Experience sailing with Captain Tie

OP Sailing Experience

OP means Optimist in English, which symbolizes positivity and optimism.

Sailing allows us to connect with nature, explore the world, and return to our inner selves.

Captain Tie has many years of experience in round-the-world sailing and is able to calmly respond to the ever-changing external environment.

After 15 years in Dali, Yunnan, he founded "Necktie Sailing" to let everyone experience:

Combine movement and stillness, ride the wind and waves, and water has buoyancy.

Location: Chaimiduo Farm (average water depth 1 meter, very safe)

Suitable for: Families, adults, children (children under 3 years old must be accompanied by their parents, children aged 3-6 years old can be assisted by an assistant, and children aged 6 years old and above can experience the fun of driving by themselves)

Difficulty: Beginner level, no experience required

OP Sailing Experience Preparation Checklist

• Water sports, pay attention to the weather
• Be prepared for wet conditions
• There are no specific requirements, but it is recommended that:
• Convenient outdoor sports clothing and shoes
• Such as quick-drying clothes or windbreakers, hats (sun protection), sunglasses, etc.
• Bring a spare suit and towel
• Provide water and food as needed

There is a parking lot near the south gate of Chaimiduo Farm.

There are toilets on the farm.

Restaurant recommendation: Cuitian near the north gate of Chaimidu Farm

About Captain Tie

I first met Captain Tie at Qiuyuan, and it was Bingbing who recommended it. Bingbing said Captain Tie offers sailing experiences, and she had seen our poster at Qiuyuan Cafe. Captain Tie was very interested, so he scanned the QR code to learn more about joining.

Out of caution, I replied, “At this moment, I don’t want to add new content right away. Can we get in touch on WeChat first?”

Because I trusted Bingbing, I visited the public account "Necktie Sailing" and read Tie's personal story, including his project to restore a sailboat. Between the lines, I glimpsed another person's world and a field that was unfamiliar to me. It also challenged some of my preconceptions: in China and elsewhere, activities such as sailing or golf are often seen as symbols of status, and this alone can attract people to participate. His articles have no such airs, instead, they reflect his sincere love for sailing and its meaning in his life.

A little over an hour later, we met the next day at the Three Pagodas’ Surakarta. Tie had brought his son along, and both were relaxed. We discussed our respective endeavors, especially his Labora sailboat restoration project, which was imaginative and inclusive.

I was impressed that he used to provide escort services for sailboat owners who were sailing far away - it was an interesting job. Unlike bicycles or motorcycles, which can be transported back after sailing, sailboats need to be navigated to return.

In the midst of my hesitation and uncertainty, clarity emerged.

The next day, I arrived at Tie’s base on the farm, a small body of water surrounded by lush vegetation. Tie’s wife and son, Haibao, were there, as well as a teenager he had mentored during his summer at a vegetable community.

The small white sailboat had only a sail, a rudder and a stabilizer, almost like a toy. When I boarded the sailboat, Tie advised me not to rush to steer, but to feel the wind direction and adjust the sails accordingly. At first, the wind was calm, but then the wind picked up and the sailboat began to glide. Teenager Haibao, his mother and I sailed in different directions along the lake.

I realized that large multi-sail sailboats were likely to have evolved from this simple model. This simple sailboat experience is probably better - to really experience it yourself, feel the wind, and experience the operation independently, rather than just watching.

The greatest value of this experience is the initial understanding, immersion and direct sensory experience. Most importantly, someone guides you to understand this field in the right way and may take you further into the world outside of your daily life and gain more experience.

I think Captain Tie is such a person.

Therefore, we will launch this experience at Cangshan Hiking Home. We believe that this sailing experience and Captain Tie will definitely bring you something.

As he recently posted:

"Even in a small pond,
We can feel the embrace of the water.
Whether with pole or oar,
Everything is a tool.
Go downstream, ride the wind,
It’s effortless and exciting.”

I believe that is the essence of beauty when we participate in an activity, a sport, we experience it, we immerse ourselves in it, and sometimes we connect with others, just as we are doing now.

Let's try this cute and simple sailing experience together and get to know Captain Tie better.

Jason 2024.08

About Captain Tie:

• Graduated from Kingston University Business School, UK
• Backpacking around the world
• Around the world
• For many years he has been involved in long distance sailing and sailing training around the world
• WeChat public account: Tie Sailing