Shaun Weng, First Chinese Sailing Around World Alone

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 18, 2002

Shaun Weng, First Chinese Sailing Around World Alone

Shaun Yixuan Weng has become the first ethnic Chinese sailing around the world alone after completing his solo circumnavigation and passed through the five great capes of the Southern Ocean.

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Shaun Yixuan Weng has become the first ethnic Chinese sailing around the world alone after completing his solo circumnavigation and passed through the five great capes of the Southern Ocean.

The Beijing-born US citizen arrived at the Port of Wellington, capital of New Zealand, on his sloop "Albatross," ending his three and half year journey, on April 9, 2002. During the journey, the 42-year-old man sailed 31,200 nautical miles on vast oceans and conquered numerous untold difficulties and obstacles, thus making the Chinese contribution to the world's modern maritime history.

Weng was enrolled in a Northeast Chinese university of science and technology in 1978, with computer science being his major. Two years later, he went to the United States to continue his studies in computer science at the University of Texas. As a computer science student, he was also interested in liberal arts and enhanced his love for nature.

In an interview on his 12-meters "Albatross," Weng said that he went to Southern California in early 1990's as a computer software developer. Through constantly contacting the Pacific Ocean, enjoying the sunshine, and watching the Channel Islands on the sea, he fell in love with sailing.

He bought his first sailboat and lived aboard. He spent all his spare time on the boat and cruised all over the Channel Islands National Park. Later on, he mastered diving and enjoyed the underwater world and marine lives very much.

Then a dream of sailing around the world alone came to his mind and consolidated gradually. In 1996, he spent 100,000 US dollars for his second boat, which was suitable for oceangoing voyage. He named the second-hand fiberglass boat "Albatross" and painted the name in Chinese on it to show his love for nature and his determination to follow the bird that roams in the Southern Ocean.

Weng wanted to fill up the empty page on modern nautical history for the Chinese whose glorious fleet explored the southeastern coast of Africa well before the Portuguese, the pioneer of the Great Discovery of the west. He also wanted to enjoy the space and time freely by going back to nature, to sample the rich and diverse world culture heritage, to explore geographic wonders and marine lives, and search for the philosophical well- being of individuals and the humanity as a whole.

"Seafaring against all the natural challenges alone to survive is a good way to make a man out of oneself. In such a way, we could also explore our potential farther to its limit which we often underestimate," Weng said.

Weng finally sailed out of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on December 14, 1998 on "Albatross," chasing his great solitaire and nautical dream.

He sailed along the California coast, down south to Mexico. After a little cruise around he went to Galapagos, then crossed the Pacific Ocean, and, after 2,000 nautical miles, arrived in French Polynesia.

After that, he sailed down to Tonga and arrived in New Zealand to celebrate the new millennium. During his stay in New Zealand, he thoroughly prepared "Albatross" for the ultimate challenge. On February 17, 2000, he left Wellington on his way to conquer the five great capes of the Southern Ocean.

Weng battled stormy high sea for 46 days and finally passed Cape Horn, arriving at Port Williams, Chile, on April 1, 2000. Cape Horn to sailors is the Mt. Everest to mountaineers. Merely 600 nautical miles from Antarctica, Cape Horn is the place where two great oceans merge. The wind, the current, the coldness and the rogue waves there have turned the place into a graveyard for many sailors and their ships throughout the maritime history.

"On my way to conquer Cape Horn, I went through a great deal of hardships: the storm, the cold, the wet, and the fear. It is a milestone on my seafaring life. The passing of Cape Horn greatly improved my sailing skill and strengthened the confidence in myself," said Weng.

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