Shanghai readers will soon be able to enjoy the sea adventures of Christian Havrehed - a Dane who rowed 5,000 kilometers across the roiling Atlantic Ocean with a Chinese partner - as early as January.

The Shanghai People's Publishing House said yesterday it has paid for the exclusive rights to translate Havrehed's book, "Beijing to Barbados in a Rowboat," into Chinese, but didn't reveal the sum.

The newly published work is imported by the China National Publications Import & Export Corp.

Twenty-five percent of the net proceeds from its sales will be donated to the United Kingdom-based United World College of the Atlantic, in order to enable more Chinese mainland students to study there on full scholarships, said Havrehed, who attended a promotion in Shanghai over the weekend.

"We hope to promote international understanding of boating through the scholarship," said the 33-year-old who works at a local consulting firm.

In 2001, Havrehed initiated "The Yantu Project," in which he rowed unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean in 56 days as part of the Ward Evans Cross Atlantic Rowing Race.

Not only did he build his boat in China, he also had a Chinese partner Sun Haibin. Sun, a good swimmer, had never been to sea. Despite lacking rowing experience, the Sino-Danish crew finished 8th out of 36 teams.

Sun became the first Asian to row an ocean and was nominated as Chinese Sportsman of the Year in 2001. Havrehed also won a similar honor from his homeland for achieving the feat.

More than a project to realize a personal dream, "Yantu" tries to aid Chinese mainland students in international education. The duo has raised US$88,620 in scholarships.

The book vividly recounts the duo's metaphysical experiences while thrashing through the high seas.

Havrehed also narrates the 18 months of planning that went into the race, the technical skills required and the moxie needed to attract media and sponsors.

He said the key to their success was remaining friends. Even with his experiences in China and fluency in Mandarin, the Dane would be exasperated by Sun's habit of demonstrating affection by fussing over his partner's well-being.

Sun would snap over Havrehed's constant understatement - the Danish fear that being too positive will bring bad luck.

The friendship that was established after being stuck together under extreme circumstances on a seven-meter boat proves cross-cultural cooperation is possible as long as both sides are willing to trust and cooperate, said Li Jianxin, director of Shanghai Aquatic Sports Center, adding, "I hope more young people in Shanghai will take up water sports."

Close

Today's Top News		Top Lifestyle News
+Protecting genetic resources ( 2003-11-25) +Moscow blaze kills 32 foreign students ( 2003-11-25) +Nation capable of meeting grain needs ( 2003-11-25) +Sino-EU trade dialogue pact inked ( 2003-11-25) +Migrant pay action pledged ( 2003-11-25)		+Dane's ocean adventures ( 2003-11-25) +Religious music in spotlight ( 2003-11-25) +Algeria man charged for selling donkey meat ( 2003-11-24) +Movie by famous campus ballad writer wins world film award ( 2003-11-24) +"Cat in the Hat" steals No. 1 at N. America box office ( 2003-11-24)