2016年CRI Guo Chuan's Hometown Still in Hope for Chinese Sailor's Safe Return

 

After a 43-day long ocean journey, Guo Chuan finally arrived at San Francisco on the 1st of October, where he disclosed his ambition of making a non-stop trans-Pacific solo journey.

"I'll kick off from San Francisco, and hope to reach my destination –Shanghai as quickly as possible. I wish my dream could come true and I could reunite with my family and friends in Qingdao in the near future."

Guo Chuan's goal is completing his journey in 20 days or less and setting a new world record for solo trans-Pacific sailing.

He set his starting date on October 19, navigating¹ his trimaran on its routine route across the Pacific Ocean. He was, then, 5475 nautical² miles away from Shanghai.

Before this adventure, Gu Chuan received a book on the Pacific Ocean from his project manger. The author, Simon Winchester, mentioned his belief in this book that the Pacific is the ocean of the future.

However, on the first day of his journey, Guo Chuan had no time opening it since the wind changed swiftly in both speed and scale. Guo Chuan was forced to change the sails from time to time.

Within two days Guo Chuan travelled 500 nautical miles, reaching a mid-point between San Francisco and Hawaii, from which he planned to go westward³.

From then on, his journey appeared to be a lot smoother.

"Today, I feel so happy at hearing this song, which is accompanied by my son's sound of laughter. It puts me at ease."

Although alone on board, Guo Chuan wasn't distressed⁴ because he felt his family was with him. Before boarding the boat, he edited some music clips, which he mixed with his son's laughter. Playing the audio file on board would always help Guo Chuan enter a peaceful state.

At noon on October 25th, Guo Chuan called in a Shanghai radio station, receiving an interview from the radio's sports program.

During the interview, he described the arduous⁵ conditions at sea.

"I know the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest active sports car race in endurance racing⁶. In fact what I'm faced with more difficult conditions and risky⁷ situations, because my boat is confronted with the risk of being capsized at any minute in the turbulent seas."

Guo's support team phoned him later in the same day. In the phone call, Guo predicted he would arrive in Shanghai on November 5 or 6th and said with optimism that his journey would be completed in 20 days or less for a new world record.

This is Guo Chuan's last phone call with his support team, which had later discovered Guo's boat was slowing down. They attempted to inform him of their findings via satellite phone and Internet telecommunication⁸ means.

On the 27th of October, Guo Chuan's support team confirmed that he fell overboard, possibly due to a damaged rope connected to the sail.

As Guo's support team and his family were desperately⁹ looking for him, some netizens are pessimistic about Guo Chuan's fate and suspected that Guo Chuan didn't wear a life jacket.

Guo Chuan's wife Xiao Li refuted the rumour¹⁰.

"I think there's no possibility that he wasn't wearing a life jacket. As a professional mariner¹¹, wearing a life jacket is a must, like a driver who should always buckle¹² his seat belt."

Alerted to the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard pilots helped search waters off Hawaii for Guo Chuan, but suspended the search later, claiming it's difficult to search for someone in the open ocean, especially when there's low illumination, wind and waves.

But, Guo Chuan's Chinese supporters would never give up.

A Chinese commercial vessel¹³ named "Ruian City" from China COSCO Shipping¹⁴ Group joined the search.

Five more lookout¹⁵ positions were added to the ship as it scoured¹⁶ several spots where the 51-year-old mariner could possibly drift to.

As more and more Chinese vessels¹⁷ may join the rescue operation, Guo Chuan's wife Xiao Li expressed optimism.

"I had a good sleep last night, after many sleepless¹⁸ nights. Now, many Chinese vessels are there joining the search and rescue operation. "

Also, the Chinese Consulate¹⁹ General in Los Angeles has vowed²⁰ to continue their assistance in facilitating the search.

Guo Chuan once said as he's alone on boat, he would have to tackle numerous risky situations. However, he had oftentimes got himself successfully out of the jaws²¹ of danger.

Today, his friends and family in Qingdao wish that miracle may happen again and take him back home to them.

For CRI, I'm Shen Ting.

1 navigating   

v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃

参考例句：

• These can also be very useful when navigating time-based documents, such as video and audio. 它对于和时间有关的文档非常有用，比如视频和音频文档。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Vehicles slowed to a crawl on city roads, navigating slushy snow. 汽车在市区路上行驶缓慢，穿越泥泞的雪地。 来自互联网

2 nautical   

adj.海上的，航海的，船员的

参考例句：

• A nautical mile is 1,852 meters.一海里等于1852米。
• It is 206 nautical miles from our present location.距离我们现在的位置有206海里。

3 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

4 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

5 arduous   

adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的

参考例句：

• We must have patience in doing arduous work.我们做艰苦的工作要有耐性。
• The task was more arduous than he had calculated.这项任务比他所估计的要艰巨得多。

6 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

7 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

8 telecommunication   

n.电信，远距离通信

参考例句：

• Telecommunication is an industry of service.电信业是一个服务型的行业。
• I only care about the telecommunication quality and the charge.我只关心通信质量和资费两个方面。

9 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

10 rumour   

n.谣言，谣传，传闻

参考例句：

• I should like to know who put that rumour about.我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
• There has been a rumour mill on him for years.几年来，一直有谣言产生，对他进行中伤。

11 mariner   

n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者

参考例句：

• A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.平静的大海决不能造就熟练的水手。
• A mariner must have his eye upon rocks and sands as well as upon the North Star.海员不仅要盯着北极星，还要注意暗礁和险滩。

12 buckle   

n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲

参考例句：

• The two ends buckle at the back.带子两端在背后扣起来。
• She found it hard to buckle down.她很难专心做一件事情。

13 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

14 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

15 lookout   

n.注意，前途，瞭望台

参考例句：

• You can see everything around from the lookout.从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
• It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down.如果利率降不下来，公司的前景可就不妙了。

16 scoured   

走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮

参考例句：

• We scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent. 我们四处查看，想找一个搭帐篷的地方。
• The torrents scoured out a channel down the hill side. 急流沿着山腰冲刷出一条水沟。

17 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 sleepless   

adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的

参考例句：

• The situation gave her many sleepless nights.这种情况害她一连好多天睡不好觉。
• One evening I heard a tale that rendered me sleepless for nights.一天晚上，我听说了一个传闻，把我搞得一连几夜都不能入睡。

19 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

20 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

21 jaws   

n.口部；嘴

参考例句：

• The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。
• The scored jaws of a vise help it bite the work. 台钳上有刻痕的虎钳牙帮助它紧咬住工件。