American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness.

Chapter 387 Champion Harvester

[Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, Day 19 of the voyage]

Four days later.

When the familiar skyline of Florida, composed of skyscrapers and palm trees, reappeared on the horizon, the Polaris ended its trade wind voyage.

These four days were the purest and happiest time of the entire voyage.

Driven by the strong northeast trade winds and the Gulf Stream, the Polaris drew a beautiful arc on the deep blue sea in a near-perfect manner.

They encountered almost no bad weather and spent each day accompanied by dolphins and escorted by flying fish.

Like any couple who have just fallen in love, Lin Yu-an and Rui-wen are enjoying this seaside paradise that belongs to just the two of them.

They stood guard together in the cockpit at night, cuddling as they watched the stars and sunrise; they freely free-diving together on the swimming platform at the stern; and together in the galley, they experimented with all sorts of unusual dishes using the freshest fish and fruit brought from the Dominican Republic.

Even Mike noticed that their relationship seemed to have gotten a little too intense, but thinking back to their previous experience, he simply assumed that the crisis had strengthened their friendship.

As the North Star slowly entered the inland waterway known as the "Venice of America" ​​in Fort Lauderdale, it finally came to a steady stop at its familiar private dock.

This Caribbean adventure, filled with surprises, thrills, sorrows, and sweet moments, has finally come to a temporary end.

That evening, Mike hosted a small barbecue party in the backyard of his villa to celebrate their safe return. It was just the three of them, plus Raven's aunt Kayla, who came to join the fun.

As soon as Kayla entered, she gave Raven a big bear hug, and then immediately began scanning the aura between Raven and Lin Yu'an like a radar.

"Let me see! My God!" Kayla cupped Raven's face in her hands, exclaiming exaggeratedly like a scientist who had discovered a new continent, "She's gotten darker! She's lost weight! But—wow! But she looks great!"

Her gaze swept back and forth between Raven and Lin Yu-an, who was starting a fire not far away. Her gossipy expression, as if she had seen through everything, made Raven's face turn red instantly.

"Kayla! Aren't you in school?" Raven punched her, both embarrassed and annoyed.

"It's Saturday today!"

On the grill, sizzling scallops and prawns emitted an enticing aroma. On the table sat chilled beer and the last bottle of Barbados rum brought back from Jose's bar.

The atmosphere became exceptionally lively and cheerful because of Kayla's arrival.

"Tell me quickly! What happened along the way? Were there any stories of heroes rescuing damsels in distress? Were there any romantic moments?"

The ASA103 "Basic Coastal Navigation" represents an advanced level.

And, crucial to him, is the ASA104 bareboat charter, which symbolizes his eligibility to charter a boat independently for long voyages.

Under each certification sticker is a record of the location and date of the ships he studied.

When he turned to a new page and saw the previously blank certification section, his breath caught in his throat.

In that section, a brand-new, beautifully designed "Premium Coastal Sailing" certification sticker was quietly affixed.

And in the handwritten information section below the sticker:

The vessel model section is filled with "Polaris".

Certified Coach: The signature on the label is none other than Mike Montgomery's flamboyant signature.

Date: The date signed on the column is today's date.

This little diary records his journey from a sailing novice to a qualified captain.

Today, Mike personally brought his learning journey to a perfect close.

Lin Yu'an looked at the diary and a genuine smile appeared on his face.

This record not only represents the highest certification of his seafaring skills, but also the most comprehensive recognition of him by the old captain who is both a mentor and a friend.

"What?" Mike chuckled, taking a sip of beer, a hint of smugness on his face typical of an experienced coach. "You don't seem surprised at all to have obtained the certificate you've always dreamed of?"

"I just didn't expect Coach Mike to get his certificate so quickly," Lin Yu-an joked in response.

This conversation made Kayla and Raven, who were standing nearby, laugh.

Mike laughed out loud, but then his expression turned extremely serious.

He looked at Lin Yu'an with a gaze that was no longer the teasing of friends, but the final assessment of a seasoned coach of his most prized student.

"Lin, to be honest," his voice was steady and strong, "when I first thought of using a real Caribbean long-haul voyage to complete your ASA advanced certification, I actually had some hesitation."

"Your theoretical knowledge is very solid, better than any student I've ever taught. But sailing can never be just theory. The sea is the best teacher, and also the cruelest examiner."

"My original plan was simply to take you through some routine night navigation, severe weather response, and emergency response drills in the relatively safe waters of the Bahamas."

"But I didn't expect," Mike's eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and a hint of lingering fear, "that what we encountered was an ultimate exam that far exceeded the curriculum."

"From the accurate judgment and decisive choices made before the storm in the Bahamas, to the calmness and responsibility shown in the face of unknown threats —"

"At every life-or-death crossroads, the calmness, decisiveness, professionalism, and wisdom and leadership you demonstrated far exceeded the scope of a mere student."

"Most importantly," he paused, his tone becoming extremely solemn, "you always put the safety of your crew first in the most dangerous moments. That is the most valuable quality a captain can possess."

"So," he raised his glass, offering a toast to Lin Yu'an in a tone brimming with pride.

"As a certified instructor of the United States Sailing Association, I hereby announce that Captain Lin not only qualifies for graduation, but has passed this assessment with the most outstanding results I have ever seen in my more than 30 years of coaching."

Congratulations on your graduation!

Looking at the seemingly rough but actually very sensitive old captain, Lin Yu'an felt a deep sense of gratitude.

He knew that without Mike's constant protection and unreserved sharing of experience, he could never have grown so quickly.

He stood up, raised his glass, and clinked it heavily against Mike's.

He said solemnly, "Thank you, Coach Mike."

"So, does that mean," Raven said, placing the steak on the grill and deliberately raising her voice, "that means I'll be taking orders from two captains on the ship from now on?"

Mike burst out laughing: "No, sweetheart. You're the only captain on Daddy's ship. Because Captain Lin deserves to have his own ship!"

"Alright, Captain Lin," he said, leaning back in his chair, "now that you've officially graduated and experienced the performance of the Polaris, I think it's time to consider building yourself a true blue ark."

"While the Polaris is fantastic, it is ultimately a mass-produced ship designed to meet the needs of most people."

"I know you're not short of money, so I suggest you go all out and order a custom-made ultimate vehicle that can accompany you across any ocean."

This suggestion excited Raven and Kayla, who were standing nearby.

"Wow! To customize your own Noah's Ark!" Kayla's eyes lit up. "That would be so cool! Can I be the first passenger?!"

"Then who should we contact?" Raven asked more professionally, "Halberreich from Sweden or Oyster from England? They are both top-tier blue-water sailboat brands."

"No, no, those are top-tier, but they're still a semi-customized mass-production approach." Mike waved his hand; he clearly had higher aspirations.

"If you want to pursue the ultimate, completely customized blue-water sailboat, built entirely from scratch according to your dreams."

"Then you only need to consider three shipyards worldwide. They are the real three driving forces in this field."

He extended the first finger.

"First, Royal Haussmann of the Netherlands, their strength lies in aluminum alloys. They can build an expedition sailing ship for circumnavigation with the precision and sturdiness of a Swiss watch, while the interior is as luxurious as a palace. Each ship is a mobile work of art that can withstand any storm."

"Secondly, Finland's Baltic Sea. If you want a supercar that can comfortably traverse the ocean and unleash racing-like performance when needed, then go to them. Their carbon fiber technology is the best in the world, enabling them to build a robust blue-water cruiser that is as light as a feather and as fast as a sword."

"Third, New Zealand's alloy yachts. They are the kings of the Southern Hemisphere, best at building those sleek, powerful, and adept blue-water sailboats that can reach the most remote corners of the earth. Their ships are like the Land Rover Defenders of the sea."

After Mike finished introducing the three shipyards that represent the pinnacle of custom blue-water cruising yachts, he looked at Lin Yu'an and asked, "So? Anything you're interested in? The sturdiness and luxury of aluminum alloy, the lightness and speed of carbon fiber, or the hardcore and adventurous spirit of New Zealand?"

All eyes were on Lin Yu'an, awaiting his choice.

Lin Yu'an pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"They're all great, Mike," he said sincerely, "but—none of them are what I want."

"Royal Hausmann is too luxurious, like a floating palace; Baltic is too racing-oriented, sacrificing too much comfort for performance; and Alloy Yachts is too hardcore, like a warship."

"Oh?" Mike was somewhat surprised.

He raised his head and stated his seemingly greedy, yet incredibly clear, need.

"What I want isn't a single championship. What I want is an all-around champion."

"It must have a speed and handling experience close to that of a racing boat, allowing me to enjoy the ultimate thrill of being one with the boat when the weather is good."

"At the same time, it must also have top-notch comfort and absolute safety, so that I can feel as comfortable as if I were in a five-star hotel when crossing the ocean."

"I want a bright and spacious salon, a fully equipped kitchen, and—a master suite where I can sleep soundly in any storm."

"Simply put, I want the speed of a Ferrari and the comfort of a Rolls-Royce. And I want the two to be perfectly combined in one boat."

This declaration of wanting it all made Kayla and Raven burst into laughter. But to Mike, the seasoned expert, he understood Lin Yu'an's true needs.

That is precisely the ultimate goal pursued by all the world's top "luxury high-performance cruising sailboats" today.

"Ha! Lin, your ambition is truly remarkable! You want both speed and comfort—that's the holy grail that every shipyard is trying to conquer!"

He looked at Lin Yu'an, his eyes becoming extremely solemn.

"If that's the case—then we need to consider a powerful alliance between the Finnish and Dutch shipyards we just mentioned."

"Worldwide, there are only a handful of shipyards that can combine the concepts of high performance and luxurious cruising in the most perfect way. But if we had to choose the king of kings—"

He paused for a moment and then said, "—Then you only have one choice—go to Denmark."

"You only have one choice—X-Yachts (X-sailboats)."

"X-Yachts?" Raven was clearly very familiar with the brand; her eyes immediately lit up. "Dad, you mean—their X series?"

"That's right!" Mike nodded, his face full of admiration for the Danish brand. "The Dutch understand luxury, the Finns understand speed. But only Denmark's X-Yachts truly knows how to combine the two!"

He began to explain to Lin Yu'an in detail the brand's exceptional features: "Their ships possess a unique and unparalleled weapon: an 'X' shaped steel frame structure. The entire keel, masts, and all critical load-bearing points of the ship are connected to this indestructible steel skeleton."

"This allows their ships to possess a racing-ship-like lightweight hull, while their structural strength and safety even surpass many heavier ocean-going cruising vessels!"

"It's like," he explained, "they put a tank chassis on a carbon fiber supercar! So you can enjoy the ultimate acceleration, and in the event of a collision, you can rest easy!"

"Beyond performance, it also boasts top-notch comfort. The interior is full of typical Scandinavian design style—minimalist, elegant, and ergonomic. Every detail serves the comfort of long-haul flights."

He looked at Lin Yu'an and gave his final recommendation: "Based on your requirements, their Xrange (X) series is practically tailor-made for you. Especially the X5 (56 feet)."

"It possesses all the advantages of a modern racing boat: a wide stern, a twin-wheel design, and a huge sail area, which allows it to maintain an astonishing speed of over 10 knots when sailing downwind."

"Under more extreme conditions, such as strong winds (above 30 knots) and large waves, and when the boat seizes the opportunity to 'surf' the waves head-on, its instantaneous speed can reach an astonishing level."

"Based on sharing from numerous X5 owners worldwide and reviews from professional sailing media, the boat's maximum instantaneous speed record is typically between 20 and 25 knots."

"A very small number of boat owners, under extremely perfect conditions, such as participating in the transatlantic ARC regatta, have even claimed to have recorded instantaneous top speeds approaching 28 knots!"

What does this mean?

25 knots, which is approximately 46 kilometers per hour.

28 knots, which is approximately 52 kilometers per hour.

"For a luxury sailboat that is 56 feet long and weighs nearly 20 tons, reaching this speed solely by wind power must feel just as exhilarating as speeding across the water in a high-speed speedboat—an adrenaline-pumping, ultimate experience!"

He looked at Lin Yu'an, emphasized his words, and revealed the most crucial achievement: "Don't think I'm bragging."

The X-Yachts' ship was born for the podium.

"Their XP series, especially the XP44, is practically a bug in the IRC class of major European offshore sailing races. They swept the podium for several years in a row and were called a champion harvester by all their competitors!"

"The X5⁶ we're discussing now, while belonging to the more comfort-oriented X series, inherits the pure racing pedigree of the XP series in its hull lines and sail design!"

"Just last year, an X5 with virtually no racing modifications outperformed its competitors in the highly competitive Rolex Mediterranean Yacht Race, winning its cruising class!"

“Just imagine,” Mike said, his eyes gleaming, “a villa at sea with three luxury suites, a full-size kitchen, and even a wine cabinet and an ice maker.”

"On the top-tier offshore racing circuit, they actually left those semi-racing boats, stripped of all unnecessary interiors, far behind! This is the X-Yachts! The ultimate understanding of 'high-performance cruising'!"

"It allows you to enjoy top-notch luxury and comfortable family sailing from Monday to Friday. Then, in Saturday's club race, you can easily be the first to cross the finish line, leaving all your rivals with nothing but your wide stern."

"At the same time," he shifted his focus back to comfort, "it also has three luxury suites with ensuite bathrooms, a bright salon with 360-degree ocean views, and all the modern amenities you can think of to make long voyages more comfortable."

"It is a floating villa that can cruise at speeds exceeding 20 km/h."

Mike concluded, "So, it's the all-around champion you've been looking for, an elegant gentleman in an Armani tuxedo, but beneath that tuxedo lies the body of a world sprint champion."

This detailed presentation, complete with data, achievements, passion, and metaphors, captivated everyone present.

Lin Yu'an's eyes shone with a light that seemed to indicate he had found his ultimate dream.

He could almost see himself piloting this champion in his evening gown, sailing through every corner of the world.

"X5————" He silently pondered the name in his heart.

He knew that the name of his next ship had already been decided.

(Just finished typing this at 2:46, let me see how many of you are still awake!)

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