Sailing the Belt and Road Initiative: A journey of growth
In order to participate in the 2024 “Belt and Road” International Sailing Regatta, I returned home from the UK alone on October 7 and came to a city that was completely unfamiliar to me - Beihai. This unprecedented experience not only improved my sailing technique, but also made me complete a spiritual transformation.
The Belt and Road International Sailing Regatta attracted top sailing experts from 30 different countries to participate. This is a grand event that brings together global navigator elites. During the competition, I had the honor to meet many excellent sailing leaders, from Croatia, South Africa, France, Spain, Vietnam, Türkiye and other countries. Through communication and consultation with them, I not only broadened my horizons, but also deeply felt the diversity and charm of navigation culture. It is a great honor to be a member of the Chinese Sanshi Navigation Sailing Team to participate in this competition.
From hard training on the first day, to thirteenth place on the second day, to ninth place on the third day, and finally to the podium with eighth place on the fourth day, the progress along the way is inseparable from the team’s collaboration and support. As the member with the weakest qualifications, experiences and experiences in the team, I am well aware of my shortcomings, but fortunately, the seniors in the team gave me meticulous tips and care. They patiently and meticulously explained every step to me, analyzing every technical point, helping me quickly integrate into the team and improve myself. Compared to honor, what makes me feel more moved is the time I fought side by side with them. The spirit of teamwork and tacit understanding will never be forgotten by me for my life.
However, the journey was not smooth. For this competition, I experienced a series of physical challenges such as jet lag, inability to adapt to the environment, allergies, sunburn, and seasickness. For the competition in just three days, I spent nearly thirty hours in the air traveling back and forth between the two places. My physical fatigue and discomfort made me feel stressed for a while. But when I see my efforts transform into improvements and breakthroughs in my grades, all the hardships become worth it. This reminds me of a sentence: “Work harder will bring you rewards.” It is these challenges and persistence that have made me stronger in my beliefs - no matter how difficult the road ahead is, as long as I do my best, I will definitely be able to reap growth.
Finally, I would like to thank all the old and new seniors and friends who supported me, cared for me, and taught me in this competition. It is precisely because of your help and encouragement that I was able to complete the competition smoothly and gain this new chapter worthy of being recorded in life story. Your company and guidance made me feel that navigation is not only a competition of technology, but also a reflection of team spirit and humanistic care.
The sea is endless, there will be a time later!