Beau Geste sets Bermuda Ocean Race mark

by Bill Wagner, Hometown Annapolis on 17 Jun 2010 Skipper Karl Kwok took his magnificent new boat Beau Geste to the USA this summer to capture line honours and set course records in two Bermuda races. It's one down and one to go for the Farr-designed 80-foot racing machine. Beau Geste has destroyed the Annapolis-to-Bermuda record and now will set her sights on the Newport-to-Bermuda Record.

Kwok and his crew of 14 top-notch professionals sailed Beau Geste across the finish line off St. George's yesterday morning to break the Bermuda Ocean Race record by almost 19 hours, and completing the 752-nautical mile course in an elapsed time of 66 hours, 22 minutes and 41 seconds. That obliterated the previous record of 85 hours, 18 minutes and 57 seconds, established in 2008 by the Sparkman & Stephens 48-footer Raider.

'We were lucky to have wind the whole way. It held steady at around 15 knots with flat seas in the ocean - ideal conditions for this boat,' Kwok said yesterday while relaxing at the St. George's Dinghy and Sports Club. 'This was the first time I had ever entered the Bermuda Ocean Race so to set the record is really rewarding. I am very, very happy.'

Beau Geste did not linger in St. George's for long with Kwok disembarking to handle customs, file paperwork with the race committee and order 20 pizzas to go for his crew. Brady had the boat headed out of port within the hour for a return trip to the United States as Beau Geste will also compete in the Newport-to-Bermuda Race that begins this Friday.


Full story:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/sal/2010/06/15-36/Beau-Geste-sets-Bermuda-Ocean-Race-mark.html