Do you remember the Japanese sailor, environmentalist and adventurer Kenichi Horie that was going from Hawaii to Japan on his double-hull boat, “Suntory Marmaid II”, using just the power of the waves?

Horie, who will turn 70 in September, completed the 110-day solo trans-Pacific on July 5th and is now the first in the world to do it. The main delay in finishing the voyage by the end of May was the fact that weak waves slowed him down and “that’s the problem to be solved”.

He reached his destination in the channel between the main Japanese islands of Honshu and Shikoku just before midnight (15:00 GMT) on Friday after covering some 7,000 kilometers (3,780 nautical miles).

“The feeling is yet to sink in. I want to go home as soon as possible and eat home-cooked meals.” he said upon arrival.

What can we say? Congratulations and good appetite.

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Using wind to get from place A to place B is quite unusual for most of us. But, how about about the Nereus, the water pad racer for adrenaline junkies? Inspired by kite sailing, these pix are aconceptual design of a kite-powered water craft capable of achieving relatively high speeds both on and under the water.

Inspired by ET?!

Though I’m not sure if how much of a storm is necessary to get your 200 lb body out of the water with all that sea drag, I’ll have to believe the designers when they say the design of the vessel and the kite is sufficient. Controlling the Nereus is just as easy as riding a bike they say. All you have to do is turn the handlebars which are attached to the kite. To dive, just push down.

Though we wouldn’t expect to go from Newport Beach to Long Beach, even if you’re well trained to use wind power, the Nereus sure looks capable to deliver. I’m game for test-driving it.

Anyone else?

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