Hiroki Nakayama Global Solo Challenge 2027-2028 | Crew Actions & 1-Mile Sponsors Wanted
GSC TIMELINE TRACKER

Time Elapsed Until Start of the Voyage

Elapsed –% Day: —
Countdown to Start Line
DAYS
HOURS
MINS
SECS
Project Launch 2025.12.01
Race Start (Vigo) 2027.10.30

Phase 1: Real-Time Readiness Progress

Visualizing the dynamic status of our preparations to reach the start line in Vigo, Spain, in October 2027 by successfully clearing every critical milestone.

Reaching 100% = Reaching the Start Line

Current Status 26.9% December Entry Target

Phase 1: Achieving 100% of Prep (By October 2027)

Goal: Start the Global Solo Challenge successfully from Vigo, Spain

Current Progress: 26.9%
Phase 1 Weight & Progress
PREPARATION 26.9% Start October 2027
KPI Details & Milestones
1. Yacht Preparation (Weight 20%) 75% Achieved

First stage of funding required by August 2026 to charter and prepare the yacht.

2. Funding & Sponsorship (Weight 45%) 15% Achieved

Goal: Minimum target 100,000,000 JPY (approx. €606,000 / $666,000 USD)
Current: Secured/expected 15,000,000 JPY (approx. €90,900 / $100,000 USD) (transfer date TBD)

3. Team Building (Weight 8%) 16.7% Achieved

Roles (12 total): Filled: Skipper, Management Agent.
Open: PR/Media Crew, Weather Forecaster, Emergency Engineer, Manager, Sponsorship Lead, Media Sales, Graphic Designer, Strategy Consultant, Attorney, Accountant.

4. Public & Educational Talks (Weight 15%) 14.3% Achieved
Schools: 2/15 talks
Corporates: 0/10 talks
Events: 3/10 events
5. Media & PR Outlets (Weight 10%) 7.5% Achieved

Our channels: FB 1.5K, Insta 3.5K, YT 1K, LinkedIn 1K.
Press Coverage: Goal of 10 print/digital magazines, 20 YT features, 10 radio appearances, and 1 TV feature.

6. Skipper’s Spirit (Weight 2%) 50% Achieved

The first 1% (Decisive Commitment) is achieved. The final 1% is captured crossing the start line.

Project Schedule

Current: —-/–/–
2026.08 – 2026.11 Phase 1

Fundraising & Yacht Design

  • Complete the 1st funding milestone of 20,000,000 JPY (approx. €121,200 / $133,300 USD) by August.
  • Order critical equipment and provisions needed for the ocean delivery.
  • Complete the 2nd funding milestone of 40,000,000 JPY (approx. €242,400 / $266,600 USD) by November.
  • Outline initial hull wrapping and design layouts for sponsor logo placement.
2026.12 Phase 2

Refit Strategy & Name Lock

  • Contract shipyard and design partners in France.
  • Invite engineering partners to Japan to map exact Category 0 structural refits.
  • Finalize the official campaign yacht name and campaign logo mark.
  • Map out step-by-step sailing passage from Yokohama through Panama to France.
2027.01 – 2027.02 Phase 3

Pacific & Atlantic Deliveries

  • Cross the Pacific Ocean by late January, making landfall on the US West Coast.
  • Transiting Panama Canal by mid-February and setting course across the Atlantic.
  • Arriving at shipyards on the coast of France by late February.
  • Receive logo assets and layout permissions from corporate partners.
2027.03 – 2027.05 Phase 4

Shipyard Refit & Rig Inspection

  • Pull rig, un-mast, and perform comprehensive NDT (Non-Destructive Testing).
  • Conduct key safety, structural reinforcement, and Cat 0 compliance work.
  • Complete 3rd stage funding target of 25,000,000 JPY (approx. €151,500 / $166,600 USD) by April.
  • Construct onboard communications systems for daily media broadcasting.
2027.06 – 2027.08 Phase 5

Sea Trials & Provisions

  • Apply full team and corporate sponsor wrap designs to yacht exterior.
  • Execute sea trials in Atlantic waters; calibrate telemetry and instruments.
  • Pack ~140 to 160 days of freeze-dried foods, medical kits, and spare parts.
  • Conduct final safety inspections on life rafts, beacons, and survival suits.
2027.09 – 2027.10 Phase 6

Vigo Layover & Race Start

  • Arrive at Vigo, Spain, passing all official race safety checkouts.
  • Skipper Hiroki Nakayama completes final prep on-site by early October.
  • Welcome media partners, support crew, and sponsors on-site.
  • Late October: Start the Global Solo Challenge!

Share Your Expertise: Join as Pro-Bono

This project is not a solo journey for Hiroki alone. Bringing the challenge of 140 intense days at sea to life requires creative and professional power. Join us by sharing your strategic insights, technical expertise, or design wisdom to make this circumnavigation a success.

“Start by talking with me for just an hour of brainstorming!”

Strategy & PMO

Priority:

Support campaign progress management (PMO), draft marketing strategies to attract corporate sponsors, and build logical frameworks to maximize social impact.

Creative Director

Priority:

Help structure overall branding. Oversee the creative concept, guide visual design/logos, and help package this demanding sea race into an engaging social story.

PR & Content Creator

Priority:

Currently, Hiroki handles SNS postings with his own hands. Team up with our Creative Director to edit raw sea footage and shape social channels into high-impact visual media.

Sponsor & Media Sales

Priority:

Drive outreach initiatives targeting corporate sponsors and secure media ties. Help translate the value of the race into proposals and connect with brand partners.

Graphic Designer

Priority:

Design high-contrast visual layouts for sails and the yacht hull. Position sponsor logos for maximum recognition on drone footage and broadcast media.

Technical Engineer

Priority:

Contribute to maintenance strategies for hulls, rig, power, and Starlink systems. Stand ready as an off-shore consult to diagnose structural errors and guide emergency repairs.

Weather Router

Priority:

Analyze weather systems, wave models, and route patterns. Help keep the boat safe and fast through daily monitoring via satellite updates.

Legal Counsel

Priority:

Review sponsor pacts, shipping logs, copyright contracts, and IP issues. Ensure international laws are complied with, shielding the voyage from legal liabilities.

Financial Accountant

Priority:

Oversee overall project accounts, structure tax-efficient frameworks, and track multi-currency cash flows. Provide transparent audits for cross-border funding operations.

*We deeply appreciate your help and look forward to hearing from you.

SUPPORT & CREW ACTIONS

Active Online Crew Missions

Your smartphone actions drive this project forward. Tap to fuel our sails!

Your Crew Rank
【 Spectator (Not Yet Joined) 】
Sailing Preparation Progress 0 / 6 Cleared

Complete missions below, check the boxes, and watch your onboard crew rank elevate in real-time!

Action Checklist

DIRECT FUELING

Support the Journey: 1-Mile Sponsor

This funding goes directly to KOPEL Inc., the managing agency of Hiroki Nakayama’s campaign (100% of these sales are funneled directly into prep and campaign costs).

Domestic Bank Transfer

Tap below to copy full transfer information

Tap to Copy
Bank Sumishin SBI Net Bank (0038)
Branch Corporate First Branch (106)
Type / Acc No. Ordinary / 1589679
Name KOPEL Inc. (株式会社コペル)
*If transferring from a Japanese domestic bank account, adding “CREW” before your name is highly appreciated (e.g., CREW TARO YAMADA).

Digital & International Payments

Tap to copy payment handle or ID

PayPay (Japan)
PayPay ID
solotheearth
Tap to Copy ID
Wise (Global)
Wise Handle
@lwsdxq
Tap to Copy ID

*Copy the IDs above to execute transfers within your mobile banking app.

Important Notice (Please Read)

All contributions received here are strictly support donations to help maintain and drive the project, regardless of eventual race outcomes. In the event of campaign termination due to budget constraints or force majeure, refunds cannot be issued. No physical rewards or products are provided currently.

For proposals regarding corporate sponsorships, large-scale financial partnerships, or tax receipts, please contact us below.

Sponsorship & Partnership Contact

Message from Hiroki Nakayama

“Mobilizing every shred of life experience to accomplish a target right at the limit of feasibility—that’s what makes this project worth fighting for.”

I stepped into the sailing world in 2021, and successfully completed the grueling “Mini Transat” single-handed Atlantic crossing race in 2025. Now, my sails are set for the ultimate horizon: the “Global Solo Challenge” starting in October 2027—a solo, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world yacht race.

Having already committed over 20,000,000 JPY (approx. €121,200 / $133,300 USD) of my personal life savings, I have reached a critical point where I can no longer sail forward on my own resources alone.

In a world where AI is rapidly handling standard labor, humanity is freed to rechannel its potential, time, and spirit. I hope my campaign stands as an inspiring catalyst for others to re-evaluate their limits.

There is no preset formula for a perfect life. But in my case, I knew that if I turned my back on this dream, I would be turning my back on my own life’s calling, facing a lifetime of regret.

Life is finite. I want to build a world where as many people as possible look back on their journey without any regret.

Milestones & History

2021 Sailing path begins from absolute zero
2023 Relocated to France alone to train for the Atlantic
2025 Successfully completed the solo Atlantic Mini Transat
2027-28 Setting course for the solo non-stop GSC

Educational Outreach & Speaking Initiatives

Our main core mission is to return valuable life lessons back to local schools and organizations in Japan, delivering the core message that “There is no place you cannot reach.”

Check out reports of school talks, corporate seminars, and community events on our official website. We actively accept speaking engagements and partnership requests from schools, corporations, and communities globally.

Copied successfully!
Scroll to Top