February 24th～April 8th
Team MILAI, who was able to compete for victory until Leg 6, collided with an unidentified floating object off the coast of Argentina and had to make an emergency port of call in Mar del Plata. They resumed the race on February 24th and arrived in Lorient, France on April 8th. Although team MILAI did not participate in the last three legs, they successfully completed Globe40 and secured third place overall.
The boat returned to its original state. Team MILAI set sail again on February 24.
(From left: Suzuki, Andrea)
Crossed the equator on March 15. The last time in the Northern Hemisphere was seven and a half months ago.
Passed through an area with a massive Sargassum. It is dangerous to navigate fast through there!
Arrived at the Azores on March 31. Sailed towards France with Koji.
Crossed the finish line with the Globe40 staff and other supporters on April 8.
(From left: Suzuki, Koji)
The overall rankings of the race are determined by the total points accumulated. Although temporarily withdrew from the race, team MILAI secured third place!
Team MILAI is deeply grateful for the constant support provided by Furuno and its radar, GPS, and satellite compass, which have played a vital role in ensuring the safe navigation throughout the journey.
On February 24, it has been 35 days since the collision and the arrival in Mar del Plata, but finally, this day has come! The repairs were completed, and it's time to “be back to the game.”
I(Suzuki) sailed towards the Azores with Andrea and finished the last 6,500-mile journey to France with Koji.
First, we aimed for the easternmost point of Brazil and sailed along the coast, then crossed the equator and entered the North Atlantic. It took us about two weeks to reach Brazil. The first half of the voyage had rough sea conditions due to headwinds and waves. However, it was running smoothly with the repairs well done on MILAI (boat), which made me believe that we can get back to France and achieve the goal of sailing around the world.
On March 10, we arrived in Recife, the easternmost city in Brazil. Everything went well during the two-week sailing, but there are no places to stopover until reaching the Azores, which is 3,000 miles away. Therefore, we decided to make a port call in Recife to check the boat and restock supplies.
On March 15, we crossed the equator. It has been seven and a half months since we last entered the northern hemisphere. In recent years, there has been a massive outbreak of a type of seaweed called Sargassum near the equator, which has even affected the tourism industry in the United States and Mexico. We passed through that kind of area and had to be careful as there is a risk to get caught by it during the fast sailing.
On March 31, after 35 days since departing from Mar del Plata, we arrived in the Azores. It is an archipelago composed of several islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and it is a place where many ships crossing the Atlantic from Europe make port calls. Andrea disembarked, and I set sail for the destination, Lorient, with Koji after a night of rest there.
It would take about a week from the Azores to Lorient. The early part was in a stormy area with low pressure. We prioritized safety and sailed without pushing too hard. After passing there, we were blessed with clear skies for the final sprint.
On April 8, we arrived near Lorient under clear skies. I could hear conversations in French from the VHF radio, and I truly felt that I had returned to France. The best part was that the Globe40 staff and other supporters welcomed us on rib boats. It is an unforgettable moment to achieve my dream with someone who’s always been there for you.
After departing from France in June 2022, it took 301 days to finally return. We overcame each trial one by one and we are grateful to everyone who has been following MILAI's journey around the world.
Last but not the least, we are deeply grateful for the constant support provided by Furuno and its radar, GPS, and satellite compass, which have played a vital role in ensuring the safe navigation throughout the journey.
Thank you for reading the trip log until the end. In the coming time, I would like to create more opportunities for offline activities to share my experience and the stories happened in this big adventure.
By Suzuki
