Chinese sailing captain Guo Chuan and his Qingdao China departed France on Saturday (August 15), marching out the first step of his sailing plan to set a record through the North East Passage in a giant trimaran.

Script: After over two years of preparation, Chinese sailing captain Guo Chuan and his Qingdao China finally set sail from France towards the Arctic Ocean on Saturday, in the first step of his plan to challenge the first world record in non-stop sailing along the Northeast Passage.

The trimaran departed from the port of La Trinite sur Mer as friends and fans waved "good-bye" alongside the pontoon.

Guo Chuan is the first Chinese skipper to lead an international crew to challenge a sailing world record. He will sail with four crew from France, Germany and Russia as well as a German press team.

SOUNDBITE(Mandarin) Guo Chuan, Captain, Qingdao China

"We have been waiting for this day for a long time, I can't even remember how long we've been waiting for it. It's been about two to three years and finally we are going to set sail. Let's go! "

After a repair stop at Kirkenes in Norway, the challenge is set to start from the northern Russian port of Murmansk on September 3rd and finish at the Bering Strait.

The whole voyage is estimated to last less than 2 weeks.