QINGDAO, Shandong Province, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Guo Chuan on Friday became the first sailor from China to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe.
Aboard a 40-foot (12.2 meters) monohull, the 48-year old returned to the northeastern port city of Qingdao, his home town, after a gruelling 138-day, 21,600-nautical-mile voyage.
Guo jumped into the sea for celebration before his yacht pulled over, and swam towards the dock to meet his wife and sons, who joined hundreds of local citizens and sports officials at a welcome ceremony.
"I am so happy that I can again see so many people, so many people who care about me," said Guo, who knelt down as soon as he stepped on land with tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I can't even believe I made it. If this is real, I am the happiest man in the world. I don't have to eat those awful dehydrofrozen food any more, and I can sleep as long as I want while not worrying about winds and fishing nets.
"I don't have to wash my hair with seawater either. And instead I can enjoy a hot shower," he added.
As Thursday is the Tomb-Sweeping Day, a traditional festival when Chinese mourn their deceased family members, Guo paid homage to his late father after his Odyssey-like adventure.
"I hope he can share the moment with me. He passed away two years ago when I was training in France. I wanted to rush home to see him the last time but I did not make it. I wish he could see me today. I think he would understand in other world and feel happy about me," said a sobbing Guo.
Guo had expected to finish the circumnavigation within 125 days but was forced to prolong his journey following a string of hard times on board, ranging from equipment failures, a fishing net barrage off the Chinese coast, a fast-moving tropical storm and falling into an area of no wind a few days after entering the southern hemisphere.
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