‘Japan’s most famous yachtsman’: 83-year-old attempts solo Pacific crossing

Adventurer Kenichi Horie and his wife Eriko at sea on 18 December 1978. Photograph: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

An 83-year old man is set to sail from San Francisco on Saturday and voyage alone across the Pacific Ocean to his home country, Japan.

Kenichi Horie, also known as “Japan’s most famous yachtsman”, became the first person to make a non-stop solo crossing of the Pacific in 1962. On that trip, he was still a 23-year old amateur seaman. Horie set off from Osaka and sailed across the ocean for 94 days, surviving on canned food and rice before arriving in San Francisco.

Kenichi Horie and his wife Eriko in Resolute, Canada, on 21 August 1979. Photograph: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

The voyage has been widely regarded as a “one-man olive branch of post-war diplomacy” between Pacific powers, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

“Even in the states, yachtsmen are inspired by his story,” said Morgan Smith, manager of Interpretation, Education and Volunteers at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Upon arriving in San Francisco, Horie was briefly arrested as he had traveled without a passport or money and little knowledge of English. However, then Mayor George Christopher soon released him and gave him a visa in honor of his bravery.

In the 60 years since then, Horie has made multiple Pacific crossings. The boat Horie used in 1962 has been on display at San Francisco’s Maritime Museum. Named “Mermaid,” the boat lives in the museum’s foyer and is the “superstar” attraction, John Muir, the museum’s small craft curator, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kenichi Horie leaves the bay of Salinas in Ecuador on board his cigar-shaped vessel, Malt’s Mermaid, on 21 March 1996. Photograph: Claudia Daut/Reuters

Horie has voyaged across the Pacific on a variety of vessels, including ones made from aluminum cans and powered by solar panels and another propelled by foot pedals. In 1999, he sailed from the west coast to Japan on a catamaran made out of beer kegs. Three years later, he sailed the other way around via whiskey barrels.

For his upcoming journey on Saturday, Horie’s vessel is a 2,182lb and 19ft long sailboat made out of pale aluminum, customized to fit his build.

At 5ft tall, Horie does not physically train for his voyages, telling the publication, “I’m always fine, always in shape … No overeating, no over-drinking”.

When asked whether he had any concerns for his trip, Horie said, “Nothing at all. Maybe just being old.”