want to give up, you can find tonnes of reasons, but the only way to
achieve a goal is persistence.”
Zhang was inspired to compete in the Clipper Race by Guo Chuan,
who became the first Chinese crew in the race when he sailed from
Singapore to the Philippines to Qingdao in the 2005-06 edition. In
2013, he became the first Chinese sailor to sail solo and non-stop
around the world, but in late October 2016 was declared lost at sea
during a solo crossing of the Pacific.
“Guo Chuan recommended me to compete in the Clipper Race as
he said it’s the fastest way to learn offshore sailing,” said Zhang, who
has also been inspired by Song, a sports presenter, with the pair even
training together towards their RYA Yachtmaster course this summer
at the Hamble School of Yachting, owned by Clipper Ventures.
“Guo Chuan guided me to have a dream of offshore sailing and
Vicky helped me feel that I had the chance to achieve this goal.
Now that I’ve been studying with Vicky, I can see why she was the
first Chinese woman to sail around the world. She has the right
characteristics for a circumnavigation, like tenacity, persistence and a
real desire to explore remote places.”
Zhang said that the Clipper experience has changed his life and also
his personality, and hopes that the race will prove similarly inspiring
for his compatriots for the upcoming 12th edition, with a record 48
Ambassador Crew from China competing on a record three yachts from
China: Qingdao, Visit Sanya and, for the first time, Zhuhai.
“Sailing in the Clipper Race was a totally different lifestyle to
my pace of life before. The time flew by for nearly one year. I never
thought it would have such a big influence on me and change my
whole life. It was much tougher than I thought, living and sailing with
more than 20 people you don’t know.
“I went through wind, waves, cold and hot, but the toughest thing
was not the 40-knot winds on the Southern Ocean or 8m-high waves,
but the deathly stillness when there was no wind. It was just like in
life. When I can do nothing, that’s the craziest feeling and when I felt
my most helpless. That’s my strongest memory.
“However, when I faced the world again, I became calmer and now
I believe that if I remain calm and try my best, I can overcome any
difficulties. Sailing the race is not just a challenge; it’s a chance to
change your life.”
As Zhang has completed all four levels of training before the
2017-18 edition, he only has to complete levels three and four this
year. The majority of the 700 predominantly amateur crew – who will
sail between one to all eight legs – have to complete all four levels of
training over four weeks, although not necessarily in one stretch.
Many of the Chinese crew started their courses in May, but it’s far
from a formality. The four levels get incrementally more challenging
and each crew must pass every module before joining the race.
The 18 Zhuhai Ambassador Crew who qualified from a three-day selection process; Wu Kefu, Chen Jiaqi and He Ping are the local Zhuhai-based representativesFounded in 1995 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who this year
celebrated 50 years since becoming the first person to sail solo
and non-stop around the world, the Clipper Race is the only
event of its kind for non-professional sailors. In fact, about 40
per cent of crew have no sailing experience before signing up.
The 11 teams, each comprising a Skipper, a Mate and crew
from all over the globe, take almost a year to complete the
40,000nm race around the world, with the 70ft yachts crossing
six oceans and visiting at least 13 host cities across six continents.
Starting from London’s historic St. Katharine Docks on
September 1, the Clipper 2019-20 Race will head across the
Atlantic to Punta del Este, Uruguay in South America; across the
South Atlantic to Cape Town, South Africa; across the Southern
Ocean’s Roaring Forties to Fremantle in Western Australia;
around to the Whitsundays in east Australia; back into the
northern hemisphere to China where teams will race to Qingdao,
via Sanya and Zhuhai; across the mighty North Pacific to USA’s
west coast; to the east coast via the famous Panama Canal; and
then across the Atlantic before arriving back in the UK.CLIPPER 2019-20 RACE
DEPART......................................................................................................................................................................VENUE
Sep 1, 2019..........................................................................................................London, UNITED KINGDOM
Oct 23, 2019 ............................................................................................................Punta del Este, URUGUAY
Nov 17, 2019....................................................................................................Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
Dec 22, 2019 .........................................................................................................................Fremantle, AUSTRALIA
Jan 18, 2020..............................................................................................................Whitsundays, AUSTRALIA
Feb 21, 2020................................................................................................................................................................Sanya, CHINA
Mar 9, 2020 ..............................................................................................................................................................Zhuhai, CHINA
Mar 26, 2020 ..................................................................................................................................................Qingdao, CHINA
Early May, 2020.....................................................................................................................................West Coast, USA
Late Jun, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................East Coast, USA
Late Jul, 2020 (finish) ............................................................................................UNITED KINGDOMThese sailors include female film director Guan Xi, who succeeds
Zhang as media crew of Visit Sanya and plans to complete all eight legs.
In fact, ambassadors are of all ages and come from all walks of life,
and include a graphic designer, engineer, CEO, bilingual event host,
snowboard instructor and teacher. And a determined TV cameraman
returning to resolve some unfinished business in the South Atlantic.http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com