Shi Heyao, a Cambridge University graduate, developed a deep fear of water at age 7 when his mother pushed him into a pool. The fear was so intense that even hearing the word "water" would leave him unable to sleep. This phobia haunted him for over a decade until sailing helped him conquer it.
Along with seven other Chinese university students, Shi underwent just a few days of training before captaining a tall ship from Falmouth in southern England, through the English Channel, all the way to the River Thames in London. Though they spent only four short days at sea, as complete amateurs, they endured seasickness and fierce storms. By the time they set foot on land again, they felt reborn.
"A 10-meter wave hit us and knocked me out cold," said Shi Heyao, who is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Oxford. "But the days of fearing water are finally over."
In truth, his mother, Shi Qingyu, was even more terrified of the sailing trip. She had always been deeply worried about her son’s childhood experience. "He couldn’t swim at all. Last year, he came back and told me he wanted to go sailing—I flat-out refused. We only have one child, and I made him give up the idea for good."
When her son brought up the idea of sailing again this year, it was because of the China Sailing Association founded by Chen Yongnian, a Cambridge graduate and accounting professional who is also a sailing enthusiast. At 16, Chen boarded a tall ship and had served as both a cook’s assistant and a watch captain on sailboats. He established the China Sailing Association in the UK to provide Chinese sailing enthusiasts with opportunities to engage with sailboats and to recruit crew members for this British sailing festival. Shi Heyao signed up along with Yuan Jianmin, a fellow Cambridge football teammate, among others.
Shi Qingyu felt that since her son was now an adult, his determination to face his fears meant he was committed to overcoming the phobia that had plagued him for years. She decided she would accept this challenge as well.
She said, "The phone signal on the boat was terrible, and I often couldn’t reach him. All I could do was pray for him. When I heard he had safely reached shore, I knew it had all been worth it."
Shi Qingyu mentioned that she had previously suffered from depression, and her son’s sailing journey served as a powerful form of psychological therapy for her. "A great person must endure tests and challenges. As parents, we shouldn’t pass our own fears onto our children—we need to grow too."
This sailing initiative by Chinese university students was also part of the British Tall Ships Festival. Over 50 tall ships from around the world completed the voyage. These vessels, large and small, were moored along the River Thames opposite the Royal Naval College in London, attracting over 600,000 visitors within just a few days.
Chen Yongnian believes that young Chinese should participate more in sailing, as it offers a sense of mastering one’s destiny and helps cultivate leadership qualities in young people.