Blind sailor finishes Pacific voyage without interruption

21 April,2019 08:50 AM IST |  Tokyo  |  Agencies

This was his second attempt after his initial voyage was cut short six years ago when his yacht hit a whale and sank

Mitsuhiro Iwamoto


A blind Japanese sailor completed his non-stop Pacific voyage on Saturday, local media reported, becoming the first sightless person on record to navigate a vessel across the vast ocean.

Mitsuhiro Iwamoto arrived at the port in Fukushima in his 12-metre (40-foot) sailboat on Saturday morning, around two months after he left California. Iwamoto, a 52-year-old San Diego resident, sailed from the US city on February 24 with Doug Smith, an American navigator who verbally helped him by offering information such as wind directions.

This was his second attempt after his initial voyage was cut short six years ago when his yacht hit a whale and sank. "I'm home. Thank you," Iwamoto told the welcoming party after his yacht sailed into Fukushima, ending a journey of some 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles).

"I didn't give up and I made a dream come true," Iwamoto was quoted by Japan's Kyodo News as saying. It was the first Pacific crossing by a blind sailor, the report said.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
japan world news
Related Stories