He wrote an inspiring book called Kodoku about his trans-Pacific voyage on the 19ft Mermaid.  I first read it as a teenager in 1968 and have a copy on my bookshelf.

While out and about over the weekend I stumbled, by chance, across a junk rigged catamaran here in Japan.  She's called Malts Mermaid II and is constructed of beer barrels, with sails made from recycled PET bottles!  

She was sailed across the pacific in 1999 by a gentleman called Kenichi Horie.  I won't go into all the details of his life but those who wish can read more about him here.

Digging a little deeper I discovered he has undertaken many interesting voyages.  He's still alive and lives just around the corner :-) I am hopeful that I will get to meet him and perhaps have a chance to hear more about his junk rigged adventures.

Peter