Kojiro Shiraishi is a Japanese sailor. In 1994, at the age of 26, he became the youngest sailor to complete a non-stop single-handed circumnavigation. He twice finished 2nd in the BOC Challenge, a solo race with stopovers. In 2016, he became the first Asian to take the start of the Vendée Globe. But it’s on 11 February 2021, aboard the IMOCA DMG MORI Global One, that he stamped his mark on the History of Sailing by becoming the first Asian to complete the Vendée Globe. Since then, as there is still more to do, Kojiro and his team are working hard on getting ready to be at the start of the 2024 Edition of the Vendée Globe by taking part to as many IMOCA Championship races as possible in order to qualify. He is sailing on the same boat but now equipped with new foils and a new bow.
This will be my first solo race since the big refit we did last winter. So for me, the basic objectives are to test my boat, test my physical capacity and, above all, finish this race! And it will of course be an important step in my preparation for the Vendée Globe, as it's the only solo race of the year.
The first time I came to Lorient was for a medical course in 2016. Now, Lorient is my home base! It's where I live, where my team is and it's my landmark. More and more ocean racing teams are based here, and when you're here, you feel like you're at the center of the ocean sailing world.
Spend some quality time with my team, who will be in Martinique! I have great confidence in them to prepare the boat and be ready for the return race.
2023
Rolex Fastnet Race - 18th
2022
Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 14th
2020
Vendée Globe - 16th (94d 21h 32m 56s)
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne - 10th
2016
Transat NY - Vendée - 7th
2015
Crew captain for the Hatsushima Double Hand Race in Sagami Bay
2015
Ooshima Challenge, Annual crossing with 4 orphans from Zushi to Izu Ooshima
2008
World record Pacific crossing with Lionel Lemonchois on the Maxi Catamaran 110d "Gitana 13" San Fransisco to Yokohama
1998
World record Pacific crossing with Bruno Peyron on the Catamaran 80d "Explorer" Yokohama to San Francisco
1993
Single-handed, non-stop, non-assisted round-the-world race (176 days) (46,115km), on OPEN 50d "SPIRIT OF YUKOH", Record for the youngest sailor to complete this feat at the time, aged 26.
Name: DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE
Architect: VPLP
Building: 2019, Multiplast, Vannes
Launching: 09/02/2019
Lenght: 18,28m
Beam: 5,85m
Draught: 4,50m
Weight: 8 tonnes
Mast height: 29m
Mast type: Wing-mast
Foils: yes
Upwind: 320 m²
Downwind: 600 m²
DMG MORI
DMG MORI is a world leader in machine tool construction, offering integrated, environmentally-friendly automation and digitalization solutions that enhance the company's core business with turning and milling machines, cutting-edge technologies and Additive Manufacturing. All this is made possible by 12,000 employees ready to meet the needs of around 100,000 customers from more than 54 sectors via 138 sales outlets and service workshops in 86 countries.
