Kojiro Shiraishi - VELUX 5 OCEANS

THE SILENT ASSASSIN - PREPARED AND ORGANISED, THE SPIRITUAL FAR EASTERN ADVENTURER MAY SURPRISE MANY

Shiraishi has the strongest and longest connection with the Velux 5 Oceans of all the skippers competing in this solo circumnavigation. Having graduated with qualifications in commercial fishing, 20 year-old 'Koji' became apprentice to Japan's legendary single-handed sailor, the Tokyo taxi driver, Yukoh Tada, class winner of the first VELUX 5 OCEANS in 1982. Mesmerised by Tada's character and unique approach to solo sailing, Koji signed on as shore crew for his mentor during the 1990 race. After Tada's death, Koji experienced singlehanding for the first time, delivering his sailing tutor's 50ft yacht, Okera VII, from Australia to Japan.

Entered for the 2002-2003 Around Alone Race, Koji overcame dramatic, structural problems on board his new Open 40, Spirit of Yukoh, sustained during the pre-race delivery from Japan to Rhode Island, America, finishing the circumnavigation 4th overall in Class 2. For the Velux 5 Oceans, he has purchased Dominique Wavre's fast and strong Open 60, Temenos, adapting and refining the Swiss solo skipper's immaculately prepared yacht. Aware that solo sailing has a strong European foundation, Koji has appointed a highly experienced Anglo-French team as shore crew for the race and will rely upon their accumulated knowledge and his own sailing skill and prodigious endurance during the VELUX 5 OCEANS. With ambitions for a podium place, his combination of acute mental focus through on board meditation, his vast technical expertise coupled with a powerful yacht and well organised racing campaign make the latest Spirit of Yukoh a likely race front-runner.