First Chinese to sail for peace across Artic Ocean

Guo Chuan (right) and his crew members at the press conference to launch the sail in Murmansk, Russia on Tuesday. [Photo provided for China Daily]

The first Chinese to complete a solo nonstop circumnavigation will set sail on Thursday for a shorter but more challenging voyage across the Arctic along a route never conquered before.

Chinese skipper Guo Chuan, who became the first man worldwide to finish a 138-day global voyage on a class-40 boat in April 2013, will set sail with an international crew from Russian port city Murmansk on Thursday, aiming to set a new world record of nonstop sailing along the Northeast Passage in the Arctic Ocean on a 29.7-meter trimaran named Qingdao China.

Guo has built up an international crew for the Arctic voyage, including Jochen Krauth and Quentin Monegier from France, Boris Herrmann and Tim Frank (media crew) from Germany and Sergei Nizovtsev from Russia.

Starting from Murmansk, Guo’s crew is expected to finish the Arctic sail in the easternmost Russian port of Provideniya within 20 days across the Barents Sea, the Kara Sea and the Chukchi Sea as well as the Bering Strait over a 3,300 nautical-mile (6,112km) voyage.

Should the venture succeed, Guo’s crew will set a new world record of the fastest nonstop across-the-Arctic navigation along a route which is shorter than the current shipping line but has never been sailed by civilian and commercial vessels before.

However, this is not only a voyage for the record but more a journey to spread peace through sport, said Guo.

"Our six crew members are from different nations. If it were 70 years ago, we would fight against each other on a battlefield. But now we sail together for the same purpose: peace and sport," Guo said at a press conference held on the famous Icebreaker, Lenin, in Murmansk on Tuesday.

“We have different skin colors and we look different, but in our hearts we have many things in common. We are devoted to sailing and our profession. And in the bigger picture, I do hope we can do something more meaningful. Apart from promoting sailing sport, we can do something even greater by promoting peace using sport."

Prince Albert II of Monaco, on behalf of the Monaco-based Peace and Sport organization, sent best wishes to Guo before the departure.

"As you prepare to sail through the Northeast Passage, I would like to express my warmest encouragements for this outstanding challenge that you have decided to complete. By taking on such a difficult journey, you show commitment and dedication not only to your passion but also to the core values of sport - peace, respect and tolerance," Prince Albert II of Monaco wrote in a letter to Guo.

The prince also expressed his appreciation to see Guo sailing under the Peace and Sport flag and wished him all the best. "I am confident you will achieve your goal and set a new world record. I believe in you and your team's unique performances and I already look forward to your arrival."

After preparations of more than two years, Guo’s ride of Qingdao China was launched in July after the crew sailed it for a sea-trial leaving from port town La Trinite sur Mer in northwestern France to Kirkenes in northeastern Norway before it finally arrived in Murmansk.

Guo's teammate Sergei Nizovtsev knows clearly the special meaning of the voyage.

"I sincerely hope that the people who love to see us sailing will come away feeling that Russia is not such a frightening country. We don’t want to harm anyone. We want to live in peace with everyone, including Western Europe and America and China, our closest neighbor. Consequently, our challenge and this international team will give us an opportunity to demonstrate to everybody else, the big leaders, that we can do this without any politics and in a beautiful way," he said.