America's Cup: The alternative to sitting around and waiting

7:08 PM Thu 11 Feb 2010 GMT

'Beau Geste (Karl Kwok) Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy - a far cry from Valencia in February....' &copy Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Bob Fisher writes: I chanced across Gavin Brady in Valencia, but he was soon to be on his way to Antigua to take part - that means actually sailing - in the Caribbean 600, one of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's comprehensive calendar of races this year. He is to skipper Karl Kwok's Bruce Farr designed Beau Geste.

It will not be too much of a hardship on the 80-footer and he knows he can be guaranteed that there will not be a two-hour delay to the start, made 12-hours in advance. He knows that the gun fill fire for an 1100 start on February 22nd, blow high, blow low.

He told me that it was a race that Karl had long wanted to do - and remember that he is based in Hong Kong, not just around the corner. 'He's a member of the RORC,' said Brady, 'and wants to support the club's races.' To my mind, he chooses well. The Caribbean 600 is around rocks and islands, held in warm sunshine and clear nights on a mostly reaching course.

'Gentlemen don't go to windward,' I reminded Gavin. 'Neither does Beau Geste,' he quipped. He added that when it does, it goes upwind at 12 knots, adding: 'And the sensation is like sailing a Mumm 36. I knew just what he meant, having owned one for two years.

The Beau Geste programme will include the Fort Lauderdale - Charleston Race, one in which they will be seeking to break the record, and will go on to the Newport-Bermuda Race. What Gavin and Karl know is that they will be guaranteed racing unless a hurricane intervenes.

by Bob Fisher

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America's Cup: The alternative to sitting around and waiting

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