Sailor in the Spotlight - Kenichi Horie

What would you do to help conserve natural resources? Switch to fluorescent lighting? Drive an economy car? Cross the Western Pacific alone in a prototype, wave-powered boat? While most of us would consider carpooling effort enough, Japan's most famous sailor Kenichi Horie is not a man with average limits, and he is slowly but steadily progressing across the big blue to prove the value of an untapped renewable resource: wave power.

In 1962, a 24-year-old Kenichi Horie sailed the 19 foot Mermaid from Nishinomiya, Japan to reach San Francisco in 92 days. Upon arrival he was promptly arrested for not having a passport or money, and a crazy story about having sailed across the entire Pacific. He was subsequently released by order of the Mayor, officially honored, and then given the key to the city. Mermaid is on display in San Francisco to this day.

Kenichi-san has gone on setting records and crossing oceans via pedal-power, solar-power, and on boats made from recycled materials - including one made from beer kegs, as well as a recycled replica of the original Mermaid, in which he repeated his 1962 voyage 40 years later. A vibrant 69 years old, Kenichi Horie is at work setting yet another world record on the wave-powered Suntory Mermaid II. We are pleased to feature this venerable adventurer as our latest Sailor in the Spotlight, and applaud his incredible career. The last few days have held some setbacks on the trip to make this latest record, but we have faith that if there's anyone who can do it, Kenichi-san can.

We contacted Kenichi Horie aboard Suntory Mermaid II:

YP: Before this you've relied on sails or your own power to propel your craft, and this is something completely different. How do conditions affect the boat? What waves make it travel the fastest, and slowest?

KH: Throughout history, mankind has used wind for power, but no one has appeared to be serious about wave power. The boat goes forward by waves. In other words, the boat depends on wave conditions. The bigger and stronger wave comes, the faster the boat goes forward. No wave means no move of the boat.

YP: Given what you've experienced since Hawaii, what are your general impressions of wave-power so far?

KH: Wave power is overwhelming.

YP: Everyone is interested to know: what does the motion of the boat feel like? Like a typical multihull?

KH: The motion of the boat is much less than my expectation and it is small. It might be more stable than a typical multihull for the boat absorbs wave power. I wish some more motions to advance the boat.

YP: Why is setting this record particularly important to you?

KH:It is important for me because wave is a new power to challenge after I have made voyages by wind, solar and man power (pedal boat).

YP: Based on your experience with the boat so far, do you have a guess when you will arrive?

KH:I guess the boat will arrive at Kii Channel (the goal) sometime in June.

YP: We certainly wish you the best of luck!

KH: Thank you for your kind concern to my voyage!

For more information about Kenichi Horie and the Suntory Mermaid 2, visit Kenichi Horie's boat home page: yachtpals.com/wave-boat

Special thanks to our own Mark Rulli and Otaki-san for communication logistics, and Gloria Garaventa for Japanese translation.

- YC for YachtPals