Age is proving to be no obstacle for 83-year-old Kenichi Horie, who has become the oldest person to sail solo non-stop across the Pacific Ocean, the largest body of water in the world.
After more than two months at sea, Kenichi, who in 1962 also became the first person to successfully take on the feat, arrived in the waters off the Kii peninsula in western Japan at 2.39am local time on Saturday after starting his journey in San Francisco, California, on 27 March.
“Don’t let your dreams just stay as dreams. Have a goal and work towards achieving this and a beautiful life awaits,” Kenichi told CNN over a satellite phone as he made his way from Shikoku Island towards Wakayama, the final leg of his voyage aboard his 990kg and almost six-metre long sailboat Suntory Mermaid III.
The octogenarian said parts of the journey were challenging but he checked in with his family every day by calling them on his satellite phone. He added he carried a stock of medicine from San Francisco, but only used eye drops and plasters.
“That shows how healthy I am,” Kenichi said. “I’m still in the middle of my youth.”
“If I didn’t call at least once a day they’d worry,” he added.
