DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE
Kojiro Shiraishi, is a sailor who has sailed around the globe three times. Born in Kamakura, Japan, a costal town south of Tokyo, Shiraishi has always admired the ocean and wondered what was hiding across the oceans.
Few years after witnessing the exceptional victory of the skipper Yukoh Tada during the BOC Ocean Race in 1983 (First Asian to win a round the world sailing race), Shiraishi has asked Tada to become his apprentice.
A master - apprentice relationship that didn't last long due to the sudden death of Tada who commited suicide in 1991.
Since his tragic loss, he dedicates all his races to his Master, Yukoh Tada.
His first round the world sailing was at the age of 26. (Youngest person around the world single handed, non-stop, without assistance at the time)
He raced his first around the globe race in 2002 during the Around Alone where he finished 4th (Class 40), then in the Velux 5 Oceans in 2006 where he finished 2nd (IMOCA).
After more than 10 years, he comes back on the IMOCA circuit in 2016 by participating in the New York - Vendee Race, (7th IMOCA), at the same time qualifying for his dream event, the Vendee Globe.
His dream comes true after participating in the Vendee Globe, however the Everest of the seas has been cruel to him. An early dismast after a month of racing near the coast of South Africa obliges him to retire the race.
On November 6, 2016, he realized his dream, his participation in the Vendée Globe. The Everest of the seas that was cruel for him, because after a month of racing, he dismasted and abandoned off South Africa.
He will start again on the round the world race in 2020 and becomes the first Asian to have finished the Vendée Globe. On DMG MORI Global One, Kojiro achieved a feat. After tearing his mainsail in the Theta storm, the sailor spent days repairing it and managed to set off again and complete the loop in 94 days.
In 2022, the skipper started the Route du Rhum but was forced to retire just a few minutes after the start due to a collision with one of his competitors. His goal now is to gain as many miles as possible in 2023 to ensure his participation in the Vendée Globe in 2024.
Before this solo round-the-world race, his team announces the construction of a new IMOCA, with the aim of participating in The Ocean Race 2027, with a crew.
On November 10, 2024, he sets off in the Vendée Globe, after a long preparation in Lorient, still facing the same language barrier. He finishes 24th in the Vendée Globe, thus completing his 2nd Vendée Globe.
| Course | Rank | Boat | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Ocean Race Atlantic | 3rd | DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE | 8j 0h 1min 40s |
| 2024-2025 | Vendée Globe | 24th | DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE (old) | 90j 21h 34min 41s |
| 2024 | New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne | 15th | DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE (old) | 14J 18H 38M 48S |
| 2024 | The Transat CIC | 16th | DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE (old) | 10j 16h 53min 22s |
| 2023 | Retour à La Base | 18th | DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE (old) | 11j 16h 11min 42s |
| 2023 | Transat Café L'OR | 22th | DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE (old) | 14j 23h 52min 12s |
| 2023 | Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération | 25th | DMG MORI GLOBAL ONE (old) | 2j 13h 01min 00s |
2015: Captain of the crew for the Hatsushima Double Hand Race in Sagami Bay
The future IMOCA of the DMG MORI Sailing Team is an ambitious project designed to take on two major challenges of the IMOCA Globe Series: The Ocean Race 2027 and the Vendée Globe 2028.
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