Time Elapsed Until the Global Circumnavigation Start
Phase 1: Real-time Progress of Start Preparations
Visualizing the current preparation progress to clear all milestones and cross the starting line in Vigo, Spain in October 2027.
Reaching 100% = Crossing the Starting Line
Phase 1: 100% to the Starting Line (Oct 2027)
Goal: Start the Global Solo Challenge from Vigo, Spain
Phase 1 Weight & Progress
KPI Details & Achievement Status for Preparations
Fundraise by Dec 2026 to acquire a yacht in Europe
Goal: Set a minimum of 100 million JPY as the necessary fund for the race initially
Structure (12 elements): Achieved: Skipper, Management Company.
Recruiting: Media Person, Meteorologist, Emergency Engineer, Manager, Sponsor Sales, Media Sales, Graphic Designer, Strategic Consultant, Lawyer, Accountant.
Team Outreach (Weight 5%): FB 1,100/1,500, Insta 850/3,500, YT 155/1,000, LinkedIn 500/1,000.
Third-party Exposure (Weight 5%): Newspapers/Magazines 2/10, TV 1/1, Radio 3/10.
List of Media Publications
First 1% (determination to challenge) achieved, final 1% (achieved upon crossing the starting line)
Phase 2: KPIs to Achieve During the Race
Goal: Depart Vigo, complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation, and finish back in Vigo (100%)
Phase 2 Weight Graph
Missions and Goals During the Race
Goal to execute a total of 100 product tests in harsh ocean environments, hull logo exposure, and explanatory promotions.
Set winning as the 100% metric, maintaining ocean conditions toward the primary target of finishing solo, non-stop, and unassisted.
Phase 3: Post-Race Vision
Goal: Return to Vigo, Spain after a 140-day circumnavigation, and widely give back the insights and passion gained to society (100%)
Phase 3 Weight Graph
Post-Race Vision & Social Contribution Plan
Individual submission of technology demonstration & PR effect verification reports to sponsoring companies. Feedback on wear and durability reports of apparel and equipment.
Goal: Host 2 debriefing sessions (in major cities in Japan)
Establish a maintenance structure with 1 exclusive media person and 1 manager to support next-generation sailors and archive adventure activities.
Project Schedule
Fundraising
- Complete the first funding line (20 million JPY) by October – Completed
Finalize Refit Plan, Decide Team & Boat Name
- Complete the second funding line (10 million JPY) by December
- Officially confirm the French shipyard and partner engineers
- Precise design of safety regulation (Cat.0) reinforcement works
- Decide the project boat name and final logo
Winter Refit & Hull Design
- Create initial proposals for hull wrapping design considering sponsor logo placement
- Safety regulation (Cat.0) reinforcement works and refit operations
- Sail inspection and ordering of sails such as A7
Acquiring Race Qualifications & Training
- Complete a solo 2000-mile voyage (approx. 3600km) by May to qualify for the race
- Complete the 3rd final funding line (25 million JPY) by April
- Construct onboard system for video transmission
Testing & Provisioning
- Complete yacht exterior wrapping including sponsor logos
- Repeat test sailing in French waters and calibrate instruments
- Load dried food for 140-160 days, medical equipment, and essential repair supplies
- Check safety and security parts such as emergency escape rafts and survival bags
Arrival in Vigo, Spain & Tournament Start
- Arrive at the starting point in Vigo, Spain, and undergo tournament regulation inspections
- Final arrival of Skipper Hiroki Nakayama in early October
- Invite major media and sponsor companies from Japan
- October 14: Solo, Non-stop, Unassisted Circumnavigation “Global Solo Challenge” Starts!
Lend Your Wisdom: Pro Bono Recruitment
This project is not a solo challenge by Hiroki Nakayama alone. To make the grueling 140 days entertaining and share the excitement, professional insights and various skills are indispensable. Why not join our circumnavigation project with your expertise and creative “wisdom”?
“First, please be a sounding board for 1 hour!”
Strategic Consultant
Support logical story building to maximize social value (social impact), formulate marketing strategies for acquiring sponsors, and manage overall project progress (PMO).
Creative Director
Brand the entire project and build its worldview. Responsible for planning to make the harsh voyage “entertaining”, supervising logos and designs, and determining the concept for information dissemination.
Media Person (Creator)
Currently, Hiroki Nakayama is managing SNS with an unfamiliar hand. Work closely with the creative director to build an editing and PR structure that elevates real footage and daily activities during the voyage into professional broadcasting.
Sponsor & Media Sales
Corporate sponsorship sales for fundraising and acquiring media tie-ups like TV/magazines. Create proposals that verbalize the project’s value and lead the development of corporate partners on the front lines.
Graphic Designer
Graphic design for the hull and sails that looks best in the harsh ocean. Design visuals that effectively place sponsor logos and are instantly recognizable in aerial shots and videos.
Technical Engineer
Formulate maintenance plans for the hull, mast, electrical systems, and communication equipment like Starlink. Act as an advisor to remotely diagnose structural risks and instruct precise emergency repair procedures when troubles occur at sea.
Weather Router
Propose optimal ocean routes based on weather and sea condition data analysis. Support the voyage 24/7 from land via satellite communication to balance safety and time reduction.
Lawyer (Legal)
Legal checks on sponsor contracts, domestic/international logistics and procurement contracts, portrait rights, and copyrights. Identify legal risks related to offshore troubles and international regulations in advance to protect the project.
Accountant / Tax Accountant
Overall project budget management, building tax schemes, and auditing fundraising/expenditures. Transparently manage complex project funds across domestic and international borders to support a sound financial foundation.
* We look forward to your wisdom and messages.
Support by Taking Action
A tap on your smartphone becomes the driving force of the project.
By checking the boxes, your role (rank) on the yacht will gradually increase!
Checklist
1-Mile Sponsor (Direct Support)
This is a direct activity support fund to Copel Inc., the operating body of this project (*For tax purposes, the full amount will directly link to the voyage funds as the company’s revenue).
Bank Transfer Window
Tap to copy all information at once
Kana: DOCOMO SMTB NET or DOCOMO SMTB
Digital Payment Window
Tap ID to copy
* Please copy the above ID and use it on the remittance screen of each app.
Important Disclaimer (Please read)
The recruitment here is for those who wish to support maintaining this challenge, regardless of whether we can participate in the race or not. If the project stalls due to factors like lack of funds, it is non-refundable by nature. Currently, there are no physical returns.
For corporate sponsorship proposals, large direct support, or consultations regarding the issuance of receipts, please contact us below.
Inquiries regarding Sponsorship & SupportHiroki Nakayama’s Message
“A project that requires mobilizing all my life experiences just to see if it’s possible—that’s what makes it interesting.”
Started sailing in 2021 and completed the transatlantic race “Mini Transat” in 2025. And now, I have set sail toward the challenge of the solo, non-stop, unassisted around-the-world yacht race “Global Solo Challenge” starting in October 2027.
I have already invested over 20 million JPY of my own funds and have reached a phase where I cannot move forward on my own.
As AI is being rapidly implemented into society, we are becoming able to redirect the massive amounts of time and abilities humans have spent on work toward something else. I aim for my challenge to serve as a hint for everyone.
There is no single correct answer for how to live one’s life. But in my case, I felt so strongly that my life wouldn’t have value if I didn’t take on this challenge, and I knew I would absolutely regret it.
Life will eventually end, and I hope to increase, even by one, the number of people who are in a state of having no regrets when that time comes.
History of Activities
Education and Speech Activities
This project makes it a mission to give back the lessons learned during the process to the next generation and Japanese society, along with the message [There is no place you cannot reach].
Detailed reports on school lectures, corporate seminars, and events held so far are published on a special page on the official website. We also accept lecture/appearance requests from school officials and corporate training managers.