Ning-Sheng “Nelson” Liu, the ship’s captain who conceptualized the project with the help of the Chinese Maritime Development Society, said their goal is to set a world record for sailing a traditional and non-powered Chinese junk across the globe.
So far, their boat has been to China, Eureka, California and is set to sail to Wake Island and to Okinawa, Japan, before making a final journey to Taiwan.
Princess Taiping, which means “Peace” in Chinese, was built without nuts and bolts but through traditional Chinese shipbuilding techniques using, fir, acacia and bamboo.
Sophisticated craftsmen from China’s Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou provinces carefully crafted and built Princess Taiping with the same features seen on Chinese junk sails during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties.
The 54-ft. long and 45-ft wide boat is designed to sustain heat, wind and humidity — the same characteristics that Chinese junk sails were known for since their first recorded journeys were made 600 years ago.
Liu, a former businessman whose factory manufactured Santa Claus, said his love for sailing began in 1998.
He said he met friends throughout his journeys and after almost a decade thought of building a Chinese junk replica.
“I thought why not build a replica?” Liu told the Variety in an interview yesterday. In 2007 the boat was built and was launched last year.
His goals are noble and simple: Preserve the traditional Chinese shipping culture and foster cultural exchange.
He recalled that when they arrived on Saipan, he had a quick chat with a psychologist who joked: “Any normal person would not do this.”
But passion and pride are a powerful emotional combination for him and his crew of volunteers.
“You make something happen and then people will follow you,” said Liu. He noted that most of the volunteers heard about the replica’s unique voyage through word of mouth.
Hugh Morrow, 30, one of the volunteers, is from Iowa. He said their intent is to preserve Chinese shipping culture and create awareness about Chinese sailing history.
Morrow and the other crewmembers — Hsiu-Ying “Angela” Chao, Yuquan Tang, Jason Arnold, Larz Stewart, John Hunter, Elizabeth Zeiger, Jack Durham and Carlos Kuhn — take turns each day manning their boat.
Liu said they divided themselves into two teams of five people to steer the ladder every day and prepare their food.
Though their boat has food supplies, the Pacific Ocean has always been a major source of their daily meals.
“We take turns catching fish — mostly tuna and mahi-mahi,” said Liu.
The ocean is also a source of entertainment for the crew when boredom sets in — catching squid is a favorite.
“Some days we would catch 165 squids,” the boat captain said with a smile.
Princess Taiping is open for public viewing at the Smiling Cove Marina.
Chao said they also welcome invitations from groups to lecture about their sea voyage.
