Japanese adventurer has good radio reception a week into his planned 75-day voyage from Hawaii to Japan

In the age of satellite communication and the Internet, Ham radio is still the choice of at least one adventurer. But not exclusively.

The Japanese skipper ofSuntory Mermaid II, Kenichi Horie is currently 22°07’N, 164°51’W after seven days’ paddling west from Hawaii.

His revolutionary boat is powered only by waves, using two wings off the bow to convert wave energy into propulsion.

The 69-year-old adventurer doesn’t expect to reach Japan before the end of May, having recorded a top speed on day three of the voyage of four knots (current assisted).

Updating his online diary on Friday, he announced a time and frequency, saying:
‘I’m looking forward to chatting with all kinds of people.’

Click here for www.suntory-mermaid2.com