Kwok to bid farewell in season opener

CHINESE skipper Karl Kwok will helm his Tripp 42, Beau Geste, for the last time in a major regatta when he joins the fleet for the annual DHL-Aberdeen Boat Club regatta, the traditional start to the sailing season in Hong Kong, today, writes Bruce Macdonald.

Kwok's new Beau Geste, an ultra quick Caroll Marine-designed ILC 40, is en route to Hong Kong for the China Coast Series next month.

It may well be the last time that Keith Jacobs will skipper his Dubois-designed Bimblegumbie. He is selling the boat ahead of buying a new ILC 46.

Both skippers will have special incentive to take top honours but Dr Ian Nicholson's Banner 40, Intrigue, and Frank Pong's water ballast operated Farr design, Millenium, will take a power of beating.