From China-Starbay Marina,Ron Holland's Marco Polo

by Sail-World Cruising/IBI News on 5 Jan 2007 While it's probably too early to suggest a cruise up the Chinese coast would be an easy thing, the time may be not too far off. Recently there's lots of activity in the leisure yachting scene in China. Just this week, IBI reports that they are nearing completion of another marina in Dalian (a major port on the north east coast), and Ron Holland Design Studio announces trials of a new luxury yacht in Hong Kong.

Starbay Yacht Club, which opened in the autumn of 2006, already has 80 slips with a total capacity for 270. Premier Materials of Minneapolis, Minnesota has supplied the floating docks.

Owned by the Chinese government and built by Grand Leisure Marina Development Company of Shanghai, Starbay covers around 101,660sq yards and boasts a 22,000sq ft clubhouse.

Steve Xie, Grand Leisure president, says Starbay is one of the first of many marinas that will be completed soon in China. 'Pleasure boating is just catching on in China,' he said. 'This is a young market with enormous potential.'

The Starbay Yacht Club is part of a larger commercial centre, also called Starbay. When completed, Starbay Square will feature 10 high-rise office buildings, a stock market, exhibition hall, museum and luxury hotel.

In the meantime, after an efficient 18 months construction programme, the Ron Holland designed 45 metre Transocean Explorer Yacht Marco Polo was launched in November and carried out initial trials during the last week of December in Hong Kong.

Ron Holland is plainly delighted with the new project ‘This is a great way to start the New Year,’ he said yesterday.

Commissioned by Hong Kong based company MCC, Marco Polo is the first of their Transocean Explorer series to be launched from the Cheoy Lee Shipyard to designs by Ron Holland Design, with interior decoration by
London based KCA International.

Commissioning, detail interior fit-out and MCA certification will take place during January and February and in March Marco Polo will be presented to the world during a special event to be held in Hong Kong.