QINGDAO, China, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese sailor Guo Chuan is expected to finish his single-handed non-stop sailing around the world in his Class 40 yacht and return to Qingdao on Friday morning, his supporting team revealed here on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old Guo, piloting the 40-foot (12.2meters) monohull "Qingdao", is attempting to set a world record in Class 40 solo non-stop circumnavigation. The challenge may be accomplished after 138 days on the sea since his Odyssey-like adventure started on Nov. 18, 2012 from the Chinese port of Qingdao.
"As Guo is approaching nearer to the shore, he is dealing with more and more fishing boats and all the other ships on the way. Concerning the weather, the wind is coming from the back of the boat. So the weather should be Ok," said Christian Dumard who works as the weather analyst in Guo's supporting team.
"However the biggest challenge for Guo is lack of sleep because he almost has not slept for the last two days trying to avoid fishing nets and making his way through the busy traffic on the sea."
The 21,600-nautical-mile journey is planned to be completed within 125 days but Guo had to prolong his stay on the sea following a series of damages to his yacht and several days of time lost in calm zones.
However if Guo successfully finishes his trip and goes through the recognizing procedures from the World Sailing Speed Record Council, he can still set the world record in Class 40 monohull solo non-stop circumnavigation, as no one has ever managed the feat in a boat of such size.
Guo is the first and only professional offshore sailor in China. He is also the first Chinese to take part in the Clipper Round the World in 2006 and the Volvo Ocean Race as the media crew member on "Green Dragon" from 2008 to 2009. In 2011 he became the first Chinese who participated in the Mini Transat sailing event and successfully sailed across the Atlantic Ocean single-handed in a mini yacht of 6.5 meters.
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