Before departing, Kenichi Horie admitted to the press that his only fear of the non-stop solo crossing of the Pacific Ocean was his age.
However, today, the 83-year-old, known by the nickname "Japan's most famous sailor", proved that, although a fear, age was not an obstacle to completing the titanic challenge that made him the oldest man in the world to complete the non-stop ocean crossing.
After more than two months on the wild sea, the 83-year-old[/I] - who in 1962 became the first man to successfully attempt the same challenge -[/I] arrived off the Kii Peninsula, in western Japan.
Having sailed the world's largest body of water, he has a message to eager recipients: "Don't let your dreams remain dreams," he encouraged via CNN."Have a goal and work towards achieving it and a good life awaits you," he added."
He sailed in a six-metre, nearly one-tonne aluminium boat, specially shaped for his small stature of 1.53. It started on March 27. He said some parts of the trip were extremely difficult, so he called his family on a daily basis so they wouldn't worry.
Horie has sailed the Pacific before in numerous other boats made from aluminum cans or whiskey barrels or solar panels. As he says, he doesn't physically train for his adventures. "I'm always well, always fit. I don't eat much, I don't drink much," he told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Asked if he had any concerns about the trip, he replied "absolutely none. Maybe age somehow."
[/P][BR][BR]In 1962, at age 23, the retired auto parts dealer became the first person to make the solo, non-stop crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
[/P]"I was sure I could make it, I wanted to try," he says of his first time. He admits that sometimes, during intense storms, he feels a certain anxiety.[/B] Nevertheless, he lives with his radio, eating rice and canned food and always looking ahead to the horizon.
Source.gr with information from Guardian
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