LES SABLES-D'OLONNE (FRANCE) - Japan's Kojiro Shiraishi will make history on Sunday by becoming the first Asian sailor to compete in the gruelling Vendée Globe solo round-the-world yacht race. I was one of the last to qualify and buy a boat, in April," Shiraishi told AFP. "Being the first Japanese skipper to race will, I hope, make people understand the importance of the Vendée Globe," he said. Shiraishi is already a seasoned seafarer having completed two solo circumnavigations of the globe and has also several team records. TV Asahi will do one 'live' per week with the boat, and I think it will be followed by many people."

Source: Bangkok Post November 05, 2016 16:45 UTC