Kenichi Horie is 85 years old and happily sailing the oceans (alone)

Kenichi Horie, at 85, is a legendary Japanese sailor who despite his advanced age still sails around the oceans after a life devoted to the sea and ecology. His message is an inspiration to all.

“Make sure that your dreams do not remain just that, have a goal and apply yourself to achieve it. A wonderful life can only await you.” An extraordinary philosophy from 85-year-old Japanese sailor Kenichi Horie, who says he still feels in the prime of his youth after breaking the world record for being the oldest sailor to have sailed the Pacific Ocean, non-stop and solo. In fact, a year ago, after two months of intense sailing, he completed his mission and arrived in the waters off the Kii Peninsula in western Japan.

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A “minimalist” and extraordinary crossing

It was June 4, 2022, when Kenichi Horie completed an incredible adventure across the Pacific, taking the record as the oldest sailor to complete a transpacific crossing alone and nonstop. At 85 years old, Horie is still driven by a strong passion and zest for life. This spirit accompanied Horie on the long voyage that began on March 27 from San Francisco and ended in the waters of Nishinomiya, Japan, after more than two months of sailing. Aboard the small Suntory Mermaid III, an aluminum sloop only 5.8 meters long, Horie braved the vast ocean armed with simplicity and endurance. His diet at sea consisted solely of rice, canned food and fresh caught fish. Despite his age, he made no special physical preparations, relying on his good health and sobriety: “I don’t eat or drink too much,” he recounted before departure. Along the route, he faced challenging weather conditions, including a storm shortly after departure. To maintain contact with family members, he used a satellite phone daily.

A life of adventure and sustainable choices

Horie is a true legend for sailing and adventure enthusiasts. Born in Osaka in 1938, he made a name for himself in 1962, when at only 22 years old he became the first Japanese to make the Pacific crossing from Nishinomiya to San Francisco on a small 5.8-meter plywood boat, the Mermaid, in a 94-day voyage. Since then, his adventures have multiplied: he completed a nonstop round-the-world voyage in 1974, crossed the Pacific on a 2.8-meter boat in 1989, and even sailed the Hawaii-Okinawa route on a pedal boat in 1992. Horie’s feats are not limited to record-breaking or daring, but are also marked by a strong ecological commitment. Since 1996, in fact, he has been using boats built from recycled materials or propelled by alternative energies: such as traveling from Japan to Ecuador on a solar-powered boat, or crossing the Pacific on a boat made of whiskey barrels and aluminum cans. His 2008 adventure with the catamaran Suntory Mermaid II was powered solely by wave power. For Kenichi Horie, age is just a number: he has always said he wants to continue sailing until he is 100 years old. His life is an example of determination and passion that goes beyond age limits: “I want to face every challenge until the end,” he said. With his enthusiasm for the sea and respect for the environment, Horie represents not only a role model for sailors, but a message of positivity and sustainability for all.