'Old Fart' to attempt to topple one of Minoru Saito's records

by Nancy Knudsen on 29 May 2010 While Minoru Saito, that legendary 76 year-old Japanese sailor on his eighth circumnavigation is making his way through the Doldrums in the North Pacific on the last leg of his eighth circumnavigation, a self-proclaimed 'old fart' has announced that he will attempt to beat Saito-San's 'oldest non-stop unassisted circumnavigation record', a record that he achieved in 2005, when he was 'only' 71.

Australian Warner Ferguson, 73, hopes to leave later this year and complete the gruelling circumnavigation aged 74, beating the record of Japan’s Minoru Saito, who managed the feat at 71.

However, he seems less inspired by Minoru Saito than he is by sixteen-year-old fellow Australian Jessica Watson, who has just completed her own non-stop unassisted round world adventure

Thousands of cheering onlookers greeted Watson, 16, when she returned to Sydney on May 15 after seven months at sea. However Ferguson is not expecting any such fuss.

"Why would anyone want to waste their time coming out and waving to an old fart like me?" he asked AFP. "I think I will just try to pop into Sydney and then I’ll go and play some golf."

Ferguson, from Cairns, is currently selecting a yacht and meeting with his team in preparation for the trip, which could begin as early as September depending on conditions.

He said he has been planning the trip for several years and had not discussed it with Watson, who also comes from the state of Queensland.

However, Ferguson said he will take a cue from the teenager, now a national celebrity, by blogging for his supporters — despite poor typing skills.

"Everybody’s inspired by Jessica Watson," he said. "I watched avidly when she returned to Sydney Harbour but I cannot imagine why anybody would want to watch some old bloke."

When told of the news, 76-year-old Saito-san laughed heartily and said, "Is that right? Well, gambatte!" ["Go for it! Do your best!"]

Saito has had some challenging times during his latest circumnavigation. After successfully rounding Cape Horn (for the fifth time, and this time the 'wrong way' against wind and current), his yacht was disabled by a storm and he had to be taken back to Punta Arenas under tow.

He then repaired his yacht and kept sailing.