Japanese skipper Masa Suzuki is embarking on his Vendée Globe 2028 campaign, steering the 2006 daggerboard IMOCA “Milai 22” into the history books as only the second Japanese sailor to attempt the solo non-stop around the world race. But performance is just one dimension of this remarkable project — at its heart lies a passionate commitment to bridging cultures and proving that the ocean recognizes no borders.
“Beyond performance, I want to show that the ocean, dreams, and challenges have no borders — and that with strong determination, it’s possible to go beyond cultural and geographical limits,” Suzuki says.
Through his international program, Masa hopes to inspire other Japanese skippers to pursue offshore racing. His immediate priority is securing partners to strengthen his campaign and compete in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2026, a critical qualifying race for the Vendée Globe.
Suzuki aims to follow in the footsteps of Kojiro Shiraishi, the only Japanese sailor to have competed in the Vendée Globe to date. “I want to become the second, and in the future, I hope to pave the way for a third, a fourth, and other sailors from Japan and Asia,” he explains.
Breaking down cultural barriers is central to Suzuki’s philosophy. His offshore racing projects have always been built with people from different countries — French, Italian, British, and others. “Even with different nationalities and cultures, it’s possible to build such a strong level of trust that, at sea, we entrust our lives to one another,” he reflects. His collaboration with Louis Duc last year was a powerful example of this ethos in action.
The campaign has been launched with the backing of 22 patrons, and the purchase of the boat has just been finalized. The technical team is now completing final preparations before Milai 22 is relaunched. “What remains is to bring partners on board for this great challenge in order to build a sustainable and competitive campaign for the Vendée Globe,” the skipper explains. The next milestone is the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2026, an essential qualifying race.
“My offshore sailing career has been built thanks to the support of many people who believed in me,” Suzuki shares. “Many obstacles still lie ahead, and they are significant. But step by step, I’ve made it this far, and I will continue to move forward resolutely toward the Vendée Globe, alongside those who believe in this project.”
The Franco-Japanese partnership between Louis Duc and Masa Suzuki delivered impressive results at the Transat Café L’Or Le Havre Normandie 2025, where the duo finished 14th overall and 2nd among daggerboard boats. Despite not speaking the same language, their shared values of listening, kindness, and humor proved that cultural differences are not barriers to performance or good teamwork.
Suzuki’s sailing roots run deep. From the age of five, his parents took him on cruises. He sailed with the nautical club of Hosei University as a student and later began a professional career while racing regularly in the International Moth class. In 2018, passion won out — he left his job and his country to settle in Lorient and prepare for the Mini Transat 2019, where he achieved a respectable 24th place.
His determination only grew. In 2023, he embarked on the Globe 40, a double-handed round-the-world race with stopovers sailed in Class40. That ten-month adventure culminated in a podium finish. For Masa, the next step was obvious: the Vendée Globe.
In 2025, he signed on as co-skipper with Louis Duc for the Transat Café L’Or, a transatlantic race that served as an introduction to the IMOCA class and a knowledge transfer ahead of purchasing the 2006 Farr-designed boat.
Now in 2026, Masa officially launches his Vendée Globe campaign. “My offshore racing career has been built with the support of the French sailing community, which continues to play a central role in this Vendée Globe campaign. Louis Duc’s technical team will be working with me — they know the boat inside out, which will be invaluable. And the program is managed by Estelle Greck, who was already heavily involved in my Mini and Class40 projects.”
Meanwhile, the DMG MORI Sailing Team is preparing an ambitious four-year cycle for 2026, featuring a new IMOCA, crew races, new personalities joining the team, and the emergence of young Japanese skippers ready to make their mark on the international stage.
