CRI听力: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, navigating his trimaran on its routine route across the Pacific Ocean. He was, then, 5475 nautical 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 westward.
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 distressed 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 arduous conditions at sea.

"I know the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest active sports car race in endurance racing. In fact what I'm faced with more difficult conditions and risky 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 telecommunication 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 desperately 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 rumour.

"I think there's no possibility that he wasn't wearing a life jacket. As a professional mariner, wearing a life jacket is a must, like a driver who should always buckle 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 vessel named "Ruian City" from China COSCO Shipping Group joined the search.

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

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

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

Also, the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles has vowed 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 jaws 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.