BEL AIR/SANTA MONICA—Kai Sato, a California entrepreneur and investor with ties to Santa Monica College, survived after being stranded at sea for over a month. Sato set out to challenge himself with his first solo crossing of the Pacific Ocean in his sailboat. He departed from the Catalina Islands on June 7.
Roughly two weeks into the voyage, plans were derailed by a series of unlucky events. His mast snapped, his motor ran out of fuel, and his phone died after getting wet. According to Hawaii News Now, Sato used PVC pipes and kayak paddles to jury-rig a sail, hoping to inch closer to a busy shipping lane.
He survived on oatmeal, fish, and squid, and by drinking condensation from seawater he collected in plastic bags. Sato was rescued when he was spotted by a Pasha Hawaii container ship after his sailboat drifted hundreds of miles from its intended route. He is now recovering with a relative in Hawaii.
Sato has a unique tie to the West LA area. He took classes at Santa Monica College and later graduated from the University of Southern California. During his time in college, he worked as a caddie at Bel Air Country Club.
Sato is also the founder of Kaizen Reserve and Vintage Capital Investments, and co-founder of the sports recruiting network FieldLevel. His hard work and dedication didn’t just help him succeed in business; it quite possibly saved his life.
In interviews with Hawaii News Now, Sato said he struggled emotionally at points during the ordeal, recalling that he cried for a week straight while drifting south.
Sato is undeterred by the experience. He is already planning another ocean crossing, this time to the Philippines, on a larger boat. His story is a reminder to never give up, even when the odds are stacked against you.
By Milan Manesh