And that makes two! Japanese skipper Masa Suzuki is launching his Vendée Globe 2028 campaign at the helm of a 2006 daggerboard IMOCA, “Milai 22.” He will be the second Japanese sailor to take on the challenge of sailing solo around the world non-stop. But what truly defines Masa Suzuki’s sporting project is his desire to bring cultures together — and even break down the barriers between them.

“Beyond performance, I want to show that the ocean, dreams, and challenges have no borders—and that with strong determination, it’s possible to go beyond cultural and geographical limits.”

Through this international program, Masa also hopes to inspire other Japanese skippers to take up offshore racing… His first goal? To secure partners in order to strengthen his project and compete in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2026.

Masa Suzuki aims to become the second Japanese skipper in the history of the Vendée Globe, while embodying a new generation of Japanese offshore sailors who bridge Japan and the international sailing scene through a multicultural program.

“To date, only Kojiro Shiraishi has taken part in the Vendée Globe as a Japanese sailor. I want to become the second, and in the future, I hope to pave the way for a third, a fourth, and other sailors from Japan and Asia.”

BREAKING DOWN CULTURAL BARRIERS

Masa Suzuki’s journey is decidedly international, with a strong desire for integration:
“I truly enjoy the offshore racing environment: there’s great energy, lots of exchange, and every day I grow through knowledge and encounters. With a bit of effort, you can break the language barrier and overcome cultural differences.

My offshore racing projects have always been built with people from different countries (French, Italian, British, and others). Even with different nationalities and cultures, it’s possible to build such a strong level of trust that, at sea, we entrust our lives to one another. The experience I shared with Louis Duc last year was a great example.*”

A BUDGET TO BE CONSOLIDATED

This Vendée Globe campaign has been launched thanks to the support of 22 patrons: the purchase of the boat has just been finalized, and the technical team is working on the final touches before “Milai 22” is relaunched.

“What remains is to bring partners on board for this great challenge in order to build a sustainable and competitive campaign for the Vendée Globe,” the skipper explains. The objective is to progress step by step. And the next milestone is none other than the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2026, an essential qualifying race for the Vendée Globe.

I WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD RESOLUTELY TOWARD THE VENDÉE GLOBE

Masa Suzuki, skipper of Milai 22: “My offshore sailing career has been built thanks to the support of many people who believed in me. I am truly grateful to them, because I have always dreamed of taking on this challenge and carrying its values of international openness. Many obstacles still lie ahead, and they are significant. But step by step, I’ve made it this far, and I will continue to move forward resolutely toward the Vendée Globe, alongside those who believe in this project.”

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES ARE NOT BARRIERS


Louis Duc and Masa Suzuki, a Franco-Japanese duo, finished the Transat Café L’Or Le Havre Normandie 2025 in 14th place and 2nd among daggerboard boats. From a sporting standpoint, they could hardly have achieved a better result, and on a human level, the two sailors discovered, appreciated, and respected each other over the miles, sharing with humor and sincerity strong values of openness. They did not speak the same language, but their shared values—listening, kindness, and humor—showed that cultural differences are not barriers, either to performance or to good teamwork.

© © armelvrac


MASA SUZUKI: LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND FOR THE OPEN OCEAN AND A GLOBAL OUTLOOK

Masa is one of those skippers who has saltwater in his veins. From the age of five, his parents took him on cruises. As a student, he sailed with the nautical club of Hosei University. He then began a professional career (while continuing to race regularly in the International Moth class) before his passion caught up with him…

In 2018, he left his job and his country to settle in Lorient and prepare for the Mini Transat 2019, where he achieved a respectable 24th place. This only strengthened his desire to go further, and in 2023 he set off on the Globe 40 (a double-handed round-the-world race with stopovers, sailed in Class40). This 10-month adventure ended with a podium finish.

For Masa, the next step was obvious: the Vendée Globe.

In 2025, he signed on as co-skipper with Louis Duc for the Transat Café L’OR—a transatlantic race aimed at discovering the IMOCA class and transferring knowledge ahead of purchasing this 2006 Farr-designed boat.

2026: Masa launches his Vendée Globe campaign!

“My offshore racing career has been built with the support of the French sailing community, which continues to play a central role in this Vendée Globe campaign. Louis Duc’s technical team will be working with me—they know the boat inside out, which will be invaluable. And the program is managed by Estelle Greck, who was already heavily involved in my Mini and Class40 projects.”