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Solo skipper Guo Chuan became the first Chinese to round Cape Horn
lundi 21 janvier 2013 –
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“This is my Mount Everest at the sea and a moment I would relish indefinitely”, Guo said in an excited tone after he arrived in the cape notorious for its boat-breaking winds and waves.
48-year-old Guo Chuan set off the journey from his hometown Qingdao of China on November 18. In the past two months, he has experienced a string of hard times onboard, ranging from equipment failures, fishing net barrage off the Chinese coast, fast-moving tropical storm and the impediment from a literally no wind situation a few days into the southern hemisphere.
Since he sailed into the Southern Ocean a few weeks ago, low temperature, combined with a high humidity, rose up as a new challenge. Nevertheless, both his good onboard problem-solving skills and a strong support of his shore team tide Guo Chuan over the difficult times.
“Although the circumnavigation is just half way through, I feel more confident to complete the whole journey after experiencing all the difficulties and reaching Cape Horn today”, Guo said.
Guo Chuan visited Cape Horn the first time in February of 2009 as a media crew member onboard with Green Dragon, a Chinese and Irish joint entry in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race. As he did last time and other offshore sailors would routinely do when they cross the Cape Horn waters, Guo opened a bottle of Rum and lit a cigar for celebration.
After Cape Horn Guo will next travel to a waypoint set in Argentina in the north and then head to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. He aims to travel 21,600 nautical miles in about 130 days, in a class 40 boat, before he returns to Qingdao.
Voir en ligne : Info www.transworldsail.com
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