[Explanation] Departing from Shanghai, after 504 days and a voyage of more than 28,000 nautical miles, he has "the first person in China to sail around the world"
The so-called navigator Zhai Mo crossed the Arctic "Death Channel", and recently completed the first non-stop voyage around the Arctic Ocean in human history.
Why has no one completed a non-stop circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean before?
From ancient times to the present, how has human exploration of the ocean promoted communication and exchanges between China and the West?
How should international cooperation be strengthened to protect the ocean?
Zhai Mo recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency's "East and West" to explain this.
Zhai Mo: Because before this, the climate may not have warmed so fast.
In addition, there is another one that Westerners have already walked, but this time I walked differently from them. We did not stop in the middle.
In the past, they sailed separately on the Northeast Passage and the Northwest Passage.
Our main purpose is to make people around the world pay attention to climate warming through our activities. Once the climate changes abruptly, it will bring greater disasters to mankind.
Because when sailing in 2021, the temperature in Siberia has reached 37 degrees Celsius.
If the Antarctic and Arctic (glaciers) continue to melt, then in the next seventy or eighty years, seaside cities will not exist, including the island countries in the South Pacific.
[Explanation] The Arctic Northeast Passage is full of dangers, known as the "Death Passage". The climate and geographical environment bring difficulties to Zhai Mo's navigation.
Zhai Mo: I didn’t expect to encounter ice as soon as I entered the Bering Strait. The large area of ice floes was blown by the cyclone of the Northland Islands, and the wind force was at level 10 (around).
If the time is delayed in this area, half of our Northeast Passage will be frozen. The entire Arctic Ocean must be in a hurry.
The north latitude should be between 75 degrees and 73 degrees, where the iceberg hit.
At that time, we walked very slowly and carefully. If we bumped into it suddenly, our boat would not be able to bear it, but in the end we went to Boston to repair the boat.
So this point is that it is relatively difficult for us to sail.
In addition, because the road we take is called "the road of death" in the eyes of Westerners.
The Bering Strait, Chukchi Island (sea), including the Barents Sea, are all named after the pioneers of navigation.
In the vast ocean, suddenly a few pieces of ice stood there like tombstones. If you want to hide, sometimes you can’t dodge it, because the ice is moving. Once there is an ice floe, the three of us will not rest. At the helm, and all on the lookout.
The navigation equipment is basically out of order, and we really understand what it means to "can't find north".
[Explanation] Professional painter Zhai Mo has a sailing career of more than 20 years. He has sailed around the earth twice. He plans to circumnavigate Antarctica in 2023 and complete his three circles in the way of artistic creation.
Zhai Mo: In fact, sailing is not as difficult as everyone thinks, because I am not a professional sailor, my profession is painting.
Now there will be more and more, because many people may know sailing sailing through my sailing.
Sailing is a lot of fun. For example, when you go to a country, you have to clear the customs on landing, which is relatively free.
In the future, I want to circle the earth three times, and now it is the second time. I guess if it goes well next year, I can use the way of artistic creation to complete my three circles.
[Explanation] Zhai Mo believes that all countries in the world should seek common ground while reserving differences, and use marine resources peacefully.
Human beings should respect the ocean, strengthen cooperation, and jointly protect the ocean.
Zhai Mo: Because after sailing the sea, I have a little understanding of China's marine culture and history.
In fact, we are a large maritime country, because before that, Zheng He’s voyages to the West, and the sunken ships salvaged in the South China Sea were all from the Song Dynasty, and the shipbuilding and navigation skills were unparalleled in the world.
It's just that China's history of nearly hundreds of years is a shame from the sea, and the Chinese have been far away from the sea for too long.
[Explanation] In Zhai Mo's view, many scholars define China as land civilization and loess civilization, which is wrong.
He hopes to let more people understand China's marine culture and marine civilization through sailing.
Responsible editor: [Li Ji]