Japanese Paddler made a 200km paddle in two days on his OC-1 from Hachijojima, an island off the coast of Japan to mainland Japan over the weekend. This crossing was made in 23 hours across the Kuroshio Current which is the 2nd fastest current in the world. Waters between Hachijojima and mainland Japan are rough due to currents moving in all directions at a maximum speed of 5 knots and at times creating whirlpools and choppy conditions due to the current moving in all directions as seen in the video below.
This crossing was made to revive the seafaring ways of the ancient Japanese and to raise awareness of current social issues in Japan.
The third stage of this crossing will be a OC-6 paddle from Mainland Japan to Bonin island (1000km) which will take place next summer.
For more info visit www.oceanlegend.net or contact kennykaneko@gmail.com
Mahalo
Submitted by JPNPADDLER on Mon, 07/26/2010 - 4:53pm
Paddlers is 47 year old paddler Duke Kaneko of Japan
#1 Mon, 07/26/2010 - 5:12pm
Crikey that looks tough! plenty of bumps but all going in different directions.
I hope he achieved his goals.
#2 Mon, 07/26/2010 - 6:47pm
Right on Duke Kaneko! This is the spirit of canoe paddling, crossing channels, pushing the limits, revitalizing a culture.
Imua!
#3 Tue, 07/27/2010 - 6:40am
" revitalizing a culture " gets a question mark when there is a motor boat right next to the paddler all the way.
Oceangoing canoe culture has a competely different element of challenge when there is no escort boat.
#4 Tue, 07/27/2010 - 1:54pm
Yeah but 200km on a single with no escort boat would not be that smart. They are not exactly made to be equipped for expeditions. Good on him for having a go!!!
#5 Tue, 07/27/2010 - 5:28pm
The guy has got brainsto have an escort...............was thinking about the guy (forget his name now) who paddled from Aus or Tasmania to NZ a while ago -- unassisted. He had balls, but he didn't quite make it.
He was almost in sight of the South Island and phoned for help but was missing when his kayak was found a day later.
I couldnt help wondering if he would have fared better wih an ama...........which brings to mind the German guy Hannes Lindemann who paddled across the N Atlantic in a canvas collapsible kayak in the 1950's. He did have a small inflatable ama lashed to a broomstick to help him out.
#6 Tue, 07/27/2010 - 8:15pm
Yes that was a very sad story, he was a family member of a outrigger paddler from South Queensland.
#7 Wed, 07/28/2010 - 12:53am