Japanese adventurer Kenichi Horie set out from Hawaii on Sunday hoping to make the first crossing of the Pacific in a wave-powered boat. The 69-year-old left Honolulu at the start of a 4,400-mile journey to Japan in his 9.5m aluminium catamaran Suntory Mermaid II.
The 3-tonne vessel is powered by the kinetic energy captured as the boat pitches over waves - two hydrofoils at the bow perform a motion similar to the tail flukes of whales and dolphins and propel it along. Horie expects it to have a top speed of around 5 knots, and to average around 3 knots. At this speed he expects the trip to take around three and a half months.
Electric power will be provided by solar panels - and the boat has sails and a diesel engine in case of emergencies. Horie does not plan to use them on the trip.
Horie has previously crossed the pacific on a craft made from aluminium beer kegs, and in 1962 he stepped ashore at San Francisco following a 94-day voyage from Japan in a 19-foot sailing boat - and was promptly arrested. On hearing of his voyage, the mayor gave him the key to the city and released him.
Japanese adventurer Kenichi Horie set out from Hawaii on Sunday hoping to make the first crossing of the Pacific in a wave-powered boat. The 69-year-old left Honolulu at the start of a 4,400-mile journey to Japan in his 9.5m aluminium catamaran Suntory Mermaid II.
