Wave Powered Boat

Kenichi Horie Makes History on the Wave Powered Boat

Kenichi Horie arrives in Japan on the first wave powered boat across the Pacific. Kenichi Horie docked the wave powered boat Suntory Mermaid 2 in Japan a few hours ago!

Kenichi Horie just finsihed his solo trip from Hawaii to the Kii Peninsula in western Japan aboad the 9.5 meter, 3 tonne catamaran Suntory Mermaid II wave powered boat, built at Tsuneishi Shipyard. The voyage was the first in a boat propelled on ocean wave power alone.

Kenichi Horie took more than three months to sail from Hawaii to Japan in his wave powered boat, arriving in Japan on July 4th, 2008. Sailing adventurer Kenichi Horie ate mostly rice and curry, squid and flying fish he caught while on his trip.

Kenichi left Honolulu March 16, 2008, and completed the 110-day solo voyage at the port of Wakayama in the channel between Honshu and Shikoku islands before midnight (1500 GMT) Friday, July 4, 2008. He covered the 7,000 kilometres (3,780 nautical miles) from Hawaii without a port call. His wave powered boat used wave energy to move 2 fins at its bow and propel it forward, and sailed at an average speed of 1.5 knots. His final home harbour is in the port of Nishinomiya. As an environmentalist, he promotes the use of environmentally friendly boats including those powered by solar battery, are made from recycled materials, etc.

Read more about Kenichi Horie and the Suntory Mermaid 2 wave powered boat.

Read more about Kenichi Horie’s arrival in Japan: Kenichi Horie Completes Wave Powered Voyage!