Taiping Princess - Hugh Morrow heading back to Xiamen with the crew

Hugh Morrow, the 29-year-old Iowa businessman cum sea adventurer is again back on course in reinventing china's old glory. Being the only American among the 8 member crew who are all Chinese, he will continue to sail with the other 7 crew members back to Xiamen. Hugh said that he has cleared his misunderstanding and is no longer required to attend any Court appearance in San Diego in November as reported earlier.

They will be crossing the South Pacific Ocean this time on the return leg back to Xiamen, taking it from San Francisco,, Hawaii, Saipan, Taiwan and Xiamen.

The Xiamen made wooden junk called Taiping Princess has so far taken them from Xiamen, Taiwan, Japan and then to California, crossing the Pacific Ocean. Shirahama Japan to San Diego USA was the most treacherous ocean route that they had encountered, going through severe storms, Typhoon, life and death before arriving safe and victorious in San Diego.

Taiping Princess is a replica of Ming Dynasty warship, the same sailing junk that Admiral Zheng He, the greatest Chinese sailor at the time took to four corners of the World. To prove that the mighty fleet of Ming Dynasty, some 6 hundred years ago, under the command of the Admiral had sailed to America before Columbus, the crew has set to prove the point.

Taiping Princess is a replica of Ming Dynasty warship

History reads that in 1497, the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci discovered a new country, and it was named America by the map maker, Martin Waldseemuller. However, it was later realized that Amerigo’s friend, the Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus, had been there a few years earlier in 1492. But it was too late to rename the country Columbia.

More recently evidence has appeared showing that in fact it was the Chinese Admiral Zheng He who discovered America in 1421.

Hugh said that their 8 member crew is just ordinary people having fun and make bonding. They are not aware of the immensity that they are making big story and re-make history. What they are most concerned is that they are practically broke. Without new sponsors, their money will run out.

Hugh said, “We don’t have a lot of funding, so, it is difficult to do everything together. I have no money, just good friends’. Hugh Morrow, who has now called Xiamen home, is expected to join his team in San Francisco tomorrow.

Hugh is currently in Oregon visiting his sailing coach. Hugh said that he would like his crew to join him but costs have been the restrictive factor.

Hugh said, “While I am here, I am going bear hunting, I am trying to kill some bear and deer and bring the crew some meat”.

Hugh is at his friends hunting lodge in Oregon. Oregon is in north of California. He flew to Oregon to visit his sailing teacher who taught Hugh sailing in Lake Oregon.

Hugh will be flying back to join the crew and the boat tomorrow night. For him, the crew is his family. He said, “I know for sure they would do anything to protect me and I would do anything for them, money cant buy that, so, I would trade my old business for my new found family any day

I have no regrets about that”.

Hugh’s own diary and account of the crossing

6/18/08 wednesday near Taipei

Before the crossing

I couldn't sleep at all last night so, I slept thru 4 hours of my 12:00-6:00 shift. The night was calm, so I dont know why I was unable to sleep. Perhaps it was the excitement of seeing taiwan for the first time. There is no wind today so we are just relaxing,  singing and swimming. we are  about 3 miles of the coast of taipei. We practiced knot tying today and the captain made us tie each knot 100 times so we are able to do them in the pitch black night. Jin Hu and a Chia  seem so free and happy they are in their element  here as they walk around freely in those little shorts. I feel shame to be see with my shirt off I wish i wasnt so conservative and shy. I have seen 3 diffrent butterflies that I have never seen before. They are must be strong because they fly far from the Island to land on our ship.

7/22/08 Shirahama Japan preparing to cross

we replaced our 8 large water tanks that were built 5 months ago they were almost completely rusted and there was what looked like mud in the bottom of the tanks.. we had to drink rust water for a couple days. We replaced them with 130 5 gallon plastic containers. We will check and recheck the engine, rudder, rigging ect. before we make the cross. the captain assigned us each a job. The guest from Naha are leaving today. time on land for us is running out.

8/18/08 Crossing

After the crossing 

The storm hit us hard, it seems there was no day today or yesterday the entire day was black. I seem to have forgotten what the sun feels like. the sea was pawing  us hard trying to drag me into the cold blackness, with waves the size of  buildings when will it stop there has to be an end to this storm. the wind was constantly over 30 knots with 45 knot gales. We huddled together in our cockpit to keep warm and stay together  holding each other so we dont slide away. we eat what is in reach I had some uncooked raimen today. The sea is so rough i cant even boil water to have something warm. The sails batton have broken 3 of them i think so we lowered the sails to 10%. standing in this weather is almost impossible.  The storm is bellowing hard, when the thunder strikes it seems i can feel heat on my neck as if it is gods breath and he is furious with us he is screaming.  I am at the helm of the ship unprotected from the wind and rain, my body shivers with cold and all my joints ache with pain. It hurts my hands to hold the ship on course my gloves soaking wet. The cumpass is difficult to see because of the rain, I am wipping it clean every few seconds. it seem all of the worlds vast might, all of its elements are trying to rip me from this helm. One thought holds me together her.

Thats some of what i wrote, I cut them a little short

Related articles:

1) Taiping Princess - A sea adventure of a Xiamen expat ended

2) Xiamen made 'Princess Taiping' tracks history and re-makes history

SOURCE: WOX News

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