Minoru Saito
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Minoru Saito (born January 7, 1934 in Asakusa, Tokyo) 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 is currently planning his 8th solo circumnavigation, this time the "wrong way around." He will be 75 on its completion in 2009.
[edit] Saito's sailing career
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 265,000 nautical miles (491,000 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-).
[edit] Saito's Next Solo Circumnavigation -- 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 intends to do 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 well into his 75th year.
The non-stop voyage will start with an October 2008 departure from Yokohama, a westward circumnavigation of 26,500 nautical miles (49,100 km), and arrival back in Yokohoma near the end of May 2009. 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 upcoming non-stop, single-handed, six-month westward circumnavigation of the globe promises to set one of the most-unchallengeable records of all sports -- regardless of age.
See the special 6-minute TV feature clip "These Amazing People" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcjbRNvlnm4
