Japanese adventurer and environmentalist Kenichi Horie set out this week on his latest expedition. Horie is sailing the wave powered catamaran “Suntory Mermaid II” 6000 km from Hawaii to Japan. Horie expects to to take 2 to 3 months to complete the voyage. Suntory Mermaid II has an expected top speed of 5 knots, but when I looked at his website he was only managing 1.5 knots.
The voyage is an experiment in using wave powered propulsion to prove the technology and also set a record for the longest distance travelled by a wave powered boat. Waves coming from any direction make twin fins mounted from the bow move up and down which in turn propels the boat forward. Whilst any attempt to harness naturally occurring energy is worthwhile I can’t help thinking this arrangement seems a bit fragile and exposed.
Suntory Mermaid II is completely built out of recycled aluminium and electrical power is provided by solar panels. There is an outboard motor for use in an emergency.
The 69 year old Horie has an long track record of successful solo voyages starting in 1962 he sailed single handed from Japan to California in a 19′ boat. He has also sailed a pedal powered boat from Hawaii to Japan in 1993 and in 1996 crossed the Pacific in a solar powered boat made from recycled alumnium. In 1999 he sailed a catamaran “Malt’s Mermaid II” from California to Japan. The hulls were built from stainless steel beer kegs welded together and the sails and other canvas were made from recycled plastic bottles.
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