MILAI Sailing Team Faces Funding Shortfall Ahead of Route du Rhum 2026
The funding gap threatens the team's ability to compete in the Route du Rhum, a critical qualifier for Suzuki's Vendee Globe attempt.
Reporting from 1 source: ASCII.jp.
MILAI SAILING TEAM, led by skipper Masatomo Suzuki, announced its 2026 sponsorship structure and a funding shortfall of approximately 10 million yen. The team is preparing for the Route du Rhum transatlantic race starting November 1, 2026, as a step toward the Vendee Globe 2028. Sponsors include Furuno Electric, Goldwin, and Seiko Watch Corporation. A crowdfunding campaign raised 8.19 million yen from 244 supporters.
MILAI SAILING TEAM is currently based in France, supported by French and Japanese volunteer staff. The team has announced a sponsorship structure for the 2026 season that includes Furuno Electric as a special sponsor and Goldwin, Seiko Watch Corporation, and others as bronze or official sponsors. However, the team reports a shortfall of roughly 10 million yen for the season's activity funds. The schedule includes sailing on the IMOCA 60 in August, participation in Defi Azimut in September, and the Route du Rhum start on November 1. The team is seeking additional corporate and individual support to cover the gap.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.