On 23rd May, Maj.Gen. Akihiko Hayashi (JAAGA member, JASDF retired) set sail for seven seas from Nakoso seaport in Fukushima prefecture.　The name of sailing boat is Liberty, 43 feet yacht and 5 members crew.　Gen. Hayshi is a captain of Liberty.　Their plan is to sail around the world for 5 years. The first leg to Hawaii was so smooth,　she could safely port in Pearl Harbor of Hawaii on 29 Jun..　
　　Around 2 years ago, Gen. Hayashi suddenly asked JAAGA president to resign JAAGA secretariat in order to prepare for seven seas sailing.　It's his dream since he was serving JASDF as an active duty.　He had enough flight experience as a jet fighter pilot of F-86F, F-1 etc, but nothing about oceanic sailing at all.　After recognition of resignation, he started to train properly sailboat controlling.　As the result of his much efforts, he could obtain the licence of vessel operator and ship ratio.　He pointed " We will do the thing which only retired peoples can do.　We're going to see the scenic and historic places and visit old friends in the world through 5 years traveling.　Also this is the trip to visit the footmarks of historic predecessors."
　　On 22 May, the big send-off party was held in Ikebukuro(Tokyo), lots of his friend (about 200) got together, we had very pleasure time with crew of Liberty.　From JAAGA, president Muraki and about 20 members attended this.　After the party, the crew moved to Nakoso for leaving port.　At 2:00pm of 23 May, Liberty left port to Hawaii while many friends saw off Liberty at Nakoso port.　She crossed International Date Line into Western Hemisphere on 11 Jun., stopped at Midway Island in Northern Pacific on 14 Jun., and arrived at Pearl Harbor of Hawaii on 29 Jun.. 　The many supporters went to Hawaii to see them.　In Hawaii, the friends from Japan met crew with General Hester (Commander of PACAF, JAAGA honorary member).　On 2 Jul., Gen. Hester held big welcome party for Liberty crew at his residence.
　　She will depart Hawaii to Seattle of North America in August.　The crew members except Gen. Hayashi are as follow.　Mr.Yoshiaki Hayashi (Akihiko's older brother), Mr.Yohichi Ishikawa (Akihiko's high school classmate), Captain Kenitiroh Tominaga (JMSDF retired, Akihiko's classmate of Japan National Defense Academy) and Mrs.Yohko Hayasi (Akihiko's wife, joins sailing from Hawaii).　After 5 year's sailing, Liberty will return to mother port, Nakoso of Fukusima.　The URL of Liberty managed by Gen. Hayashi's daughter is http://www.ne.jp/asahi/liberty/sevenseas/ You can see the sailing schedule and the newest status of Liberty.　Also Liberty opens amateur radio station (HAM) on board, radio frequency is 21.397MHz.　Bon Voyage !　（Reported by secretariat Yotsue）