File photo of Guo Chuan. (Photo/CGTN)
October 25 marks a very sad day for the sailing world as it was on this day one year ago that China's Guo Chuan was lost in the Pacific Ocean.
At the time, Guo was in the midst of another daring mission: To complete and break the fastest solo non-stop crossing of the Pacific.
Departing on October 18 from San Francisco, Guo planned to reach Shanghai in 20 days, but went missing one week later. The US Coast Guard sent out several rescue teams, including an aircraft and two ships, to search for him, but with no luck. They released a statement two days later, saying that the search had been called off.
Dubbed "Chinese No.1 Mariner," Guo was regarded as a national hero in China. Now one year after the accident, Guo's family have posted a letter on the Internet.
"Life may not last forever, but one's spirit never dies. We hope Guo Chuan's spirit can inspire more people to tackle difficulties and challenges, and to experience the true meaning of life," his family wrote in the letter.
