First Asian skipper to complete the Vendée Globe, Kojiro Shiraishi embodies a methodical and rigorous approach to offshore racing, structured by a culture of precision inherited from his mentors and technological partners. His profile stands out for a rare ability to link the sporting challenges of the IMOCA class with the excellence standards of the precision industry.
Profile & Technical Approach
Kojiro Shiraishi forged his experience under the direct influence of Yukoh Tada, developing a navigation based on endurance and system reliability. His collaboration with DMG MORI transformed his project into a true floating laboratory, where each component is analyzed from the perspective of mechanical engineering. He favors a "sailor-user" approach capable of engaging with design offices to optimize human-machine interfaces.
His technical expertise is based on:
Foil optimization: Specific work on dynamic stability to limit cavitation phenomena at high speed.
Scow architecture: Transition to hulls with voluminous bows (Manuard plan) for better handling in rough seas.
Predictive maintenance: Use of telemetry data to anticipate mechanical failures on wear parts.
Achievements & Key Milestones
Kojiro Shiraishi's career is marked by records and major participations that highlight his technical resilience:
1994: First solo non-stop circumnavigation record (youngest skipper at the time).
2003: 4th place in the Around Alone race (Class40).
2006-2007: 2nd place in the Velux 5 Oceans (Open 60 category).
2016: First Vendée Globe participation (abandoned due to mast failure off South Africa).
2021: 16th place in the Vendée Globe aboard DMG MORI Global One. He became the first Japanese sailor to finish this race after performing a major structural repair on his mainsail early in the race.
2023: Launch of his new Scow-type IMOCA hull, optimized for downwind angles in the Southern Ocean.
Outlook
The skipper's and DMG MORI Sailing Team's future is aligned with a logic of technological advancement and knowledge transfer:
Vendée Globe 2024-2025: Goal of increased performance with a next-generation machine, aiming for the top 10 of the IMOCA fleet.
Development of the Japanese sector: Structuring a sailing academy in Lorient to train young Japanese engineers and sailors in composite technologies.
Industrial innovation: Continued integration of DMG MORI's 5-axis machining processes for the production of custom rigging parts, reducing production cycles and optimizing unsprung mass weight.
