Skipper Kim Seung-jin has sent a New Year's message from the South Pacific.
Kim is on an around-the-world trip alone with his yacht, with no assistance nor any help from a motorized engine. Starting from the marina at Waemokhang Port in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, on October 18, the sailor has now approached waters east of New Zealand.
Since his departure, Korea.net has kept in touch with the skipper. On November 25, we delivered the news that he had been stuck in the doldrums for a brief period of time. Today, some 70 days since his departure, we managed to get a hold of him via satellite telephone and received a New Year's message from him for the fans and supporters waiting for news about him.
You're currently east of New Zealand. How is everything going, from the weather through to your physical condition?
I am currently in waters east of New Zealand and am heading in a southward direction. I wasted too much time in the doldrums around the equator. I suppose I might pass 173 degrees west longitude tonight (December 30), and that means something. That would be across the international date line, going back to yesterday. My plans are going well and according to schedule, however. I am in good condition.
You successfully passed the wind-free zones around the equator, a critical point during your journey. You are expecting to near Cape Horn, the most dangerous point, at the end of January. How are you preparing for that?
It's something that needs to be overcome. There's no way to bypass that area. Cape Horn is simply an area with big waves and strong winds. I believe I can handle it. If I felt fear, I wouldn't have been able to start this journey.
Up until today, my boat wasn't fully prepared, because the ropes that connect the front and rear weren't tight enough. Today, however, I fixed all that. The boat is now ready, and I am ready, too, to face another challenge.
In mid-December, the Korean Embassy in Fiji helped you meet one of your teammates in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was your first reunion in about 70 days. How was it?
It wasn't that long, but it was great to see him. The encounter occurred in the ocean near Fiji Island, and he was in a motorboat. I threw him a large water bottle filled with photographs and videos that I've been recording since my departure.
One of the photographs shows you raising vegetables in an onboard plastic bottle. What is that? What made you do so?
It's not possible to eat fresh vegetables while at sea, so I brought some radish sprout, buckwheat and lettuce seeds. In only three or four days, the seeds spread onto the water-soaked sponges and had grown high enough to pick and eat. With these, I often make vegetable mixed rice, or bibimbap.
Nutrients aren't inadequate. I have enough dried vegetables and kimchi, an element that gives me some Vitamin C. I haven't had any stomachaches so far. It's getting colder as I approach the South Pole, but until today, I wash myself with cold salt water every day. I feel like I'm becoming healthier.
Some 100 million Korea.net readers are supporting you. Do you have any words for your fans who are waiting for word about you?
Thanks to the support, I've been able to overcome many difficulties. It has already been more than 70 days since I left the Waemokhang Port. New Year's 2015 is just around the corner. I hope that my journey will plant seeds of hope in many people, and that in the New Year everybody will challenge themselves to do what they wish to do and to achieve their goals. I will do my best to complete this trip.
Happy New Year's from afar in the South Pacific.
By Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writer
slee27@korea.kr
Kim is on an around-the-world trip alone with his yacht, with no assistance nor any help from a motorized engine. Starting from the marina at Waemokhang Port in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, on October 18, the sailor has now approached waters east of New Zealand.
Since his departure, Korea.net has kept in touch with the skipper. On November 25, we delivered the news that he had been stuck in the doldrums for a brief period of time. Today, some 70 days since his departure, we managed to get a hold of him via satellite telephone and received a New Year's message from him for the fans and supporters waiting for news about him.
Starting his adventure at the Waemokhang Port in Dangjin on October 18, sailor Kim Seung-jin is sailing eastward around the world and is currently in waters just east of New Zealand.
You're currently east of New Zealand. How is everything going, from the weather through to your physical condition?
I am currently in waters east of New Zealand and am heading in a southward direction. I wasted too much time in the doldrums around the equator. I suppose I might pass 173 degrees west longitude tonight (December 30), and that means something. That would be across the international date line, going back to yesterday. My plans are going well and according to schedule, however. I am in good condition.
You successfully passed the wind-free zones around the equator, a critical point during your journey. You are expecting to near Cape Horn, the most dangerous point, at the end of January. How are you preparing for that?
It's something that needs to be overcome. There's no way to bypass that area. Cape Horn is simply an area with big waves and strong winds. I believe I can handle it. If I felt fear, I wouldn't have been able to start this journey.
Up until today, my boat wasn't fully prepared, because the ropes that connect the front and rear weren't tight enough. Today, however, I fixed all that. The boat is now ready, and I am ready, too, to face another challenge.
In mid-December, the Korean Embassy in Fiji helped you meet one of your teammates in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was your first reunion in about 70 days. How was it?
It wasn't that long, but it was great to see him. The encounter occurred in the ocean near Fiji Island, and he was in a motorboat. I threw him a large water bottle filled with photographs and videos that I've been recording since my departure.
One of the photographs shows you raising vegetables in an onboard plastic bottle. What is that? What made you do so?
It's not possible to eat fresh vegetables while at sea, so I brought some radish sprout, buckwheat and lettuce seeds. In only three or four days, the seeds spread onto the water-soaked sponges and had grown high enough to pick and eat. With these, I often make vegetable mixed rice, or bibimbap.
Sea adventurer Kim grows a range of vegetables on his boat during his around-the-world journey.
Nutrients aren't inadequate. I have enough dried vegetables and kimchi, an element that gives me some Vitamin C. I haven't had any stomachaches so far. It's getting colder as I approach the South Pole, but until today, I wash myself with cold salt water every day. I feel like I'm becoming healthier.
Some 100 million Korea.net readers are supporting you. Do you have any words for your fans who are waiting for word about you?
Thanks to the support, I've been able to overcome many difficulties. It has already been more than 70 days since I left the Waemokhang Port. New Year's 2015 is just around the corner. I hope that my journey will plant seeds of hope in many people, and that in the New Year everybody will challenge themselves to do what they wish to do and to achieve their goals. I will do my best to complete this trip.
Happy New Year's from afar in the South Pacific.
By Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writer
slee27@korea.kr
Photographs of the South Pacific were sent by Kim Seung-jin during his travel.
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