currents delayed his arrival.
"As there is still food for another month in the boat, I might just as well enjoy (the voyage) a bit longer," he said, drawing laughter.
His 9.5-metre (31-foot) catamaran, the Suntory Mermaid II, is equipped with two special fins at the front which can move like a dolphin's tail each time the vessel rises or falls with the rhythm of the waves.
Horie, who will turn 70 in September, reached his destination in the channel between the main Japanese islands of Honshu and Shikoku after covering some 7,000 kilometres (3,780 nautical miles).
Well done, Mr. Horie! Thanks for setting us another great example, to add to your previous achievements! The age of adventure is certainly not yet past.
Peter
I had completely forgotten about that guy! That's a pretty awesome accomplishment.
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