<strong>The crew: </strong>In 1955, five Chinese fishermen and an American vice-consul set sail for the US from Taiwan's Keelung Harbour on a Chinese junk boat. Pictured, left to right, are Paul Chow, Hu "Huloo" Loo-chi, Calvin Mehlert, Reno Chen, Marco Chung and Benny Hsu.
The crew: In 1955, five Chinese fishermen and an American vice-consul set sail for the US from Taiwan's Keelung Harbour on a Chinese junk boat. Pictured, left to right, are Paul Chow, Hu "Huloo" Loo-chi, Calvin Mehlert, Reno Chen, Marco Chung and Benny Hsu.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>A dream journey: </strong>The plan was to use their half-century-old junk boat to compete in an international yacht race from Newport, Rhode Island, to Gothenburg in Sweden.
A dream journey: The plan was to use their half-century-old junk boat to compete in an international yacht race from Newport, Rhode Island, to Gothenburg in Sweden.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>Standing watch: </strong>The crew, lacking modern technology, took turns standing watch during the voyage. One would be assigned lookout and another on tiller.
Standing watch: The crew, lacking modern technology, took turns standing watch during the voyage. One would be assigned lookout and another on tiller.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>Huloo's chicken ranch: </strong>Huloo, pictured, brought two chickens along for the journey. The hens each laid one egg per day.
Huloo's chicken ranch: Huloo, pictured, brought two chickens along for the journey. The hens each laid one egg per day.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>Huloo's vegetable patch: </strong>He also brought a supply of fresh vegetables.
Huloo's vegetable patch: He also brought a supply of fresh vegetables.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>Before the trip: </strong>Lin (on the right) had to drop out prior to the journey, leaving them in need of a replacement crew member.
Before the trip: Lin (on the right) had to drop out prior to the journey, leaving them in need of a replacement crew member.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>Bad weather: </strong>Not long after departing, they sailed into several severe typhoons and storms, which delayed their journey. The rest of the trip was relatively smooth in comparison.
Bad weather: Not long after departing, they sailed into several severe typhoons and storms, which delayed their journey. The rest of the trip was relatively smooth in comparison.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>Sponsors and donations: </strong>The crew sold everything they owned to buy the junk. After a newspaper reported on their story, more support came in. That included food donations from the Rotarians of Keelung and Taipei clubs, as seen here.
Sponsors and donations: The crew sold everything they owned to buy the junk. After a newspaper reported on their story, more support came in. That included food donations from the Rotarians of Keelung and Taipei clubs, as seen here.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>A long voyage: </strong>The junk boat arrived in San Francisco on August 8, 126 days after their initial departure from Keelung.
A long voyage: The junk boat arrived in San Francisco on August 8, 126 days after their initial departure from Keelung.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>The 'test trip':</strong> Paul Chow, now 94, thought they should test their endurance and determination by cycling through the mountains of Taiwan with borrowed bikes before their cross-ocean voyage. Only<strong> </strong>Huloo and Marco Chung joined.
The 'test trip': Paul Chow, now 94, thought they should test their endurance and determination by cycling through the mountains of Taiwan with borrowed bikes before their cross-ocean voyage. Only Huloo and Marco Chung joined.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>Headline news: </strong>Their journey was documented by different media, including the Oakland Tribute, in which this photograph made front page news.
Headline news: Their journey was documented by different media, including the Oakland Tribute, in which this photograph made front page news.
Buck Joseph/Tribune Archives/MediaNews Group/Oakland Tribune/Getty Images
<strong>China Camp, San Francisco: </strong>The five Chinese crew stand together in front of the Free China junk boat after arriving in San Francisco.
China Camp, San Francisco: The five Chinese crew stand together in front of the Free China junk boat after arriving in San Francisco.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>Free China: </strong>This is the last picture Paul Chow took of the Free China before the crew moved it onto land. It then passed through the hands of several owners.
Free China: This is the last picture Paul Chow took of the Free China before the crew moved it onto land. It then passed through the hands of several owners.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>A new home: </strong>About 50 years after Free China's journey, Dione Chen -- Reno Chen's daughter -- decided to look for the junk boat. Her family took a picture with the last owner of the junk, a man named Govinda, as well as his daughter, who Chen says was born on the ship.
A new home: About 50 years after Free China's journey, Dione Chen -- Reno Chen's daughter -- decided to look for the junk boat. Her family took a picture with the last owner of the junk, a man named Govinda, as well as his daughter, who Chen says was born on the ship.
Courtesy Paul Chow
<strong>40th anniversary:</strong> The crew went their separate ways after the journey but stayed in touch. They gathered and took this picture on the 40th anniversary of their trip. Benny was the only one missing -- he died in a car accident in the 1960s.
40th anniversary: The crew went their separate ways after the journey but stayed in touch. They gathered and took this picture on the 40th anniversary of their trip. Benny was the only one missing -- he died in a car accident in the 1960s.
Courtesy Paul Chow