“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.

From the City to the Ocean

Tired of the repetitive routine of city life, Daxiong and Tangtang decided to hand their lives back to the sea.

They set their ultimate life goal: “Make the boat their home and sail around the world.” In 2021, they officially embarked on their ocean dream journey.

To truly develop the skills required for offshore sailing, they obtained the domestic A2F sailing license and international ASA sailing certifications, while also chartering boats to complete approximately 1,800 nautical miles of coastal sailing in China.

These experiences not only helped them build solid coastal and offshore sailing capabilities, but also allowed them to personally experience powerful storms, long overnight watches, vessel maintenance, and teamwork at sea. This marked the beginning of their journey toward becoming professional sailors.

Sailing Journey

Season One (2021–2023)

72-foot Monohull Sailboat | Life at Sea in China

This is the season where the dream truly sets sail.

Aboard a 72-foot monohull yacht, they embarked on long-distance journeys across China’s coastal waters, embracing the reality of life at sea. Through every lesson learned and every challenge overcome, they built their confidence and sailing abilities — bringing them one step closer to their dream of circumnavigating the world.

Season Two (2023–2024)

Shipyard Repairs × Boatbuilding Studies

Instead of immediately continuing their voyage, they chose to step into the shipyard.

For more than a year, they immersed themselves in learning about boat repairs, boatbuilding, and marine systems, participating hands-on in every aspect — from hull structures, propulsion systems, electrical systems, to daily maintenance.

Because they firmly believe:

A true circumnavigator should not only know how to sail a boat, but also truly understand the vessel itself.

This experience later became the foundation for building their own offshore exploration catamaran.

Season Three (2024–2025)

Ocean Diary | 55-foot Catamaran

In 2024, Daxiong and Tangtang purchased a Chinese-built 55-foot catamaran — Ocean Diary — officially beginning their Asian chapter of their global sailing journey.

Over the course of two years, they travelled extensively across Southeast Asia, crossed the Strait of Malacca four times, and left their tracks across:

• Langkawi

• Phuket

• Koh Lipe

• Anambas Islands

• Maldives

Throughout the journey, they remained committed to documenting the most authentic side of life at sea without scripts — including boat repairs, international clearance procedures, freediving, deep-sea fishing, island exploration, and everyday ocean living.

Among these experiences, Daxiong once shared:

“The Anambas Islands are the richest underwater region I have encountered throughout my circumnavigation journey.”

There, lobster hunting could easily turn into what they described as true “lobster freedom.”

Through these genuine records of life offshore, more and more people began to dream of ocean exploration and discover a completely different way of living through their journey.

A Fateful Encounter

In 2025, Daxiong and Tangtang sailed Ocean Diary to Senibong Cove Marina, Johor Bahru, Malaysia for resupply.

It was here that they met Da Wei and Shi Cai, two individuals who had been deeply involved in Malaysia’s marine industry for many years.

At the time, Daxiong was planning to sell Ocean Diary, the vessel that had accompanied him throughout his entire Southeast Asian voyage.

After numerous in-depth discussions, they eventually reached a shared vision:

Rather than allowing a boat carrying countless sailing stories to complete its mission, why not let it continue guiding more people toward their own ocean dreams?

And so, Daxiong joined hands with Da Wei and Shi Cai to co-found Ocean Diary Sailing Adventure Group.

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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.

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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.

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