Japanese Boy, 14, Completes Solo Yacht Voyage Across the Pacific

A 14-year-old Japanese boy on a solo voyage across the Pacific Ocean sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge on Friday, just a few days after his country’s news media had all but given him up for dead.

Subaru Takahashi, believed to be the youngest person to make the 4,600-mile journey on his own, had not been heard from since Aug. 16. But a Canadian man on a small sailboat spotted the young voyager waving his hands and yelling for attention off the coast of Sausalito.

The Canadian sailor radioed the U.S. Coast Guard, which came to his rescue and escorted him to his final docking place at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon. He was greeted by his parents, a swarm of Japanese reporters and enough champagne for everybody.

Dressed in yellow foul-weather gear with blue shorts and blue rubber boots underneath, the teenager said he had been so excited about his arrival that he hadn’t slept for days.

“Since two days ago, I couldn’t stop smiling and I couldn’t sleep,” he said in Japanese.

Despite his feat, Takahashi said his biggest goals are still ahead of him.

“This is not good enough,” he said. “My dream is to travel around the world. This is my first step to accomplish this dream.”

Cheered on by his friends, family and a crowd of reporters, the junior high school student set out July 22 on a 30-foot yacht to sail the 4,600 miles alone.

He had engine trouble shortly after his departure and did not get into the open ocean until July 26. His motor quit Aug. 11 and his battery died five days later, when he reported that he was 2,790 miles west of San Francisco.

But he was able to continue under sail, which meant he had to steer the boat without the use of an autopilot because he had no power.

His parents had not given up hope because he was not due to arrive until today, 50 days after his departure.

To prepare for his Pacific trip, Takahashi took 500 hours of intensive training with yachting experts.

“It was a very superb effort for a very young man,” said Peter Hogg, an experienced sailor who also has sailed across the Pacific and is a spokesman for the boy. “He’s very talented.”