Furuno is pleased to announce its support for the MILAI Sailing Team, led by skipper Masatomo “Masa” Suzuki, as the team pursues its goal of competing in the Vendée Globe, widely regarded as the world's toughest solo yacht race.
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Masa with MILAI22, the team's IMOCA 60 yacht
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The cockpit of MILAI22 equipped with FURUNO marine electronics, including the NavNet TztouchXL Multi Function Display
Held once every four years, the next Vendée Globe will take place in 2028. If Masa successfully completes the race, he will become only the second Japanese sailor ever to achieve this extraordinary feat.
Furuno has supported Masa and Team MILAI (now the MILAI Sailing Team) through previous offshore sailing challenges, including the 2019 Mini Transat solo transatlantic race and the 2022 GLOBE40 round-the-world race. Building on this partnership, Furuno will continue to support Masa's journey toward the Vendée Globe 2028 through the supply and customization of marine electronics, as well as other technical support.
The Vendée Globe is widely regarded as the ultimate challenge in offshore sailing—a solo, non-stop race around the world without outside assistance. Driven by his dream of competing in this race, Masa has continued to take on new challenges and build experience through offshore competitions around the world. Along the way, he has brought together a growing community of supporters, including both companies and individuals who share his passion for the sea and spirit of adventure. Furuno is inspired by Masa's determination to continually push beyond his limits and pursue new horizons. We are proud to support his journey toward the Vendée Globe 2028.
As part of his journey toward the Vendée Globe 2028, Masa will compete in the Route du Rhum, the renowned solo transatlantic race, in November 2026. For the race, the team will compete under the name MILAI – FURUNO, with the FURUNO logo displayed on the yacht.
The team will compete under the name MILAI – FURUNO in the 2026 Route du Rhum
Marine equipment and software support
As part of its support for the MILAI Sailing Team, Furuno plans to provide the following marine electronics equipment and software:
Radar Sensor: DRS2D-NXT
NavNet TZtouchXL Multi Function Display: TZT10X
IP Camera: FIP-460
GPS Navigator: GP-39
NMEA Data Converter: IF-NMEA2K2
Marine Navigation Software: TZ Professional
Radar Sensor: DRS2D-NXT. A solid-state radar sensor equipped with Furuno's Target Analyzer™ function for easy identification of approaching vessels and Fast Target Tracking™ technology for instant target acquisition.
Multi Function Display: NavNet TZtouchXL (Model: TZT10X). The flagship model in Furuno's recreational marine lineup, offering hybrid control through dedicated operation keys and a responsive multi-touch interface for intuitive navigation and operation.
TZ Professional marine navigation software with AR navigation capabilities, integrating camera, radar, and AIS data for enhanced situational awareness. Developed with the support of FURUNO's partner, MaxSea Naval S.L. (France).
Discover the story behind Masa's Vendée Globe 2028 challenge
https://note.com/furuno_umi_note/n/n6aaf577e90e5?hl=en
Masatomo "Masa" Suzuki
Born in Chiba, Japan, on August 12, 1985, Masatomo Suzuki began sailing in the Optimist class as a child and later joined his university sailing team. He competed in a wide range of domestic and international events, including Japan's National Sports Festival and the Moth World Championship.
After moving into offshore racing, Masa became the first Japanese sailor to compete in the Mini Transat in 2019 and the GLOBE40 round-the-world race in 2022. Drawing on the experience gained through these challenges, he is now pursuing his ultimate goal: the Vendée Globe.
About the yacht MILAI22
To help bring Masa's dream to life, 22 supporters came together to fund the acquisition of an IMOCA 60 racing yacht. In recognition of their support, the yacht was named MILAI22.
Class: IMOCA 60 Yacht Name: MILAI22 Designer: Farr Yacht Design Builder: CDK Technologies (France) Launched: 2006
About MILAI Sailing Team
https://milai-sailing.com/
Furuno remains dedicated to supporting those who embrace challenges, guided by its vision: “Achieve better safety, security and comfort to bring about a society and sea navigation that considers the needs of people and the environment.”