One Man's Quest to Sail Beyond the Blue Zone

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The Mission


Pacific Solo is the brainchild of Lowell Sheppard, a seasoned author, speaker, and social entrepreneur. After harboring a lifelong dream of crossing an ocean by sailboat, Lowell made a bold announcement at the age of 64: he planned to purchase a boat, master the art of sailing, and embark on a solo voyage across the Pacific before turning 70. Now at the age of 69, Lowell has spent the past three years navigating the waters around Japan aboard his trusty 40-foot sailboat, Wahine. Covering nearly 6000 kilometers, mostly on his own, he has docked in 70 ports and harbors along the way. While his ultimate goal of soloing the Pacific remains just out of reach, Lowell remains undeterred. When presented with the opportunity to join Tyler Walkey and Julia Sisa aboard their vessel, Ramona Rae, for a journey from Hawaii to Japan, Lowell embraced the chance, proving that it's never too late to chase your dreams.


A spin-off of Pacific Solo is the Never Too Late Academy, which Lowell founded with others in 2020. It is named after one of the books Lowell wrote "Never Too Late" and is in response to the many of his fellow never-too-laters who have sought to learn from Lowell's tenacious pursuit of an audacious dream.

Visit Never Too Late Academy

The Mission


What began as a bold dream to cross the Pacific Ocean solo before I turned 70 has evolved into something equally meaningful, if not more so. While that original goal is now out of reach (a journey chronicled on my YouTube channel) my passion for exploration, discovery, and telling the story remains stronger than ever.

The Next Chapter

In 2025, I'm embarking on an extraordinary new chapter: Chasing the Cherry Blossom 2. This journey retraces a path I first traveled 25 years ago - following Japan's cherry blossom front from the southern shores of Kagoshima to the northern landscapes of Hokkaido. The original adventure was documented in my book, Chasing the Cherry Blossom, and it's time to revisit it.


But this time, the journey isn't by bicycle. It's by sailboat. And it's not just about chasing blossoms; it's about uncovering the timeless secrets of a long and meaningful life.

From Dare to Dream to Sailing Beyond the Blue Zone

Five years ago, the dream of crossing the Pacific led me to buy a sailboat, move aboard, and begin cruising Japan's waters. Chronicled in my book, Dare to Dream, and shared through my YouTube channel and on the History Channel, this journey has been nothing short of transformative. Along the way, I've navigated challenges, learned from failures, and sailed halfway around Japan, visiting over 70 ports so far.


These experiences have laid the foundation for my next adventure: Chasing the Cherry Blossom 2. I’m replicating the journey I took 25 years ago by bicycle, but this time, it’s infused with deeper themes - longevity, aging, and the concept of "unaging".

Pacific Solo is a 5-year initiative embarked upon by social entrepreneur Lowell Sheppard. Over the coming years, Lowell will prepare himself for the biggest challenge of his life: a solo journey across the North Pacific by the time he’s reached 70 years of age. 

Sailing from Tokyo to Vancouver, Lowell will navigate through the Pacific garbage patch to mourn the human impact on our planet and contemplate the beauty and resiliency of our world.

The project accompanies Navigate 22, an ethics consulting company founded by Lowell in 2019. Pacific Solo will serve as a motif for exploration, sustainability, goal setting, and achievement. vvvv

Join the Journey

This season on Pacific Solo is not just about my adventure - it's about sparking curiosity and inspiring exploration.


  • Follow my voyage along Japan's coastlines, anchored by the beauty of the cherry blossoms.
  • Dive into stories of resilience, aging, and connection from the people I meet along the way.
  • Reflect on what it means to live with purpose and embrace the changing seasons of life.


Whether you're a sailor, a dreamer, or simply someone curious about life's big questions, there's something here for you.


Join the adventure by following the Pacific Solo YouTube Channel, reading the latest updates on the Pacific Solo blog, and exploring the resources and inspiration at the Never Too Late Academy - where dreamers and other never-too-laters share insights and support.

The Mission


What began as a bold dream to cross the Pacific Ocean solo before I turned 70 has evolved into something equally meaningful, if not more so. While that original goal is now out of reach (a journey chronicled on my YouTube channel) my passion for exploration, discovery, and telling the story remains stronger than ever.

The Next Chapter

In 2025, I'm embarking on an extraordinary new chapter: Chasing the Cherry Blossom 2. This journey retraces a path I first traveled 25 years ago - following Japan's cherry blossom front from the southern shores of Kagoshima to the northern landscapes of Hokkaido. The original adventure was documented in my book, Chasing the Cherry Blossom, and it's time to revisit it.


But this time, the journey isn't by bicycle. It's by sailboat. And it's not just about chasing blossoms; it's about uncovering the timeless secrets of a long and meaningful life.

From Dare to Dream to Sailing Beyond the Blue Zone

Five years ago, the dream of crossing the Pacific led me to buy a sailboat, move aboard, and begin cruising Japan's waters. Chronicled in my book, Dare to Dream, and shared through my YouTube channel and on the History Channel, this journey has been nothing short of transformative. Along the way, I've navigated challenges, learned from failures, and sailed halfway around Japan, visiting over 70 ports so far.


These experiences have laid the foundation for my next adventure: Chasing the Cherry Blossom 2. I’m replicating the journey I took 25 years ago by bicycle, but this time, it’s infused with deeper themes - longevity, aging, and the concept of "unaging".

Join the Journey

This season on Pacific Solo is not just about my adventure - it's about sparking curiosity and inspiring exploration.


  • Follow my voyage along Japan's coastlines, anchored by the beauty of the cherry blossoms.
  • Dive into stories of resilience, aging, and connection from the people I meet along the way.
  • Reflect on what it means to live with purpose and embrace the changing seasons of life.


Whether you're a sailor, a dreamer, or simply someone curious about life's big questions, there's something here for you.


Join the adventure by following the Pacific Solo YouTube Channel, reading the latest updates on the Pacific Solo blog, and exploring the resources and inspiration at the Never Too Late Academy - where dreamers and other never-too-laters share insights and support.

46


OF 47 PREFECTURES

70


PORTS

3,000


NAUTICAL MILES

TIER 1 SPONSORS


TIER 2 SPONSORS


TIER 3 SPONSORS


Rob CLAAR*

GDI COMMUNICATIONS*

TIER 4 SPONSORS


JIM WEISSER*

MIKE ALFANT*

NICK JOHNSTON*

DOUG HYMAS

TREVOR WEBSTER

STEVE HOUCK

TED CARLSON

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