Why do you want to compete in the Globe 5.80 Transat?

I was born and raised in Shanghai, China, and spent most of my life in one of the world’s largest modern cities. Like many people of my generation, I followed a very traditional path — university, career, business travel, long hours in offices, and more than twenty years focused on work and professional success during China’s rapid economic growth.

What most people could never imagine is that someone like me — a city office worker who had never grown up near the sea and had never touched a sailboat when young — secretly carried a dream since childhood: to sail across oceans and one day sail around the world.

China is historically a land-based civilization. Compared with countries that have strong maritime traditions, sailing culture in China is still very limited. Most people believe offshore sailing is only for those who started as children or grew up in coastal sailing communities.

When I told people about my dream, many thought it was impossible for someone like me — just an ordinary middle-aged city man with no traditional sailing background.

But I never believed dreams should belong only to certain people.

Over the years, I began preparing myself seriously. I studied global wind systems, weather, ocean currents, navigation, and offshore sailing skills. A giant world map hanging in my home constantly reminded me of the life I wanted to live.

Then in 2025, I discovered the Globe 5.80 project and the Mini Globe Race 2025. I was amazed that ordinary people could build and sail a small 5.8-metre boat across oceans and even around the world. For the first time, my dream no longer felt impossible.

I immediately contacted race founder Don McIntyre and closely followed the Mini Globe Race competitors. Originally, I hoped to build my own Globe 5.80, but balancing full-time work and boatbuilding made it difficult to finish in time for the 2026 Transat.

Instead, I made the meaningful decision to purchase Trekka, the very first Globe 5.80 ever built, sailed by Captain Ertan Beskardes in the 2025 Mini Globe Race. Owning and sailing the first-ever 5.80 feels incredibly special to me. I believe the Globe 5.80 is one of the few offshore races that truly allows ordinary people to enter the world of solo ocean sailing. The boats are simple, affordable, and accessible, while the race organisation maintains serious standards and safety.

My sailing experience is still limited, but I believe solo ocean sailing is ultimately about mindset: the ability to solve problems alone, remain emotionally stable under pressure, stay physically healthy, respect the risks of the ocean, and most importantly I have my wife and daughter’s support. For me, the Globe 5.80 Transat is not only a race. It is the first real step toward a lifelong dream.

I hope my story can show that even an ordinary person from a big city in China can pursue extraordinary adventures — as long as they never give up on their dreams.

Sailing Experience

In the autumn of 2020, I made the decision to seriously learn sailing and enrolled in American Sailing Association (ASA) training courses. I was fortunate to meet an excellent instructor, Jian Zhang, one of the very few instructors in China qualified to train ASA instructors. Under his guidance, I earned my ASA 101 and ASA 103 certifications.

That same year, my 10-year-old daughter began training and racing in Optimist dinghies. In 2021, my daughter and I competed together in the Shanghai stop of a family sailing regatta in China, sailing a Hobie catamaran. Later, we continued racing together in a monthly Hobie regatta called the Rio Cup. We improved race by race and eventually won the overall annual championship. 

In early of 2026, Coach Jian Zhang and I completed the offshore non-stop sailing passage, sailing mainly in the South China Sea around Shenzhen, Daya Bay, and Hong Kong waters. In July 2026, with guidance and support from Ertan, I completed my 300-nautical-mile non-stop solo qualifier aboard Trekka in UK.

Compared with many other entrants, my sailing experience may seem modest. However, my knowledge preparation, problem-solving ability, and emotional stability under pressure are qualities I believe stand alongside any entrants in this race.

Most importantly, my passion for sailing and ocean adventure is what makes this journey possible.

What do you consider the best and worst part about the 5.80 Transat?

The best part is the race emphasises seamanship, preparation, and mental strength over technology and skills. 

The hardest parts is also what makes the race special: the physical and mental demands of being alone for an extended period in a small boat. Fatigue, isolation, and constant responsibility will be very challenge, but overcoming these challenges is part of the true value of the experience.