普通人的环球航海故事（二）| 从小播下航海梦一路成长的麦公子

麦公子大名麦敏烜，来自广东惠州，前深圳海狼队队员（职业帆船赛队），克利伯环球帆船赛2019-20青岛号大使船员，参加旧金山-百慕大-纽约以及纽约-伦敦本届赛季最后两个赛程，为青岛号夺得18年参赛历史上第一个赛季总冠军贡献了自己的力量。参加完颁奖典礼和队友们庆祝完这一来之不易的荣誉，马不停蹄往家赶，希望可以完成自己的承诺陪着心爱的小女儿开学。铁汉柔情的爸爸，有着怎样的环球航海故事和帆船成长记？

Gentleman Mai’s  real name is Mingxuan MAI, originally from Huizhou, Guangdong province.  He is a former member of Shenzhen Sea Wolf Sailing Team, a professional sailing team in China.  As the Qingdao Ambassador Crew for Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2019-20, he joined in the last 2 legs from San Francisco to Bermuda and to New York, as well as from New York to London with his contribution for the first ever Race Winner of Clipper 19-20 in the race history of 18 years for Qingdao team.  However, the minute he finished the celebration with the team at the Finishing Gala, he immediately rushed back home, hoping to fulfill his promise to accompany his lovely little daughter on her first day at school.  A sailor with a trophy and a dad with a gentle heart, what would his story that's behind the wondrous tales of sailing around the world be?

从电脑游戏“大航海时代”开始的航海梦想

His Sailing Dream from Computer Game, Uncharted Waters

童年时候的小小麦公子，有着一般男孩子的好动。和那个年代的男孩儿女孩儿一样，都比较喜欢电脑游戏。和好多同龄孩子不同的是，小小麦公子逐渐迷上了“大航海时代”，并且认认真真地开始琢磨如何才能征服更多海域、更成功地进行贸易积累自己的财富和成就。于是，各种和大海有关的书籍，《海底两万里》、《神秘岛》、各种地理书，统统成为这个小小少年学习之余的各种营养补充，一点一点助力他在“大航海时代”游戏中过关斩将、节节胜利。而伴着游戏在少年麦公子心底开始生根发芽的，是他的航海梦想，长大以后，一定要真正去航海，开启自己的“大航海时代”。

As a child, Gentleman Mai was active as other boys. Like all the little boys and girls, he loves computer games.  What’s set him apart though was the love affair he had with sailing because of the game, Uncharted Waters; he began to lay out a plan on how to conquer more oceans and to build his wealth through trading.  He started reading all sorts of books for instance 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mysterious Island, and even geography atlas, became his repository of marine knowledge vital to not only his winning in the computer game, it also started him off in his own real-life version of Uncharted Waters.

成年之后的逐梦之旅

Journey for His Dream after Grown Up

在“大航海时代”的陪伴中长大的麦公子2006年大学毕业以后成为一名公务员，在工作之余开始琢磨现实中的航海，并开始默默地积蓄力量。彼时，中国的航海一点点开始缓慢起步，但对于生活在惠州的麦公子而言，当时的航海圈离自己那么遥远，遥不可及。也许是为了缩短这个距离，2016年，麦公子前往香港学船，参加RYA（英国皇家游艇会）的周末体验课程，两天一夜的航海体验课，开始自己“大航海时代”的实际体验。可是现实远不如游戏中那般精彩绝伦，由于在深圳过关前和朋友们喝了点酒，到了香港以后的麦公子晕车、晕船，生生在船上躺了两天，不要说感受了，连迷迷糊糊中躺在船舱里连听船上英国教练的全英语教学都完全听不懂，彻彻底底地让他崩溃。

With the accompany of Uncharted Waters, Gentleman Mai grew up and became a civil servant after he graduated from university in 2006.  In his spare time, he began to plan about how to start sailing for real.  At that time, the sport of sailing is developing slowly in China but It is so far away from him living in Huizhou.  It might be for the reason that Gentleman Mai went to Hong Kong in 2016 to learn the weekend sailing course with RYA, the British Royal Yacht Association, which is a two-day and one-night course; just to bring the dream closer to reality.  This is the first time for him to experience sailing in the real world, not in the game of Uncharted Waters.  Alas, reality is not exactly the same as the game.  As he had some drinks together with friends in Shenzhen, he began to be car sick and boat sick after arriving in Hong Kong.  It was not the experience he was looking for, having to spend the entire course in bed, not understanding a word what the British coach said.  Needless to say, it was not only a huge disappointment but also a big setback for him.

可是少年时代就深深扎根的梦想不是那么轻易就会放弃的，麦公子回去之后恶补英语，准备体能，2、3个月以后，继续报名参加RYA为期5天的船员培训。这一次，香港教练执教，虽然RYA的课程也必须是英语教学，但实在有需要的时候还是可以用母语来请教香港教练的，晕船的情况也好了好多，有备而来的他顺顺利利完成学业，颇为愉快地成为RYA认证合格船员。于是接着学，几个月后特意去泰国参加了更高级别的RYA Day Skipper（日间船长）为期5天的培训。虽然这个培训香港也可以上，但为了去看不同的海，体会更多的海域，麦公子刻意选了泰国这个培训点。这一次特别幸运，只有两个学员，一个老外一个麦公子，加上之前一直在惠州恶补英语，这一次无论是和教练、同学的交流，充分理解授课内容以及操作，都有明显提升，相对第一次晕乎乎几乎全军覆没的培训，这一次懂了70%-80%，自己感觉是学得最扎实最开心的一次。

However, the dream that has been deeply rooted in adolescence is not so easy to give up with Gentleman Mai.  He started to learn English studiously and even got fitness training after getting back home.  2 to 3 months later, he enrolled for another RYA course, a 5-day sailing training.  This time, the coach is from Hong Kong.  Even though the RYA courses must be taught in English, it is still possible for him to ask in mother tongue when it got really too difficult for him.  He also got better with the sea sick.  So very happily, he finished this training and became a RYA certificated sailor.  

Then he kept learning and joined another RYA Day Skipper course for five-day in Thailand after several months.  This course is available in Hong Kong as well, but Gentleman Mai particularly chose the venue to be in Thailand as he wished to experience different parts of the sea.   This time, he got the luck.  With only two students in the training, a foreigner and him, and with his continuously working on English, he felt much, much easier to understand and enjoyed both the talk with the coach and colleague and the sailing practice.  Very happily, he felt he could understand 70-80% of the training, which is much better than the last course that he almost only got zero. This is the most happy time for his sailing training with RYA so far.

帆船赛事和海狼队的历练

Experience with Sailing Regattas and Sea Wolf

几次培训下来，从小随着“大航海时代”积累起来的挑战习惯开始回升，于是麦公子积极在国内参加各种可能的帆船比赛，例如中国杯、海帆赛。为了更无旁骛地专心练船，2018年他干脆从令人羡慕的公务员岗位上辞职， 然后以优秀的综合能力和积极好学的精神加入位于深圳的职业帆船赛队-海狼队。在这里，和更多高水平的帆船队员一起训练，后来，海狼队移师香港，和庞先生麾下的自力号一起训练。庞先生号称香港“钢铁大王”，酷爱帆船，组建自力号多年，亲自带领自力号的日常高水平训练以及国内外各种帆船比赛，除了培养了很多香港优秀船员以外，也为大陆深爱帆船的年轻人提供免费的培训机会，深受大家的敬佩。麦公子如饥似渴地学习着，不管是帆船技巧，还是船只保养、维修，只要和帆船相关的，都用心学习、用心积累，彷佛少年人疯狂玩“大航海时代”的通关热情再度被激发。这一年，他和海狼队队友们密切合作，在“俱乐部杯”、“香港台风杯”的比赛中多次获得冠军。一年多以后，2019年10月，因为香港暴动时局变得不那么稳定，海狼队全部回到深圳。停不下来的麦公子继续选择了去兰卡威学习RYA的Coast Skipper（近岸船长）课程，这一次，600海里的学习和实操，充满了享受，也让他更多思考：下一个台阶，在哪里？在结识了更多国内帆船“前辈”之后，他也接触了美国ASA帆船课程体系，并且考下了ASA教练证书，为自己多做了一些储备。

After several rounds of training, the habit for challenging developed since childhood with the game Uncharted Waters was getting back.  Gentleman Mai started to join in some possible sailing regatta in China, like China Cup, Round Hainan Regatta.  He resigned from his position in the government in 2018 to better focus on sailing.  He was then selected by Sea Wolf Sailing Team, a professional sailing team in Shenzhen for his competence in sailing and desire to learn.  In the new team, he was able to get training with more experienced and skilled  sailors.  When the team moved to Hong Kong for their regular training, they got their training together with another good professional team in Hong Kong, JELIK.  JELIK is owned by Mr. Pang, the famous King of Steel in Hong Kong who loves sailing a lot.  He established JELIK and joined by himself for high-level trainings and sailing regattas in and out of Hong Kong.  He contributed a lot not only to develop the Hong Kong outstanding sailors but also to provide free training opportunities for young people in mainland.  He is highly respected by many people.  Gentleman Mai tried very hard to learn everything about sailing, no matter it is about sailing skills or about the boat maintenance and repair.  Anything related with sailing got his attention.  He learned so passionately, just like the time at his childhood to play the game Uncharted Waters.  

This year, he worked closely with his team at Sea Wolf to win several champions in the regattas like The Club Challenge Match, UK Sailmakers Typhoon Series. One year later, in October 2019, when there was some trouble in Hong Kong, the Sea Wolf team returned back to Shenzhen.  Gentleman Mai didn’t want to stop his learning in sailing and went to Pulau Langkawi to learn the Coast Skipper course with RYA.  This time, it is a training and practice program for 600 nautical miles.  It is very enjoyable.  He also started to think where should be his next step? After meeting with more people in the sailing world, he got to know the American ASA programs for sailing.  Then he got the ASA coach certificates to prepare for future.

结缘克利伯

Meeting Clipper

海狼队的赛队经理曾雪曾经作为克利伯环球帆船赛2015-16青岛号大使船员参加过克利伯比赛，看着麦公子在队里对帆船的热爱和学习的热情，就很自然地把克利伯赛事和青岛号公开选拨大使船员的信息告诉了麦公子。于是2018年底，他毫不犹豫地报名希望结缘这个挑战，为自己的航海里程上增加跨洋历练的一笔。多年的准备和对航海的热爱回馈了他的热情。19年，初选入围以后，通过在青岛的笔试、体能测试和面试三轮选拨，顺利入选成为青岛号大使船员。虽然初步被安排为替补船员，没有首先分配自己的赛段，还是和所有入选大使船员一起赴英国参加克利伯船员培训，这一次，英文培训和海洋生活已经基本可以驾轻就熟了，也更加收获颇丰。接下来，就是回国，等待着被安排属于自己的赛段和开启与少年时代的游戏“大航海时代”那样让人心潮澎湃的冒险旅程。可是很快，疫情开始了，比赛暂停，谁也不知道重启是什么时候，前方一片迷雾。

Echo, the team manager of Sea Wolf was a Qingdao Ambassador Crew for Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2015-16.  When she saw the love and passion for sailing by Gentleman Mai, she naturally talked about the Clipper race and the news to recruit Qingdao Ambassador Crew 2019-20.  Of course, he enrolled without any hesitation by the end of 2018 and waited to add this cross ocean experience for his sea log.  His long-time preparation and love for the sea was paid off.  He was selected for the first round selection in 2019 and then passed the second round by paper test,  fitness test and English interview.  Now, he became a proud Qingdao Ambassador Crew 2019-20.  Even though he was first arranged as the replacement crew and did not get his assigned legs for the race, he still joined the four levels of trainings for the Clipper crew in UK.  This time, he was getting so well with the training in English and the ocean life that he enjoyed and learned a lot.  After that, he went back to China and waited patiently for his exciting adventure in the ocean like he had dreamed since his childhood with the Uncharted Waters.  Unfortunately, the pandemic began and the race was suspended.  No one knows when it would be resumed.  There seems to have a misty fog ahead in the ocean.

组建帆船俱乐部

Starting a Sailing Club

等待的过程中，麦公子想既然这个大梦想暂时还不能被打开，就做点力所能及的吧。于是在2021年初，麦公子和朋友们一起联合一些教练，组建了天狼航海俱乐部，为青少年提供小帆船培训、寒暑假夏令营、冬令营、成年人ASA体系的帆船培训以及企业团建和近岸航海体验，希望把自己对帆船的热爱传递给更多人。对他而言，不管是哪种方式，只要对推动帆船运动的发展有帮助的，就是好事情，就值得去尝试。也许好的事情总是磨难重重的，俱乐部刚成立不久，深圳封海，出行的海域受限制，于是他们的俱乐部又开始调整战线，在可能的环中国海航行中作一些尝试。

While he was waiting, Gentleman Mai thought he could start to do something instead as he could not start his own dream as planned.  So at the beginning of 2021, Gentleman Mai set up a Sothis Yacht Club together with some friends and coaches.  They worked together to provide dingy training for young people, winter and summer sailing camps, sailing training for adults with ASA system, as well as cooperate team building and off-shore sailing experience for adults.  In his mind, no matter what types of sailing, as long as it is good for the development of sailing in a long term run, it is worth trying.  Maybe all the good things are always accompanied with some challenges.  After the set up of the club, Shenzhen closed the sea.  The club had to change their route and started to try sailing in coasts round China.

克利伯重启

The Resume of Clipper

2022年2月，克利伯赛事重启，世界各地参赛船员都纷纷接到通知询问接下来的后半程赛段是否可以参赛，之前还被排在替补位置的麦公子也不例外，并且立即表示可以即刻开始申请菲律宾签证奔赴苏富比湾。那一瞬间，如同冬眠的动物被春雷唤醒，满血复活了。可惜天不遂人愿，菲律宾签证比预计的手续、时间更为波折，没能如期拿到，没法前往。好在从19年入选青岛号大使船员之后，麦公子就很有先见之明地提前申请了美国签证，于是和组委会沟通直接去美国等待参加下一个赛段的比赛。而重启后的后半程比赛，也很遗憾地取消了国内三亚、珠海、青岛三个停靠站的路线，从苏富比湾直接前往美国西海岸西雅图，他一直心心念念的跨太平洋航段就这样失之交臂。

The  Clipper race was resumed in February 2022.  Crew around the world were asked whether they could be able to join in the second half of the race, including the supplement ones like Gentleman Mai.  He immediate said YES and began to apply for the visa to Philippines.  In that moment, he felt like the animals in hibernation being woken up by the arrival of Spring.  Unfortunately, the time and procedures needed for the visa is not as quick as he hoped.  He could not be granted the visa in time for Subic Bay.  The good thing for him is that he applied for the visa to America as soon he became the Qingdao Ambassador Crew in 2019.  Then he talked to the event organizer to join in the next leg in America.  The only pity is that he had to miss his favorite leg to cross Pacific Ocean this time as the race cancelled the stop over in Sanya, Zhuhai and Qingdao and directly went from Subic Bay to Seattle hanged the route.

另外一边，重归比赛的青岛号也一波三折，从菲律宾出发后不久发现赛船因为疫情期间的港口停靠时间过长出现后支索部分老化损坏，有断裂风险，船长判断会危及航行安全，于是和组委会报告后决定驰往日本横须贺港修船。修好船以后又遇上强台风，不得不等待，于是青岛号需要独自航行转道旧金山，再和大部队一起并肩作战。

Back to the race itself, Qingdao team had quite a few troubles similar to him.  The running backstay was found damaged after starting from Philippines not too long.  It was caused by the staying in the harbor for nearly 2 years during the pandemic.  The skipper felt it might be broken if continue sailing or if there was strong wind.  For the sake of safety of the whole team, he reported to the organizer and then was told to get it repaired in Yokusuka, Japan.  After the repairment, the team had to wait for the passing of strong typhoon.  Eventually, Qingdao team need to sail along by themselves to cross the Pacific Ocean for San Francisco and then rejoin the fleet.

于是，麦公子在旧金山加入青岛号，其时青岛号因为比赛不断意外不断变化，人员动荡颇为严重，船长对新加入的有过帆船比赛经验的麦公子颇为满意，测试过他的水平以后，放心地把他安排为舵手之一，鼓舞全船队全力拼搏一定要像2019年比赛开始前船员见面日全体青岛号选择的为竞赛而战一样，哪怕现在有困难也要拼到最好。壮志满怀的麦公子私以为自己少年时的“大航海时代”游戏来到了现实版最可以尽情享受的时候了，可是在满心满眼只有“赢”的船长手下才发现这比赛中的航海和多年来想象中的航海太不一样。为了追求最好的速度，船长无所不用其极，细微风向风力的变化都要有所反应，一个4小时的值班，船长要求换5次帆，3号、2号、1号、0号，随时“折腾”着，一船的人疲惫不堪，下了值只有喘气休息的份儿了。每次船上值班、船下轮流做饭、清洁、休息，竞赛、竞赛、赢、赢、赢是唯一的主旋律，麦公子的神经始终绷的紧紧的，暗地里感慨这远洋航海比赛的强度一点不比帆船场地赛小呀，坚持、坚持下去。

In this way, Gentleman Mai joined in the Qingdao team in San Francisco.  At that time, there were many changes in terms of crew members alongside with the changes during the race.  The Skipper was so happy that Mai joined as an experienced sailor.  He arranged some test on boat for his skills and happily arranged him as one of the helmsmen for the team.  He told the new team to fight till the end of the race, just as what the team had agreed at the first team meeting before the race started in 2019 and no matter how difficult it was now.  Gentleman Mai thought happily that his dream from Uncharted Waters at early ages finally got the chance to be real and to fully enjoy.  While, he soon found out that it was not that case working with a skipper who only focused on winning.  The skipper would require 5 times of changing sails in one watch of 4-hours, which means the change between sail code 3 to code 2, to code 1, to code 0.  Everyone had to work very hard all the time and really exhausted after off watch.   They could only take the breath and rest after work.  Every time on watch at the deck and off watch in the cabin working as cook, cleaner and resting in turn, the only thing for the team is to win, win and win.  Gentleman Mai kept in high pressure all the time.  He felt that the cross ocean sailing is not as easy as the fleet racings and maybe the only thing to do is to hang on and hang on.

夺冠后的航海愿望

Wishes about Sailing after the Championship

旧金山-百慕大-纽约，纽约-伦敦，两个赛程毫不停息的拼搏，青岛号捧回了赛季总冠军，18年、八届参赛历史上的首次，也是麦公子航海运动记录中迄今为止最大的一个荣誉。可是捧完奖杯，热闹地庆祝完，最想做的事情却是赶快回家，希望可以像当日给小女儿的承诺一样陪她去上开学第一天的课。也许，在比赛中出发和到达的码头上，国外船员们总是有自己的家人、孩子一起来接送船，那种感觉特别让人温暖，离开陆地越久，对家人的眷念就越浓。遗憾的是，马不停蹄地回到中国，因为疫情的封控，只能在隔离酒店里云陪伴心爱的女儿走进小学一年级的课堂校开启自己的小学生活。

From San Francisco to Bermuda and to New York and from New York to London, after two legs of hard working, nearly competent fighting, Qingdao team won the Race Winner of 2019-20.  This is the first time in the history of 18 years and 8 consecutive races for Qingdao team to join in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.  This is also the best award for Gentleman Mai in sailing.  Differently this time, the only thing he wanted to do after the award ceremony is just to get back home.  The reason is that he had promised his lovely daughter to start the first day in school as a primary student before he set out for this trip.  Probably, after witnessing the welcoming and sending off by the families and children of the foreign sailors in every stop over harbor, he became more and more missing his own families.  Maybe, this is the same for everyone getting far away from the land.  While, when he rushed all the way back to China, he needed to be quarantined as the pandemic controlling.  He had to stay at the quarantine hotel and accompanied his little love to start her day one as a primary student online in the clouds with the modern technology.

对比克利伯这样的长航跨洋赛事和此前麦公子经常参加的帆船场地赛事，麦公子感觉各有千秋，长航其实特别辛苦，对人的抗压能力要求很高，好处是风景很美，日出日落、星空甲板海豚跳跃，都很美丽，但很难让人喜欢；场地赛节奏快一些，短平快比赛的感觉比较棒，可惜看不了风景。两个比起来很难说哪一个更好。

Gentleman Mai compared cross ocean racing like Clipper with the fleet racing and felt they were so different.  Cross ocean one is a long journey, very difficult and needs people to be flexible under high pressure.  But it is very rewarding with the beautiful scenes all the way including sun rise, sun set, watching the stars on the deck and enjoying the jumping of dolphins besides you.  That type of beauty is so unusual and so unforgettable.  Fleet racing however, like music with a fast tempo, is short, quick and exciting, but there is no views to enjoy.  It is difficult to say one is better than the other.

体会了长航，也经历了场地赛，接下来麦公子希望经营好自己的帆船俱乐部，帮助更多人爱上帆船爱上大海，也更希望未来可以开着中式帆船环游世界，不用急着比赛，就是慢慢地随着帆船看风景、看地理、看人文，认识不同的生物，体会不一样的世界，带着家人，帮助更多的人爱上大海，用自己喜欢的方式。也许，千帆过尽，少年时那个从“大航海时代”中深根发芽的那个梦想，如今更落地有它自己的版本，独一无二。你呢，也会找到自己的版本吗？

After experiencing the long-distance sailing as well as fleet races, what Gentleman Mai would like to focus on now is to mange his sailing club well and help more people to love sailing and ocean.  He also wishes to sail with a Chinese traditional sailing boat, junk, around the world, with no rush for races and just enjoy the views, the geography, the people and the nature.  He only wishes to experience the different parts of the world with his family and to support more people to love the ocean in their own ways. Perhaps, now that thousands of sails have passed, the dream that sprouted from the Uncharted Waters when he was a teenager has now come to shape a unique path of his own.  What about you, will you sail out for a path of your choosing one too?

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作者Author | 陈杰

英文编辑 English Editor |  Vii C

图文来源 Origin of the Article | JieCHENClipper201516 微信公众号

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