This year, the "Hand in Hand with the World, Sailing Toward the Azure — Optimist Junior Sailor: Ocean Taiwan Dream 3.0 " project was organized, inviting international students from France currently in Taiwan. By using the ocean as a bridge to connect with the international community and make friend s with the world, participants sailed together on a grand voyage to protect Mother Ocean, while conducting tests on surface microplastics, seawater pH levels, and dissolved oxygen. On the morning of May 19, the "Hand in Hand with the World, Sailing Toward the Azure " launch ceremony was held at the Tamsui Coast Guard Administration. The event gathered 62 teachers and students from six schools across five countries —Taiwan, Japan, France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Over a six-day voyage, they engaged in maritime cultural exchange, stopping at Taoyuan, Taichung, Penghu, and Anping before finall y arriving at the Port of Kaohsiung. Premier Cho Jung-tai stated that this activity carries three significant meanings: encouraging children and teenagers to engage more in outdoor activities, promoting marine environmental education, and advancing maritime cultural diplomacy. He also encouraged the children by saying, "Go out as much as you can; the world is waiting for you, " urging them to explore the ocean, make international friends, and chase their dreams around the world, truly making Taiwan a maritime nation. The entire voyage covered approximately 257 nautical miles. Across two sailing vessels, microplastic testing was conducted eight times, and scientists from the National Academy of Marine Research tested the salinity and temperature of seawater at various depths along the route. The content above has been translated and refined by AI.

— Changbin Navigation Group 2025 Sailing Records: Setting Sail from Changbin, Living by the Sea Over the past year, the Changbin Navigation Group, aboard handmade sailing rafts, followed the wind paths of the East Coast and the South China Sea, returning step by step to the a ncient voyaging routes of the Pacific. May 17th, Peinan River Mouth We set sail on the red-sailed catamaran "Makani, " chasing the Palauan voyaging canoe "Alingano Maisu. " That wooden vessel, designed by the master navigator Mau Piailug, arrived in Taitung after seventeen days of non-powered navigation. June 23rd, Changbin to Shihyusan (Stone Umbrella) This marked the first autonomous long-distance voyage for the group members. Yi-li and Wei-sheng piloted Tāwāhi, while A-tsai and Guan-yu commanded Kalingko. The northeast monsoon shifted to the south, died down, and rose again as we traversed the doldrums. When the wind picked up, we tacked in a Z-shape aga inst the wind, learning through the breeze and patience. July 12th, Shihyusan to Wushibi With strong winds and heavy swells, our catamarans surfed forward at speeds exceeding ten knots. We reached the northern beach with the hulls semi- submerged —though we could not continue the voyage, every "failure " brought us closer to the language of the sea. October 13th, Fongbitou to Xiaoliuqiu We sailed alongside Master Tua Pittman from the Cook Islands. The wind speed was about five knots, the mainsail full on the port side like a drawn bowstring. Tua pointed to the moon in the sky and said: "Remember the angles of the wind and waves; when everything is going well, take note of all the signs. " It was a teaching of celestial navigation. With four people working together to tack against the wind, we finally hugged the coast and headed north, landing on Zhongao Beach. From Peinan River to Jinzun, from Changbin to Xiaoliuqiu, we learned to repair boats, read the wind, and revere the waves. We also learned how to find the direction "home " amidst the unknown. The wind remains; the Kuroshio remains. With our own vessels, we have stepped back onto that ancient maritime path. And that path is precisely the direction leading us toward the future. Changbin Navigation Group Sailing Log: https://wvoc.ghost.io The content above has been translated and refined by AI.

The primary goal of this project, "Inheriting the Bamboo Sailing Raft Culture of the Torik Tribe, " is to reconstruct bamboo sailing rafts and train tribal youth under the guidance of elders. Through this process, the project aims to preserve and practice the traditional mariti me culture of the Amis people, while also serving as an important opportunity to promote ocean culture. First, regarding the construction of the bamboo rafts, tribal elders guided the youth in material selection and processing. Local bamboo was used as the primary material, paired w ith traditional lashing techniques. Under the guidance of traditional processes and the apprenticeship system, the overall construction was completed before October. The assembly o f the raft body and sails reached a completion rate of over 95%, and technical skills were further refined. The sails were crafted by weaving the inner bark of the Sea Hibiscus, an d the finished products have been integrated with the hulls, successfully completing the assembly. In terms of cultural inheritance, the project also organized crew training, where elders and experienced navigators taught maritime operations. This nurtured a team of young and m iddle-aged tribal members who have mastered raft-handling skills, laying a foundation for the future revival of fishing, hunting, and maritime transport cultures. In addition to pr actical training, the project held a launching ceremony to gather tribal residents together, strengthening their sense of cultural identity. Overall, this project achieved three core outcomes: "reconstructing bamboo sailing rafts, inheriting construction techniques, and training maritime talent. " Specific benefits include: preserving the craftsmanship and oral knowledge of elders, cultivating the practical abilities of the youth, building community consensus, and improvin g the sailing performance and durability of the bamboo rafts. Furthermore, the project increased public awareness of traditional maritime culture through news media. Although some progress was delayed due to funding and labor constraints, the primary objectives were successfully met within limited resources, demonstrating the value of both cultural revitaliz ation and innovation. The content above has been translated and refined by AI.