Hirotsugu Kimura, a 24-year-old company employee, has become the youngest Japanese to complete a solo voyage around the world on a sailboat without making any port calls or receiving supplies.
Kimura, who lives in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, achieved the feat at the age of 24 years and 9 months, breaking the previous record set 30 years ago by marine adventurer Kojiro Shiraishi, 57, who was 26 years and 10 months old at the time.
“I’m very happy to be able to come back after successfully sailing around the world,” Kimura said with a smile at a ceremony held to celebrate his safe return.
Kimura set sail in October 2023, traveled eastward across the Pacific and passed the southern tips of South America and Africa.
He crossed the finish line at the Kii Channel off Wakayama Prefecture around 2:45 p.m. June 8.
It was his second attempt at a nonstop solo voyage around the world. His first attempt, in November 2022, was thwarted by equipment failure caused by a storm shortly after departure.
Kimura is a native of Hiji, Oita Prefecture. When he was in high school, he started sailing as he came to idolize Shiraishi and dream of sailing around the world. (Jiji)
毎週届く！
