Learn to sail and power boat license at Tokyo, Okinawa and Osaka in Japan
AHODORI & Yoh’s circumnavigation
The ketch AHODORI 2 is a 21-foot plywood boat built by her skipper Yoh Aoki at his back yard taking 2 years. When Yoh was 22 years old, he left Osaka in Japan for the circumnavigation the globe by himself. He had no engine, no radio, no GPS, only a sextant and a compass. Yoh was luckily sailed home on 1974 after 3 years and 2 months lonesome journey on the sea, calling at San Francisco, Acapulco, Galapagos islands, Easter island, Buenos Aires, Cape town and Sydney. No such a small boats like a 21-foot has attempted to sail around the world via Cape Horn.
His 1972 Cape Horn passage was miraculous Yoh says. “A wave he recalls as being about 100 feet high turned his vessel upside down before another wave somehow righted the craft. “The upside-down boat had started sinking because a lot of water came into the cabin” .
His boat is registered on the Guiness book of record as the smallest boat ever circumnavigated the world via Cape Horn. The record is also introduced to Captain Joshua Slocum Society’s book. His boat AHODORI 2 has been now displayed at the EXPO ’70 Museum Park in Osaka.
If you like to read more about the story, check “Yoh & Ahoudori” book in English. Also his recent books “Inner sailing 1“,” 2” and “ 3” are best selling in Japan and Korea as sailing text books.
And now, Yoh is running Aoki yacht school in Osaka.
Yoh’s circumnavigation route taking 3 years & 2 monthsstanding wood flamesplywood planking of 3/8 thickfriends helping building1.5 years at the backyard factorypeople friends see me off homeportleaving alone from Osakafirst time sailing the oceanenjoying busy days on the Pacific oceancatching Mahi-mahi goodusing celestial navigation onlythat’ must be Golden GateYes, Golden Gate BridgeCharlie & Ray see me off from SFfixing leak at Acapulcosailing for the Galapagos along the EquatorIguanas but not to eat in the Galapagosname board on the old P.O. box at Galapagos Estatues standing along the shoreline on the Easter Is.staying one month with natives and go fishingfriends in the Easter Is.preparing a sea anchor towing rope astern in the Roaring 40’sreal big wave capsized us in the Screaming 50’sCape Horn at lastpicked up seawater at Cape HornLand ho Buenos AiresCommodore Yacht Club Argentina welcomed usSuzanne & Charlie came to see us to B.A.Daniel Dupin kept a low profile and helpedrepair work finished B.A.Next stop Cape Townleaving Cape Town to AustraliaFishing Tunastorm at Bass straightsafe at Cruising club Australiafriends tow me off Sydney harbourHomeward but no windcaught in the calm, DoldrumsCatching tunasailing home to the Osaka after 3 years & 2 monthsdocked & people came to see usGuiness book recorded as a smallest boat circumnavigatednow displayed at EXPO ’70 museum park in OsakaI owe the success of my voyage to all of you who helped me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
