Beau Geste

This year represents 20 years since Karl Kwok won the 1997 Sydney Hobart with his new Farr 49 Beau Geste. The Hong Kong businessman is keen to repeat the experience, especially after missing last year when he left this Beau Geste in Gavin Brady’s hands. They finished fifth on line and eighth overall. Kwok last raced to Hobart in 2013 after buying this canting Botin 80 for the classic offshore races, and finished fifth on line behind three super maxis and a V70, leaving a fourth super maxi and the rest in his wake.

The retail giant has won many of the major offshore events around the world with various Beau Gestes. With this latest, won the 2016 Groupama Race around New Caledonia after finishing second on line to Scallywag. An all-carbon canting yacht, it has similar foils to a V70, with daggarboards and features a distinctive black hull and dragon on the mainsail. Team Beau Geste, Karl Kwok’s TP52, won the Australian IRC Championship for a fourth consecutive time (2014-2017). Kwok’s recently bought MOD70, Mod Beau Geste, was second online in the Coastal Classic from Auckland to the Bay of Islands, speaking volumes about the polished crew. 

Media

Overseas boats among early entries - 9 August 2017

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