Challenged Athletes Foundation Hosts Press Conference for Blind Sailor Hiro Iwamoto

Under a bright winter sun at Point Loma Marina on Wednesday, January 28, San Diego’s waterfront became the stage for a rare kind of sea story, a story that blends seamanship, resilience and a boundary-pushing mission that’s now on the calendar for 2027. The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) hosted a dockside press conference to spotlight blind sailor Mitsuhiro “Hiro” Iwamoto and his plan to attempt what would be a world first: a solo, nonstop transpacific crossing by a blind sailor, sailing a 28-ft yacht from San Diego to Japan in February 2027.

Hiro is no stranger to a global spotlight. Earlier this month, he took the stage as a guest speaker at the World Economic Forum, sharing his story and the mindset required to chase goals most people write off as impossible. At Point Loma, though, the focus shifted from inspiration to execution — the day-to-day preparation, the safety systems and redundancies, and the steady determination it takes to keep moving forward when the objective is as unforgiving as the Pacific Ocean.

CAF co-founder Bob Babbitt opened the event by grounding Hiro’s effort in CAF’s mission: helping people with physical disabilities pursue active lives through sport, including the adaptive equipment, training and support that turn big goals into viable plans. Babbitt then introduced Hiro’s backstory: losing his sight as a teenager and rebuilding his life through discipline and sport, eventually finding a home on the water, where preparation and problem-solving can matter more than eyesight. Hiro’s path has never been linear. His first transpacific attempt in 2013 ended dramatically when a whale struck his boat, forcing a rescue. Many would have walked away from the idea altogether. Hiro didn’t.

In 2019, he and a sighted friend completed a nonstop Pacific crossing from San Diego to Fukushima, Japan, a milestone that helped redefine what “possible” can look like on the ocean. Now he’s aiming higher and harder: going alone. At Point Loma, Hiro spoke candidly about the determination and methodical preparation required — the systems, the practice, the mental training — to stack the odds in his favor for a passage where there are no shortcuts and no do-overs. The theme of the day was clear: Make the impossible possible, one decision at a time.

Support for the project was also at the forefront. Sailing legend Malin Burnham joined the gathering, and together with CAF, presented Hiro with a grant to help fuel the long runway of training, planning and logistics ahead. Representatives from Hiro’s partners and supporters were present as well, including top executives from Sanyo Trading and Furuno — the marine electronics and assistive technology partner — while Helly Hansen, his apparel partner, sent a video message of encouragement.

The event also addressed a key question: how a blind sailor can move forward independently while maintaining safety at sea. As part of the presentation, a live demonstration was given of Leena, an audio-based system that conveys surrounding conditions through sound, allowing Hiro to perceive critical information without relying on sight. Attendees were able to see firsthand how the system works and how effectively it supports safe navigation.

After the remarks, the crowd moved dockside for an up-close view of Hiro’s Bristol Channel Cutter 28, the compact platform he intends to take across the biggest ocean on Earth.

You can read about Hiro’s 2019 voyage in the Latitude 38 March 2019 issue here.

Readers can follow the campaign and support the effort at hiros-choice.com.