A quasi-sistership of Charal
Foiler manufactured at Multiplast on VPLP plan, DMG MORI was designed in the same mould as Charal, Jeremy Beyou's IMOCA. The hulls are therefore almost identical, but Kojiro preferred to approach his 2020 Vendée Globe with a more conservative philosophy.
Not looking for a performance race, he kept the 1st version of his foils, where the Charal team has developed three different versions. As the Japanese skipper's main concern was to finish the race, he gave priority to the reliability of his machine.
Another notable difference is that the cockpit is better protected than Charal's, even if it means making his IMOCA slightly heavier.
The DMG MORI team was able to benefit from regular contacts with Jérémie Beyou's team, which enabled the Japanese sailor to better understand how his state-of-the-art foiler works. Kojiro is also being assisted in his preparation by the talented Roland Jourdain, who brings his experience from three editions of the Vendée Globe to the team.
In July 2020, DMG MORI lined up at the start of the Arctic Vendée, which it will finish in 10th place, out of around twenty competitors.
Like a Frenchman going to Japan to play sumo
Being Japanese, finding the human and technical resources to line up for the Vendée Globe is extremely difficult. The land of the rising sun does not benefit from a sailing culture and even less so for single-handed ocean racing.
With his sword at his waist and traditional fighting costume, Kojiro had impressed on the day of his start in the Vendée Globe in 2016. He made a fine start to the race, but the breakage of the top part of his mast forced him to turn away towards South Africa, forcing him to abandon his first Vendée Globe.
His background and his extraordinary personality have made him one of the most endearing characters in the race. After his retirement, his boat was sent to Japan and he took the opportunity to share his passion with the public - who had followed him thanks to the two major television channels NHK and TV Asahi - and the sponsors he took to sea. Among them was DMG Mori, his title partner, one of the leading machine tool manufacturers.
Kojiro has thus contributed to introducing millions of Japanese to sailing and ocean racing.
When the student sails with his master
All of Kojiro's boats are named "Spirit of Yukoh", in homage to his mentor Yukoh Tada, who introduced him to sailing in the 1980s.
Yukoh Tada was one of the first Japanese sailors to take up ocean racing. He won the 1st Boc Challenge (race around the world with stopovers) in the 50-foot category. Victory acquired, he had returned to his job as a taxi driver in the streets of Tokyo.
A few years passed, then Yukoh decided to align itself with the 91 edition of the Boc, with Kojiro as a preparer. The exchange between master and student was intense and sincere, but Yukoh ended his life during the Australian stopover.
Since then, in order to pay tribute to him, Kojiro has been sailing in symbiosis with the spirit of Yukoh.
Some concessions on the Japanese IMOCA alone
Kojiro's goal is to complete his second Vendée Globe. But there is no question of renouncing certain principles. There are no plans to take on board freeze-dried meals, even if it means adding a little weight. His diet during the race will be based on Asian products.
In addition, since spirituality is preponderant in Kojiro's life, a small meditation space has been set up in his 60 feet.
DMG MORI - Kojiro Shiraishi
- Baptismal Name: Spirit of Yukoh 5
- Sail number: JPN 11
- Architect : VPLP
- Job-site : Multiplast
- Launch date: September 05, 2019
- Width: 5.85m
- Displacement (weight): 8t
- Presence of foils : Yes
- Sail area upwind : 320m2
- Sail area downwind: 580m2
