A California man was rescued after spending more than a month adrift in the Pacific Ocean when his solo sailing trip from California’s Catalina Islands to Hawaii went wrong, according to Hawaii News Now.
Kai Sato, 39, set sail on June 7 in his first attempt to cross the Pacific alone. About two weeks into the journey, the mast of his sailboat broke, leaving him stranded at sea. His attempt to return to shore using the boat’s engine also failed after he ran out of fuel.
After several days, Sato improvised repairs using PVC pipes and kayak paddles to restore his sails, allowing him to slowly make his way back toward the shipping route between California and Hawaii. On July 11, he ran out of drinking water and survived by collecting condensation from seawater in plastic bags. He said he also relied on oatmeal and fish that landed in his boat for food.
A cargo ship operated by U.S. shipping company Pasha Hawaii rescued Sato last Tuesday. Despite the ordeal, he said he plans to attempt another voyage, this time sailing to the Philippines aboard a larger vessel.
