“I will try to come out unscathed”, tough test for the Japanese Kojiro Shiraishi in the middle of the storm

If the standoff between Charlie Dalin (Macif) and Yoann Richomme (Paprec-Arkéa), expected Tuesday in Sables-d’Olonne, is focusing all eyes, the battle continues with just as much intensity in the southern hemisphere with a group of around ten boats which passed Cape Horn at the start of the week. A group of nine monohulls, precisely, which has just faced a trying storm while passing the Falklands archipelago off the Argentinian coast.

Hollows of five to six meters at sea

The Japanese Kojiro Shiraishi, who occupies 26th place at 3:00 p.m. this Friday, has experienced difficult times even if he keeps smiling in a video posted online today. “It’s a storm here, I have winds of fifty knots with gusts from time to time and waves of five to six meters”explains the first Japanese to take part in the Vendée Globe.

Even in the South Seas I have not experienced such conditions.

Kojiro Shiraishi

The youngest sailor to complete a solo, non-stop round-the-world trip at the age of 26 in 1994, the skipper of the DMG boat Mori Global One testifies to the harsh conditions for sailing up the Atlantic. “Even in the South Seas, I have not experienced such conditions, the most difficult since the start, with an average of 45 knots”he added, not hiding his concern. “I hope to get out of this storm without any problems and that it will calm down a little. Today (Thursday, Editor’s note) is a crucial day. I’ll try to get out of this unscathed.”concludes the sailor who had made a strong impression on the public of Sables-d’Olonne on November 10 at the start, dressed in his traditional samurai clothing.

16th of the last edition

16th in the last edition four years ago, Kojiro Shiraishi will have to fight to do better this year at the controls of the same boat, equipped with new foils and a new bow. At the back of the group of nine, it was sailing at an average of around ten knots this Friday afternoon while the winds had fortunately weakened a little (around 26 knots) in seas that were still well formed with waves of nearly four meters.