Minoru Saito
Encyclopedia
Minoru Saito is a Japanese
solo yachtsman
. He became the oldest person at age 71 to do a solo, non-stop circumnavigation
of the globe. He has successfully made seven solo circumnavigations. On October 16, 2004 Saito left Japan
on his yacht
Shuten-dohji II (in English: "Drunkard's Child," sometimes jokingly westernized by other sailors as "Shoot Your Doggy") and returned 233 days later to complete his 7th circumnavigation, non-stop. He finished his 8th solo circumnavigation, this time the "wrong way around," on September 17, 2011, after 1,080 days. He was 77 years old on completion.
, Tokyo
.
Veteran ocean sailboat racer Minoru Saito has participated three times in the most prestigious and grueling race in the sailing world, the single-handed, around-the-globe competition originally called the BOC Challenge, then Around Alone, and renamed the 5-Oceans Race which commenced in 2006. The races are run in legs, with stop-overs for rest and repair in several countries along the way.
In his continuing career, Saito has become the most experienced blue-water yachtsman from Japan with transoceanic voyages totaling more than 265000 nautical miles (490,780 km) — almost exactly the distance to the moon. He has started and finished seven solo circumnavigations of the Earth, the last one non-stop, achieving several international honors and world records.
Saito is quite well known among American, European and Australian sailing enthusiasts, and increasingly so in Japan as his international renown becomes better appreciated in his home country.
In January, 2007, Saito was named the recipient of the highly vaunted 2006 Blue Water Medal
awarded to one outstanding sailor each year by the Cruising Club of America. This recognition is considered the top international award for adventure sailing.
He was also inducted in 2006 into the Single-handed Sailing Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, joining such solo sailing luminaries as Joshua Slocum
(1844-1909); Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
(1939-); Mike Plant (1950-1992); and Isabelle Autissier
(1956-).
Few single-handers have attempted such a feat and certainly none near Saito's age — when he finishes this voyage he will be in his 76th year.
The voyage started with an October 2008 departure from Yokohama, and entails a westward circumnavigation of 26500 nautical miles (49,078 km), and expected arrival back in Yokohama in the spring of 2010, after 6 months. Saito's return is meant to coincide with the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of Yokohama Port, which opened up the Japanese nation to international trade. It is also the birthplace of small craft pleasure sailing in Japan.
Saito's vessel has had problems. He stopped for repair in Sydney
, Australia in November 2008, in Fremantle
, Australia in December and in Cape Town
, S.Africa in February. He was disabled with rudder problems at Cape Horn
, Chile in April, 2009. He was towed to the world's southernmost city, Punta Arenas, Chile, where he over-wintered and carried out repairs. A second attempt around the Horn was successful, but sail and engine problems forced him to return to Punta Arenas, where he again attended to repairs. He restart the circumnavigation in late January, 2010. He still has engine problems and stopped at Valdivia
, Chile in February 2010 to get spare parts.
Saito's single-handed westward circumnavigation of the globe promises to set two of the most-unchallengeable records of all sports -- a solo circumnavigation at age 76, and his 8th time around solo in a sailing yacht.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
solo yachtsman
Yachting
Yachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other water vessels for sporting purposes.-Competitive sailing:...
. He became the oldest person at age 71 to do a solo, non-stop circumnavigation
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
of the globe. He has successfully made seven solo circumnavigations. On October 16, 2004 Saito left Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on his yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
Shuten-dohji II (in English: "Drunkard's Child," sometimes jokingly westernized by other sailors as "Shoot Your Doggy") and returned 233 days later to complete his 7th circumnavigation, non-stop. He finished his 8th solo circumnavigation, this time the "wrong way around," on September 17, 2011, after 1,080 days. He was 77 years old on completion.
Biography
He was born on January 7, 1934 in AsakusaAsakusa
is a district in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan, most famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several other temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals.- History :...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Veteran ocean sailboat racer Minoru Saito has participated three times in the most prestigious and grueling race in the sailing world, the single-handed, around-the-globe competition originally called the BOC Challenge, then Around Alone, and renamed the 5-Oceans Race which commenced in 2006. The races are run in legs, with stop-overs for rest and repair in several countries along the way.
In his continuing career, Saito has become the most experienced blue-water yachtsman from Japan with transoceanic voyages totaling more than 265000 nautical miles (490,780 km) — almost exactly the distance to the moon. He has started and finished seven solo circumnavigations of the Earth, the last one non-stop, achieving several international honors and world records.
Saito is quite well known among American, European and Australian sailing enthusiasts, and increasingly so in Japan as his international renown becomes better appreciated in his home country.
In January, 2007, Saito was named the recipient of the highly vaunted 2006 Blue Water Medal
Blue Water Medal
The Blue Water Medal is an honor awarded annually by the Cruising Club of America for a remarkable sailing feat. The first award was issued in 1923.-Winners:*Alex Whitworth "for a circumnavigation of the world via the Northwest Passage west to east."...
awarded to one outstanding sailor each year by the Cruising Club of America. This recognition is considered the top international award for adventure sailing.
He was also inducted in 2006 into the Single-handed Sailing Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, joining such solo sailing luminaries as Joshua Slocum
Joshua Slocum
Joshua Slocum was the first man to sail single-handedly around the world. He was a Canadian born, naturalised American seaman and adventurer, and a noted writer. In 1900 he told the story of this in Sailing Alone Around the World...
(1844-1909); Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Robin Knox-Johnston
Sir William Robert Patrick "Robin" Knox-Johnston, CBE, RD and bar is an English sailor. He was the first man to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe and was the second winner of the Jules Verne Trophy . For this he was awarded with Blake the ISAF Yachtsman of the Year award...
(1939-); Mike Plant (1950-1992); and Isabelle Autissier
Isabelle Autissier
Isabelle Autissier is a French sailor, navigator, writer, and broadcaster. She is celebrated for being the first woman to have completed a solo world navigation in competition ....
(1956-).
Saito's 8th Solo Circumnavigation -- this Time the "Wrong Way Around"
Sailing west-to-east to circle the globe in a wind-driven craft is no small feat but rarely is the plan to go westwardly instead — the "wrong way around" — against the prevailing winds, currents and waves. Saito is presently doing just that. This route puts immense stresses on the vessel and crew, and for solo sailors, days can pass with little or no sleep when the going is particularly hard.Few single-handers have attempted such a feat and certainly none near Saito's age — when he finishes this voyage he will be in his 76th year.
The voyage started with an October 2008 departure from Yokohama, and entails a westward circumnavigation of 26500 nautical miles (49,078 km), and expected arrival back in Yokohama in the spring of 2010, after 6 months. Saito's return is meant to coincide with the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of Yokohama Port, which opened up the Japanese nation to international trade. It is also the birthplace of small craft pleasure sailing in Japan.
Saito's vessel has had problems. He stopped for repair in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia in November 2008, in Fremantle
Fremantle
Freemantle is a suburb of Southampton in England.Fremantle or Freemantle may also refer to:- Places :* Fremantle, the port city to the capital Perth, Western Australia...
, Australia in December and in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, S.Africa in February. He was disabled with rudder problems at Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
, Chile in April, 2009. He was towed to the world's southernmost city, Punta Arenas, Chile, where he over-wintered and carried out repairs. A second attempt around the Horn was successful, but sail and engine problems forced him to return to Punta Arenas, where he again attended to repairs. He restart the circumnavigation in late January, 2010. He still has engine problems and stopped at Valdivia
Valdivia
-Geography:*Chile** Valdivia, Chile, a city and municipality in the Province of Valdivia** Valdivia River, a river which begins in the city of Valdivia** Valdivia Province, the Province of Valdivia...
, Chile in February 2010 to get spare parts.
Saito's single-handed westward circumnavigation of the globe promises to set two of the most-unchallengeable records of all sports -- a solo circumnavigation at age 76, and his 8th time around solo in a sailing yacht.
External links
- http://www.saito8.com/
- http://www.tspsjapan.org/Minoru_Saito.html
- http://www.moy.org/singlehandedhof.htm
- http://www.theoceans.net/news.php?id=158
- chart of 2004-5 record trip (in Japanese)