the why
It’s easy to say that I am chasing a childhood dream in circumnavigating the world by sail. It’s also easy to say I am wanting to change the narrative of my life after personal setbacks. And it’s easy to just say I want to do something else. What doesn’t get told is the hard work that goes into this type of change. The reason why I chose to sail for Team UNICEF. Nor does the full story of how quickly transitions can be yet still the journey be long.
So here is the brief timeline:
May 2, 2025 - I learned about the Clipper Race Around the World
May 5, 2025 - Submitted my application
May 6, 2025 - Interviewed with Clipper
May 7, 2025 - Accepted to join the Race
May 8/9 - Decided to commit
June 20, 2025 - Flew to UK to begin training
August 31, 2025 - Departed on first race of Leg 1
Sept 14, 2025 - Waiting to depart for race 2 of Leg 1
Reads like madness to go from non-sailor to ocean racer in less than 3 months time. It makes sense only to me and that’s what is important.
While this being a childhood dream, I didn’t know how to make it a reality. I didn’t know where to start. I literally signed up to ASA 101 just to get my feet wet and fortuitously ran into a former racer in my gym. In our conversation, he mentioned the charity sponsorship and social impact component of the Clipper Race and my background might be interesting for the race team.
I did the research, I watched the videos, and I took an assessment of where I was in my personal life, family life, career, and what direction I wanted to take. I didn’t want to leave a career in social impact. Yet I wanted to pursue a personal goal. I had no idea how to fund this or commit to this, but the timing felt right.
While I was personally fulfilled, in a great place in my life, found joy in the work I did, I also felt stagnant and disappointed in how society was progressing. To see, hear, and feel the disenchantment, the divide, and anger that has become the norm in current world climate made me looking for a different vision. To tell the story of better things. To bring to reality of myself and for myself that things can change. To demonstrate to others that our actions can bring enchantment and joy for ourselves and others.
I’ve chosen the hard route. To chase an insane childhood dream to circumnavigate, be the first Taiwanese to do so, to raise financial support in doing this and represent as a Team UNICEF racer. One difficult task on top each already difficult and heavy task. But it makes sense to me.
Somehow one didn’t fully fit without the other. This is still part of a bigger puzzle. The pieces are coming together. And what I know now is simply where I sit, the actions I took, and the future it holds is simply preparation meeting opportunity.
I want it to inspire you to take that leap. It isn’t easy work. There is no guarantee. You simply have to put in the hard work, take the bruises, and work at it. That preparation will meet opportunity for you too.
This is the “why”. I am doing it for me. And I hope it moves the needle for you.
Where to begin?
It’s been officially two months since I relocated to Portsmouth and Gosport, UK and just over three months since I sign on to do the Clipper Sail Around the World Race. I’ve honestly haven’t had much chance to fully absorb the effects of the decision I made. I only know of the focus that it has brought back to my life in respect to learning something completely new, from individuals of different ages, skills, experience, and backgrounds. I’ve made new friends quickly and built trusts easily by giving my own trust.
I’m tremendously excited to begin the race after what feels like a year of training but in reality only really 23 total days. The intensity of something new. The excitement of being ignorant and willing to learn. The appreciation for the ability to accept, adapt, and change. All of it I’ve had little time to fully take in.
Now that I am two weeks away from Race Start, I’m finally taking the opportunity to slow down just enough to reflect. Much of this future writing will be ad hoc. Capturing the moment of great experiences, wonders I see, and opportunities I will encounter. Then it will be a chance to recollect the memory. Evaluate what it means - in the moment and at a later stage.
What will it become? A narrative of stories? A lesson in meaning? Or simply a journal of emotions? Only time will tell. What I have in front of me is something I have dreamed about for years. I simply want to live in the present for this one chapter of my life.