Guo Chuan and His Trimaran the Qingdao China: the Legend Lives On
QINGDAO, China, Jan. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- October 25, 2016 is a memorable day in the world's sailing history.
On this day, Chinese sailor Guo Chuan went missing while sailing his trimaran the Qingdao China and trying to break his third world record. Since that day, there has been no news of his whereabouts.
(Read the full story of this accomplished sailor here http://www.chinesetoday.com/en/article/1162511)
(Authors: Zou Jihong, Zhang Yu, Sun Fei; Editor: Chris Chu)
Upon hearing the news of his disappearance, people in his hometown – Qingdao– could not help recalling the images three years prior when Guo returned to Qingdao after breaking the world record for how quickly one could sail around the world: after a 138 day voyage during which he was the sole crew member, Guo could not wait until the final docking of his ship. He dove into the sea, swam ashore to kneel in front of his wife, children, family and friends, and, with tears mixed with salty sea water dripping from his face, said "I am back, alive". He then bowed his head and kissed the ground of his hometown.
Over the past few decades, Guo, sailing his boat, the Qingdao China, has created two world records, rewriting China's sailing history.
On November 21, 2001, the trimaran, the Qingdao China, without her captain Guo Chuan, docked at a pier in the Port of Honolulu in Hawaii after being taken there by the professional rescue team, ending her 27-day drift in the open sea. Quentin Monegier, a French member of the international crew that accompanied Guo when he set a new world record for non-stop sailing along the Northeast.
In 2008, Qingdao successfully held a distinctive high-level Olympic sailing competition, which helped Qingdao gradually win a reputation in the international sailing industry.
The year was also a turning point in Guo's navigation life. The Volvo Ocean Race, the world's top sailing event, which only allows the world's top professional sailors to participate, held its 2008-2009 Race in Spain. Fortunately, Guo was qualified enough to join the crew of the Green Dragon, a sailboat sponsored by a group of leading Chinese firms.
Qingdao not only took the necessary steps to assure China's place in the world of sailing, but also gave birth to the sailing warrior Guo Chuan, who, in turn, inspired the city to pursue its dream.
Guo was honored with the title of Peace Ambassador by the World Peace and Sports Organization after his globe-circling voyage. The words "Peace and Sport" have always emblazoned the mainsail of his trimaran, accompanying the famous sailor as he variously navigated the path formerly followed by the ancient maritime Silk Road, through the South China Sea, to the Diaoyu Islands as well as when he crossed the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
Guo said, "I hope my round-the-world voyage can give the younger generation more encouragement, as well as spread the message of lasting peace throughout the world."
Due to the successful hosting of the 2008 Olympic sailing competition and a series of major international sailing events, Qingdao became known as the Sailing Capital of China.
As a result of Qingdao becoming a sailing hub and with the encouragement of its number one sailor, Guo Chuan, an ever growing number of young Chinese have become involved in ocean navigation and are achieving extraordinary results.
Today, any of the 400,000 inhabitants of Qingdao can choose to take a course in sailing and get some actual sailing experience through several initiatives to popularize the sport, such as "Sailing into the Campus" and "Welcome to Sailing". The city is now home to more than 100 sailing schools, 30 sailing clubs, and 20 yacht makers.
Both Guo and his trimaran have built a reputation in the sailing industry, and now serve as a form of spiritual guidance for newcomers to the sport.
Although, no one knows what happened to Guo Chuan in those last fateful moments aboard the Qingdao China, his story and the tale of the vessel have becoming increasingly popular, inspiring more people to challenge themselves and to pursue their dreams.
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SOURCE chinesetoday.com
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