Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race
I want to say a big thanks to skipper Ian Walker who gave me the opportunity to steer the boat into my hometown harbor where we received a huge reception ...
Tuesday 06 October 2009 13:30 GMT
Q: How do you feel now when you look back on your experiences of the 2008-09 race?
A: As a Chinese saying goes, the less you know of something, the less afraid you are of it. Before the race started, I thought very little about what I would face, probably because I did not know what to expect. I joined the race out of impulse, enthusiasm and love for sailing.
However, as soon as the race began I started to worry. I felt tremendous pressure of working as a Media Crew Member because I had had no journalistic experience previously and I was facing challenges of cultural difference and communication.
I started to doubt if I could complete the race. I often wondered while on the race if I should continue. Now, looking back, I was very pleased with myself that I stayed on and finished it regardless of anything.
I have a different understanding of sailing and the Volvo Ocean Race now from before I joined it. I understand more of its technical part, the team spirit, and importance of good preparation as well as how to cope with pressure. I feel more confident in myself.
Q: How did you see your role as MCM?
A: I think it is a difficult job because it asks for both sailing skills and journalistic skills. There are not many people in the world that have both. For others, whose background is sailing, I can appreciate their pain of not being allowed to do any sailing operations onboard.
I learned a lot on the job and this was not easy because the boat was constantly moving and shaking and you also face an extreme working environment like wet, cold or hot.
Q: Did your team members mind being photographed and filmed?
A: No, they did not. Our team got along with one another really well and they understood my job. I was also thankful to Ian Walker's support for my work. He was a very good skipper in terms of interpersonal skills. He has the ability to put together the best crew members in the world and make them work as a team.
Even when we did not race well, sometimes finishing last on a leg, he must have felt terrible but he still managed to encourage people and pull us through the difficult times.
He may be not the best sailor or skipper, but he certainly is the best people person. He was very open to my camera regardless of how we performed at the time.
Q: What was the most difficult leg for you?
A: It was certainly leg 4 from Singapore to Qingdao. Two reasons. Firstly, after arriving in Singapore, physically I felt extremely tired. Fatigue really took a hold and my body was at its lowest energy level.
It was a result of the accumulation of many things. I had developed insomnia since the race started so I could only sleep two to three hours a day onboard and sometimes none.
I worked a lot as a media person but felt I could not finish all the tasks required. Communications with my crew bothered me and food onboard was not something I was used to so I also ate little. Also, this leg ended in my hometown and I felt I could not live up to the expectations people there held for me.
Q: Why were the doubts creeping in?
A: I think lack of preparation was one reason, and working in a strange environment was the other. Also, I worked with a team of 10 crew members who are the best and most experienced sailors in the world. I was not sure if I could complete the task my team gave to me.
Q: Which leg did you enjoy the most?
A: Leg 7 - Boston to Galway. Because it was the leg that Green Dragon was going home so everyone onboard was in high spirits. We fought back from behind and made a podium position in front of the hometown people. We were treated like the Irish national football team coming come. The reception was overwhelming and I felt like part of the team from then on, truly deeply.
I also enjoyed Leg 4 from Singapore to Qingdao. I want to say a big thanks to Ian Walker. It was him who gave me the opportunity to steer the boat into my hometown harbor where we received a huge welcoming reception. It was also him who encouraged me a lot when I was at my lowest point.
Q: Are you satisfied with what you achieved on the race?
A: I am satisfied in that I finished the race and completed the task as an MCM. As I said earlier, there were moments when I doubted if I would be able to carry on and finish the race.
Q: If you did the race again, what would you do differently?
A: I would have a long and good preparation. I should have spent more time with my team before the race started. Being involved in and feeling part of it was very important because if you don't get along with your team you would not enjoy the race. Also this is a race that requires good teamwork.
I also should have been more prepared with my sailing skills. Of course this is more difficult to do because it needs even longer time and I can't improve myself in three months.
Q: Anything you felt you could have done better?
A: I did not capture enough exciting moments onboard, for example, when our boom broke on leg 2. I think because at that time, I was not able to work like part of team. I did not talk much with my team members so I could not predict what would happen or simply did not know what their next actions would be. So I failed to get myself ready when things happened.
Q: Would you like to join Volvo Ocean Race as a race crew member?
A: Certainly, but I do not feel I am there yet.
Q: What are your plans now?
A: I had wanted to do the mini Transat before I joined Green Dragon. This plan is still on and I am going to give more thought to it. Besides this, I have been resting. I hope I can do more offshore but smaller races in the future.
Q: How would you advise Chinese sailors how they can take part in a race like the Volvo?
A: The earlier you start sailing, the better. It takes many years of training and racing to get experience and a good feel with water and wind. Sadly there isn't one Chinese sailor that is up to the level of the Volvo Ocean Race yet, but I think the younger Chinese sailors should try and participate in more in-shore or off-shore races. I also think they should go to Europe and America to get proper professional training. More importantly this is the way to enter the international sailing community. There are good Olympic sailors but unfortunately many of them stopped sailing after they retired.
More promotion of this sport will also help to call on more Chinese to join this sport. In this respect, it is a great thing that Volvo Ocean Race visited China. Many people went to Qingdao and watched the race back in February. It was the first time they saw big racing boats like the Volvo Open 70s and learned about offshore sailing and the life of an offshore sailor. This was beneficial for youth sailors. Who knows? Maybe one day, one of them will become the first Chinese to join the race as a sailing crew member.
Interview: Xinmin Yan
At 17:34 06 Oct 2009, aafke bakker wrote
i think Guo was a great contribution to the entire race. thanks for this interview
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Media Crew Member Guo Chuan is welcomed by his home crowd as Green Dragon finishes leg 4 in Qingdao