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Skipper Kojiro Shiraishi is not just bringing a new boat to the start line; he is bringing world-class experience. Recognising that the high-intensity, watch-system life of The Ocean Race demands a different skillset than solo sailing, the team has bolstered its ranks with two of the sport’s most respected figures.
To accelerate their performance curve, the team has secured the expertise of Nicolas Lunven and Sam Davies - two sailors who know exactly what it takes to push an IMOCA to its limit with a full crew.
Nicolas Lunven joins the team to lead sports and technical optimization. A master navigator with formidable experience, Lunven most recently guided Team Holcim-PRB to a 3rd place finish in The Ocean Race Europe 2025.
This follows his remarkable 6th place finish in the 2024 Vendée Globe and his pivotal role as navigator for Team Malizia in The Ocean Race 2022-23, where he helped the German team secure 3rd place. His strategic brilliance and meteorological expertise will be a cornerstone of the Japanese campaign.
Joining the team for the critical training and development phase is Sam Davies. A legend of the sport with four Vendée Globes to her name, Davies brings extensive leadership history to the team, having skippered the all-female Team SCA in The Ocean Race 2014-15 and raced aboard Biotherm in the last edition of the around-the- world Race. Her technical knowledge will be vital as the team transitions to the new crewed format.
"The Ocean Race Atlantic will be the first challenge, sailed with a crew," said Skipper Kojiro Shiraishi. "We will need more experience. That has guided the choice of the shore team and will also guide the choice of the crew. This is essential to perform."
A new IMOCA launching this Spring
The team’s ambitions are matched by their hardware. Construction is currently underway on DMG MORI Global One II, a next-generation Guillaume Verdier design of the IMOCA.
Scheduled for launch in late spring 2026, the boat is being built by Multiplast but will be finished in-house by the DMG MORI shore team - a significant technical milestone for the organisation.
Starting from New York on September 1, 2026, the team will line up for the high-speed transatlantic sprint. This race will serve as the ultimate shakedown, testing crew dynamics and boat reliability in the North Atlantic's notorious weather systems.
Destination: Alicante 2027
Following the transatlantic sprint, the focus shifts to the main event: the around-the-world marathon.
On January 17, 2027, DMG MORI Sailing Team will be on the start line in Alicante, Spain, for The Ocean Race 2027, ready to take on the toughest test of a team in sport.
"2026 is the year for innovation but also the year for new challenges," Shiraishi declared. "After 6 years of experience, we are now stepping up a gear."
Equipped with a next-generation IMOCA and a crew who have competed in multiple editions of The Ocean Race, the path to Alicante is set. The Japanese team is now positioning itself as a major force for the upcoming season.
CAMPAIGN ROADMAP:
2026: LAUNCH & THE ATLANTIC
May - June: Launch of new IMOCA DMG MORI Global One I
June - July: Sea trials & crew training
1 September: Start of The Ocean Race Atlantic (New York, USA)
Sept - Dec: Final preparation for The Ocean Race 2027
2027: ROUND THE WORLD
17 January: Start of The Ocean Race - Leg 1 (Alicante – Auckland)
September: Start of the Mini Transat (La Rochelle – Salvador de Bahia)
2028: THE SOLO MARATHON
12 November: Start of the Vendée Globe 2028
