Kenichi Horie Wave Powered Boat - Blog

Go Kenichi Go!

I can't believe it has been almost two months since you left Hawaii. 2 months moving at around 2 knots towards Japan on your wave powered boat. You are proving it can be done!

We're behind you all the way.

Fair Winds and Good Waves,
Kim

Raising awareness of the issues which affect us all is a great cause. Using only wind, waves and some solar demonstrates that with some more investment we can all benefit.

Ken-ichi Horie i salute you!

May 3

The wind isn't stable. Since last night until this morning, the wind continued to change its direction clockwise. Now, I'm moving south because the wind blows from the north.
The range of the nautical chart that I'm using right now will change once I pass the 159° east longitude. Three more degrees and I will have a new chart.
For two days, I only progress a single degree. I need a new chart soon!

May 4

It seems that the wind died down for ten hours. It was like oil floating in the surface of the sea. But, there are still a few waves to let my boat move slightly.
This is my first windless situation for this voyage.

Lat:     23°59'N
Long:     161°41'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 0
Speed:     0.2 kn

May 5

I am in almost the same position as yesterday.
My boat moved backwards to 161°44' last night. Although, I was able to move to 38' afterwards I am afraid that I am about to move backwards again.
The boat advances 1kt. The current flows in the opposite direction. This flow doesn't say so in my nautical chart. This might be unusual. I remember experiencing the same thing around this area during my pedal boat voyage.

Lat:     23°56'N
Long:     161°39'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 0
Speed:     0.8 kn

May 6

For almost two days, I've been in the same position.
I'm in the middle of a large-scale high-temperature area.
The wind presently blows from the west. This might be a sign of moving backwards again.

Lat:     23°51'N
Long:     161°39'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 0-1
Speed:     0.5 kn

May 7

The windless situation remains the same.
I have prepared 7 flashlights for this voyage. Two of those are from my good friend in Hawaii and are powered by electromagnetic induction. One appears to be a pole where you can open and close like a scissor to generate power. Another one needs to be shaken up and down to work.
There seemed to be a powerful magnet that warps the points of my compass everytime it gets closer. I found it the other day and today, I will keep it away from my compass.

Lat:     23??47'N
Long:     161??29'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 0
Speed:     0.6 kn

May 8

A couple of squids jumped into my boat. One measures 30 cm and the other is 15 cm.
After having it fried, I realize that it was too much for me. I won't be needing squid for the mean time.
Based on the weather forecast, the trade wind will not pass until the 12th. I am counting through my fingers, four more days and I can't wait.

Lat:     23°44'N
Long:     161°01'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 1SE
Speed:     1.0 kn

May 9

The wave measures 1 m. But it's getting smaller.
Last night was a starry night. The Big Dipper was amazing.
I've heard that one of the seven stars appeared to be doubled.
Many believe that in the past, Roman army chose their soldiers based on whether applicants can detect the two stars.
No matter how careful I look at it with my naked eyes, I can't recognize it.

Lat:     23°40'N
Long:     160°39'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 1SSE
Speed:     1.2 kn

May 11

Although my boat moved backwards last night because there was no air, I was able to recover.
I'm expecting that I would be able to reach the 160° line by tomorrow.
Last night, the starry sky reflects to the surface of the sea. It was amazing.
Hoping that I would be able to see part of the Big Dipper that appears to be double, I use a binocular to catch a glimpse of it but my boat turned shaky and unfortunately I wasn't able to see it.

Lat:     24°02'N
Long:     160°15'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 0
Speed:     1.0 kn   
 

May 12

As the wind blew from the east I was able to reach the 160° at last.
This boat was formed and built with catamarans. Beneath the boat gathers different kinds of fishes.
Every time I drop my bucket while taking a bath, wow! Fishes come closer.
If I open a hole between catamarans, I could definitely see those fishes.
Well, I have to consult it afterwards.

Lat:     24°00'N
Long:     159°36'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 1 SE
Speed:     1.5 kn

May 13
Lat:     23°47'N
Long:     158°32'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 3 E
Speed:     2.2 kn

The wind looks stable after a long while. I'm hoping this will continue.
A 20-cm flying fish jumped in to my boat this morning. I had it fried at breakfast. My gratitude!

May 14
Lat:     23°19'N
Long:     157°34'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 1-2 E
Speed:     2.1 kn

Things are going well. How I wish this will continue.
Birds that look like a sea swallow and about 4 to 50cm white birds are flying. I was just wondering, where do these birds have flown from?
From my position, Minamitorishima is still 350 km away.
 
 
 
May 15
Lat:     23°21'N
Long:     156°37'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 2 E
Speed:     2.3 kn

I'm sailing smoothly.
The time difference is one and half hour to Japan. The sun is directly almost above me.
Looking at the anemoscope above my boat is necessary but awfully dazzling

May 16
Lat:     23°31'N
Long:     155°41'E
Weather:     Sunny
Wind     Beaufort Force 1-2 SE
Speed:     1.7 kn

I've been sailing smoothly since passing the 160° east longitude.
Typhoon might affect my sailing for the next couple of days. But I will do my best.
Tomorrow at 10 a.m., I will try to communicate through amateur radio. I have already entered the skip zone, communications may be difficult. Japanese broadcasting keep coming at night. I've been enjoying listening to Japanese professional baseball game.

May 17

Lat: 23°29'N Long: 155°01'E Weather: sunny Wind Beaufort Force 1 SSW Speed: 1.0 kn

The more this boat shakes the more it releases speed.
Consequently, every time it shakes more and more, my body swings from left to right and I have to keep my legs firm.
"Relax, can't you enjoy the ride?" I asked myself.

May 18

Lat: 23°35'N Long: 154°24'E Weather: Sunny Wind Beaufort Force 4 SES Speed: 0.5 kn

I'm now sailing against the strongest wind for the first time in this voyage. Despite of that, I'm still moving forward.
Waves are around 1 to 2 meters high.

May 19

Lat: 23°45'N Long: 154°17'E Weather: coludy Wind Beaufort Force 1-2 SE Speed: 2.0 kn Since last night squall falls from time to time, and I don't know if I'm heading through.
The wind's direction changed.
This boat sandal I am now using is the same sandal I used during my last round-the-world voyage. Over a long period of time using it, the glue that kept the sole together has come off. I searched for the glue, and I found it. Looks like this boat has prepared everything for me, right?

May 20

Squall keeps coming now and then. Although the wind sails with me once in a while, it brings no speed. There must be something about the current of the ocean.
Last night, I passed around 50kms south of Minami Torishima.. I was able to see the light flashing on and off.

This is similar situation to my 1989 mini boat sailing. I remember passing Minami Torishima at night with the lights on top of the antenna tower used for long range navigation (LORAN) blinking.
I have heard there is no available LORAN nowadays.

• Lat: 23°50'N
• Long: 153°40'E
• Weather: Sunny
• Wind Beaufort Force 1 SE
• Speed: 0.7 kn

May 21

Lat: 23°52'N Long: 152°56'E Weather: Sunny Wind Beaufort Force 2 SE Speed: 2.4 kn

The point of direction to my compass doesn't always show the exact north point. This must be a compass variation. There was 10° east difference when I was in Hawaii. The more I head west, the variation decreases. By reaching 151° 30′, the variation will be gone but if it goes father than that the variation will start to increase in the west this time.

May 22

Lat: 23°51'N Long: 152°12'E Weather: Sunny Wind Beaufort Force 1-2 ESE Speed: 1.4 kn

It was a bit cold around here for the last couple of days due to frequent squall. Today, the weather is fair, the wind is weak and it's burning hot. My sweat passed through my eyes and I'm in trouble right now.
Speed decreases and reaching the goal line on time will be difficult. There are at least more than half of food supplies left.

May 23

Lat: 23°57'N Long: 151°11'E Weather: Sunny Wind Beaufort Force 2-3 E Speed: 2.0 kn

It's been quite sometime since the wind blow from the east. I'm sailing smoothly.
In a few days, I will completely pass and leave the 150° line.

May 24

Lat: 24°11'N Long: 150°29'E Weather: Sunny Wind Beaufort Force 2 ESE Speed: 2.0 kn

I received mails the other day from the 6th grade students of Tsuneishi Elementary School in Hiroshima prefecture. My computer isn't working right, so it was only today that I was able to print those mails. Most of them are messages of support. Thank you very much.

May 25

Lat: 24°02'N Long: 149°51'E Weather: Sunny Wind Beaufort Force 0-1 E Speed: 1.8 kn

I have crossed the 140° longitude at last. And an hour time difference from Japan. I've been doing my usual activities based on the time in Japan in as much as I can.
This morning, I found scales of fish on the deck. Flying fish must have dropped those.
Could it be the fish has jumped and escaped. The biggest fish always the one that got away!

May 26

Lat: 23°37'N Long: 149°17'E Weather: Sunny Wind Beaufort Force 1 S Speed: 1.9 kn

The current coming from north to south is too strong, and it's throwing me south.
I have seen a whale before noon. This is my first time to see a whale for this sailing.
The seawater has turned its color into green. When I am about to check, I saw a 10-meter whale with a square-shape head.
The whale checked my boat, made a u-turn and never to return.

May 27

Lat: 23°28'N Long: 148°47'E Weather: Sunny Wind Beaufort Force 1 S Speed: 1.2 kn

Last night, I have seen the lightning occurred continuously from afar. AM radio picked up a lot of interference and was crackling and popping.
I can slightly receive AM radio at daytime. I really feel that I have already reached the waters of Japan.
As soon as I passed Minami Torishima, I saw floating plastic bottles and others.

May 28

Lat: 23°35'N Long: 148°05'E Weather: Thunderstorm Wind Beaufort Force 1 E Speed: 1.4 kn

It is 10 straight hours of thunderstorm. I wish this rain will subside sooner.
The interference doesn't allow me to hear AM Radio, but I can receive international shortwave broadcasting.

May 29

Lat: 23°40'N Long: 147°42'E Weather: Thunderstorm Wind Beaufort Force 1 SSE Speed: 1.1 kn

Thunder continued to rumble until this morning. I suppose this is over.
As I expected for this voyage, plastic cases of seasoned laver had piled up.
I wrap those unsealed laver with plastic wrapper to keep it delicious and to avoid absorbing moist. And it's dry and delicious enough once I have it on my table.
Plastic wrapper makes a difference.

May 30

My position is static since yesterday. I'm afraid I might move backwards.
A large-scale typhoon is getting nearer. I have to be extra careful.

• Lat:     23°40'N
• Long:     147°43'E
• Weather:     Sunny
• Wind     Beaufort Force 1 SW
• Speed:     0.5 kn