Owners Share: Guo Zihua & Lagoon 46

The exploration of the sea has never stopped since ancient times, and over the years the marine culture in China has gradually grown. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the prosperity of a country and a nation is always supported by cultural prosperity. Without the inheritance and development of civilisation, and without the promotion and prosperity of culture, there will be no realisation of the Chinese dream.

Thousands of years ago in China, we had Zheng He’s seven voyages to the Western Ocean. It was an important journey that delivered friendly relationships with various countries in terms of politics, economics, and culture. Culture has made a huge contribution to who we are. Culture affects each of us. On the surface, it reflects a person’s appearance, spirit, and attitude, but at the root is our outlook on life and values, which affects and guides us in all walks of life. It is crucial to our quality of life, development, and innovation.

Marine culture is truly fascinating, and in many ways it inspires our inner voyager and explorer. In fact, sailing and exploring on the ocean is not as easy as is often imagined and as an ordinary person with no sailing experience the gap between the idea and the reality may sometimes be very large. First of all, we may face the problem of seasickness, as well as all kinds of sudden weather, huge waves and even fear. But at the same time, it delivers moments that make you feel truly alive such as a breathtaking sunset, or the strange and beautiful underwater world, which amazes the eyes and shocks the soul. And let’s not forget fresh sashimi caught straight from the ocean – this delicious feast is a special meal that makes the work of catching fish well worth it.

Due to the pandemic, I have only been able to get to Xisha a few times in recent years, but I have always enjoyed it greatly. At present, there is no in-depth tourism development in Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha, and it is hoped that this ocean can be well protected. Whether you wish to go to Xisha, or to sail the world, it is very important to choose a high-quality boat and a good captain. At present, one of my favourite boats is the new Lagoon 46 model, which has plenty of open spaces, a wide line of sight and a design that is well suited to both long term and shorter voyages. The configuration is excellent and there is a BOSE sound system which adds a lot of fun to sailing for a music lover like me. I have been lucky enough to sail on many seas and I have a dream to sail around the world… when the pandemic is over I hope that this dream will become a reality.

Sailing gives you many feelings – just like in our everyday lives, fear and beauty can co-exist and when we experience this we grow and the soul is transformed. A friend once said, “If Tibet is to wash the soul, then Xisha is definitely meeting the soul.” Indeed, we are born of nature and will return to nature, this is the way of the world. With the progress of science and technology, we often feel far away from nature, and the bright lights of high-rise buildings can make us confused and anxious inside. Sailing away from land and turning off the internet is a special experience that is very good for us.

In many ways, sailing is like a practice of exploring oneself, diving into the vast sea, deeply feeling our smallness, fearing nature, and also rising from the heart and co-existing with nature, in order to soar between heaven and earth.

Sailing is also an interesting life, suitable for all ages with no limits. The sailing experience can develop relationships and friendships, improve our wellbeing, and also teach us the ability to adapt to and appreciate the environment we live in.

From the past era of great navigations to the present, our country has always been in a backward stage in terms of marine strength or marine culture, but looking to the future it is now very exciting as people like you and I connect our hearts with the sea.