Kojiro SHIRAISHI DMG MORI Global One

2^nd participation

54 years old

Kamakura (Japon)

View prize list

Achievements

2020

Vendée Arctique Les Sables d'Olonne, 10th

2016

Vendée Globe, retired
Transat New York Vendée, 7^th

2008

Record of the Pacific on Gitana 13 (Lionel Lemonchois skipper)

2006

Velux 5 Oceans, 2^nd

2002

Open 40: Around Alone, 2^nd

1998

Record of the Pacific on Explorer (Bruno Peyron skipper)

Portrait

There is a story to end. Kojiro Shiraishi had the privilege of becoming the first Asian sailor to participate in the Vendée Globe in 2016, but wasn’t able to go all the way round following a dismasting in the Indian Ocean. This time, Kojiro will additionaly have a state-of-the-art machine to try to hold his own facing the designated favourites of this 2020 edition. The Japanese navigator has a few arguments to put forth : besides having a latest-generation IMOCA, he has significant experience around the globe. In 2006, after having participated in several multihull journeys alongside confirmed sailors like Lionel Lemonchois or Bruno Peyron, Kojiro finished second in the Velux Five Oceans behind the well-known Bernard Stamm.

In 2016, his boat was called Spirit of Yukoh, a homage to his mentor Yukoh Tada. This exceptional sailor, poet, musician and sometimes taxi driver literally trained Kojiro before committing suicide in Australia during the BOC Challenge 1991. He remains the model which inspires the Japanese navigator : on the transom of the boat, Kojiro has not omitted to write the official name of the ship : Spirit of Yukoh V.

During the Vendée Globe 2016 the Japanese sailor bewitched the general public with his humour and finesse. He also gained his competitors’ respect who discovered an unusual sailor, rightfully deserving his place amongst the family.

IMOCA monohull

DMG MORI Global One

With an innovative design and an experienced shipyard, Kojiro Shiraishi’s new boat is lucky-starred. Built from Charal’s mould, this VPLP plan should perform highly as soon as its skipper takes hold of it. The DMG MORI team has also benefitted from regular contacts with Jérémie Beyou’s team which are likely to enable the Japanese sailor to progress by leaps and bounds. Although both hulls are almost identical, DMG MORI seems to have sligthly less radical options, particularly for the design of foils. Being able to get through the Vendée Globe is essential to the Japanese skipper, so he has preferred to build a boat to meet his match, even if it meant losing a little performance. Without forgetting that a Vendée Globe lasts more than two months.

DMG MORI Global One