Minoru Saito Japanese record-breaking navigator who became the oldest sailor to circumnavigate the world at age 77 Date of Birth: 07.01.1934 Country: Japan

1. Biography of Minoru Saito
2. Early Life
3. Challenging Route
4. Oldest Solo Circumnavigator
5. The Shuten-dohji

Biography of Minoru Saito

Minoru Saito, a Japanese sailor and record holder, became the oldest seafarer to complete a circumnavigation at the age of 77. His last voyage took approximately three years, or precisely 1,080 days. If you add up all the nautical miles covered by this tireless traveler, it would be almost equivalent to the distance to the Moon.

Early Life

Minoru Saito was born in 1934 in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. He has been involved in sailing for many decades, but his most remarkable achievements occurred in his later years. Interestingly, this was his eighth solo circumnavigation. Prior to this, in 2004, Minoru circumnavigated the globe on a sailboat in 233 days, without making any port stops.

Challenging Route

In 2009, when Minoru embarked on his latest voyage, he decided to attempt something he had never done before. Instead of sailing in the more convenient eastern direction, which benefits from favorable winds and currents, he opted for the challenging western route. It is known that this route is an incredibly difficult challenge even for a team of sailors, making Minoru Saito's record even more significant as he accomplished this arduous journey alone.

Oldest Solo Circumnavigator

It is worth noting that by the time he completed his journey, Minoru Saito was already 77 years and 8 months old. This made him the record holder for the oldest solo circumnavigator. His voyage lasted 1,080 days, which is a significant feat even for much younger sailors. On September 17, 2011, his circumnavigation came to an end in Yokohama, Japan. It is said that when he was greeted by the welcoming crowd in the port, Minoru waved his hands and shouted, "I have returned alive!"

The Shuten-dohji

Minoru Saito's yacht is named the "Shuten-dohji," a name he has given to several of his yachts. Besides setting the age record, he also completed his eighth solo circumnavigation in his lifetime, which is another remarkable achievement. Interestingly, Minoru Saito always travels alone and enjoys his own company; he requires no assistance from others.