“Daxiong & Candys Sailing Life” (Da Xiong Yu Tang Tang De Hang Hai Sheng Huo) is a highly influential maritime documentary channel in the Chinese-speaking sailing community. Spanning platforms like Bilibili, Douyin (TikTok), and YouTube, it has built a loyal following of over 185,000 sailing enthusiasts worldwide. More than just content creators, Daxiong and Candy are a real-life couple who have turned “living on a boat and sailing the globe” into an actual way of life. Born in the 1980s, they are among the few sailors in China’s domestic community who have completed voyages across coastal China, the open waters of Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean—all while taking a hands-on role in designing and building their own professional ocean-going sailboat. What they share is not packaged travel vlog material, but the raw reality of life at sea: dealing with fierce winds and waves, boat maintenance, customs clearance, spearfishing, remote islands, night sails, and the crucial split-second decisions required when navigating unknown waters. It is precisely this authenticity that inspires people drawn to freedom and the open sea, introducing a broader audience to the true essence of blue-water sailing. Show less

Tong is a veteran local sailor in Malaysia and a co-founder of Promark. With years of deep involvement in boat chartering, water sports, and maritime tourism, he brings extensive experience in marina operations and navigating Southeast Asian waters. In 2025, when Daxiong docked Ocean Diary at the Senibong Cove Marina in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, for resupply, the two connected over their shared passion for sailing. Coincidentally, Daxiong was planning to transfer ownership of Ocean Diary—the sailboat that had accompanied him through his entire Southeast Asian voyage. This sparked a series of in-depth conversations between them regarding the boat’s future. After thorough discussions, both agreed that rather than letting an ocean-going sailboat rich with sailing stories end its mission, it would be far better to build a dedicated platform for sailing enthusiasts—allowing everyday people to experience true blue-water sailing without needing to own a boat. Driven by this shared vision, Tong joined hands with Daxiong, Candy, and Shicai to co-found Ocean Diary Sailing Club (逐梦航海团). Today, Tong serves as a crucial operational anchor for Ocean Diary in Southeast Asia and a key driving force behind turning the brand’s vision into reality. His core responsibilities include integrating local Malaysian marina resources, planning and executing Southeast Asian routes, handling overseas customs clearance and compliance, overseeing local operations, and developing the overall sailing experience framework. Show less

Se Chai is Tong’s younger brother and the recognized “brains of the operation” within the team. A passionate water sports enthusiast, he is a proficient scuba and free diver with extensive ocean knowledge and outdoor experience. Meticulous in his thinking and strong in execution, he serves as a vital core figure in the team’s planning and operations. From route mapping, event design, and logistics coordination to voyage execution and on-site management, his knowledge spans everything from astronomy to geography. He consistently provides professional insights from diverse angles, bringing steady and reliable support to the entire team. Within the Ocean Diary Sailing Club, Se Chai not only drives overall operations but also acts as the essential bridge between vision and execution—ensuring every voyage is completed safely, smoothly, and seamlessly. Show less

Captain Ken is widely known in the sailing community as the “Son of the Sea.” Blessed with a natural gift for navigation and virtually immune to seasickness, he is one of China’s top professional ocean-going captains and a certified American Sailing Association (ASA) sailing instructor. He has long specialized in blue-water sailing, freediving, and deep-sea spearfishing—in fact, many of Daxiong’s practical spearfishing skills were personally coached and passed down by Ken. In 2025, Ken represented Team China in the Far East Cup International Regatta. That same year, he competed in the Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Regatta, taking home 1st Place in the Offshore Race and finishing 3rd Place Overall, cementing his extensive experience in elite-level ocean racing. As the featured resident captain for the Ocean Diary Sailing Club, Ken is responsible for navigational safety and professional instruction on every voyage. He guides participants through hands-on ocean sailing skills—including boat handling, night sails, sea survival, and hazard avoidance. For Ken, sailing with Ocean Diary is far more than a trip; it is an authentic, hands-on masterclass taught by the ocean itself. He hopes that every partner who steps aboard gains real knowledge, invaluable experience, and personal growth through true seamanship. Show less

Lei is a key member of the Ocean Diary Sailing Club, serving as both a crew member on board and the resident maritime chef. With years of experience in both Western and Chinese professional kitchens, he boasts exceptional knife skills and excels at preparing raw seafood, sashimi, and a wide array of shipboard marine delicacies. Universally recognized as the team’s star chef, he is the culinary soul behind every memorable voyage experience. Lei is also among the earliest content creators in Hainan’s spearfishing scene. Having dedicated years to intertidal foraging, freedive spearfishing, and ocean content creation, he possesses vast expertise in deep-sea spearfishing. His impressive record includes hauling in a massive 206-lb (103 kg) giant grouper and embarking on deep-sea expeditions to the Nansha Islands to catch giant ruby snappers—giving him unmatched practical knowledge in deep-sea species and catch processing. Over the years, Lei has joined numerous blue-water expeditions. Beyond running the kitchen, he assists with deck operations, navigation support, safety oversight, and spearfishing activities. Every day’s fresh catch is personally prepared and cooked by him, bringing a true “From Ocean to Table” experience to life. This ensures participants don’t just experience deep-ocean sailing, but also savor the rawest, freshest flavors the ocean has to offer. Professional, grounded, and deeply responsible, Lei comes highly praised by both the team and every guest who steps aboard—making him an indispensable pillar of the Ocean Diary team. Show less