Deckhand diary, July 13th   (Excerpts)
 
Land ahoy! A welcome shout is sounding over the sun-drenched weatherdeck deck of the Swedish Ship Götheborg at the instant when the contours of the Wanshan Islands appear in the haze at the horizon. There is great excitement, not least among our Chinese friends. The feeling of being back again is strong in everyone who have their home in the Land of the Dragons, China.
“I succeeded in calling my mother and she is so happy that we are here already," Chinese Jessie tells me.

Fair winds and a strong crew has brought the Götheborg into Chinese waters several days ahead of schedule and the open seas are now replaced by a temporary anchorage, awaiting the pilot. It is a very comfortable situation to many on board, since the usual 4-hour watches are now replaced by more sleep-friendly alternatives. But there is also a slight melancholy with parts of the crew ever since the last topsail was furled. The general opinion is that it may be nice to have arrived, but we who sign off in Canton are also through with the real sailing.

(...) Very soon the majestic Chinese islands were towering up around us and it seemed as if a common smile was spreading around the crew´s faces.
“It is really cool imagining that this was exactly what the sailors of the olden days saw when they arrived on their Götheborg in the 18th century," says Anna in the starboard watch.

 
Officer diary July 13th
 
When I signed on in Cape Town on February 22nd, it was hard to imagine the voyage awaiting us. Now, after 5 months, three continents, 7 time zones, 9,382 nautical miles and 76 days and nights at sea we are finally in China! Shortly after lunch today we could catch a glimpse of land far away in the haze and in the afternoon it was time to furl the sails and go by motor to our anchorage. Around 4 p.m. it was time to drop the anchor and open the gunports to get some fresh air in on gundeck. Our Chinese friends on board have been in a good mood all the way and when the first signs of land appeared they all got crazy and were jumping for joy. During the afternoon our mobile phones obviously also started working and they have been in frequent use.

The ever-present heat on board has slowed our pace a bit and it is important to drink a number of litres of water every day. You feel a bit like a wringed-out dish-cloth. Now we will ride at anchor until July 15th and make her ship-shape. We do not know very much about the reception but it seems as if it is going to be great. Among other things about a hundred of those who built the Götheborg will be waiting on the quay to see their creation moor. But we still have about 30 nautical miles to go and a low bridge to pass before we reach our goal in the Pearl River, Canton!

 
Jesper Lindholm,
Ship´s Carpenter