Kojiro Topics Today !  Visit to Olympic Gold Medalist' Sasakis.

Today, on Apr.17 2016, Gile joined our today's trial, he worked as our boat captain. I will cruise across the Atrantic ocean with him from Concarneau to New York as Double Hand. He has been an offshore crew for Tim Kent. ( 169 days 2nd. winner of Class 2 IMOCA open 50 on Around Alone 2002-2003 with named "Everest Horizontal" USA boat.)

I haven't seen him for a long time. Following a last day's inspection, we tried A2, Gennaker (used when sailing downwind, it is a cross between a genoa and a spinnaker.) This boat's Gennaker is too much huge than others !  A sail condition is very well but I should consider to carry this or not to the race in conjunction with a regulation of the Vendee's rule which limits a number of sails.

In the evening, I visited the Sasakis who is Japanese living in Concarneau. She is a Gold Medalist of Judo female U66 on the Seoul Olympic Game in 1988 !!  I was introduced to her by Mis Yuka Rimbaud who is only Japanese living in Les Sables-d'Olonne from which Vendee Globe sailing boats will start. A great family lives in Concarneau. I feel a wonderful coincidence. Her husband is going to work at a dried bonito (Katuobusi: Japanese flavor base of a soup.) plant mastor.It is a wonder.Today is a beautiful day with both sailing and gathering. I feel gratiteful.

kojiro.

Translated by Watson Courtier on July 18 2016.

©All copy right around this translation is reserved by Watson Courtier. Yokohama Japan.