Cast off, whistle for the wind and set a course for Zhuhai. This year brings good news for yachtsmen. Yachts registered in Macau are now entitled to apply for a licence to sail to Zhuhai without having to give up their Macau licences.
The Zhuhai government announced that Macau and Hong Kong yachtsmen would be able to sail pleasure craft into the city’s waters and moor without restrictions.
Before, yachts registered outside the mainland had to go through troublesome procedures before they could sail into mainland waters. The process could take up to seven days and boat owners who made regular visits to Zhuhai needed to give up their Macau or Hong Kong licences to apply for a mainland one.
It is exciting news for the bodies associated with yachting, which expect the change to fill the pastime’s sails.
Jon Galbraith, principal of the Macau Yacht Sailing Academy, was delighted with the new rules, even though he has yet to see the details. “We want to get more clubs from Zhuhai to participate in our regatta and this measure will open [it] up to more clubs from there to come across,” he said.
The president of the Macau Yacht Club, Vicente Ó Man Seng, said the Macau Maritime Administration had not yet informed him of the change but he welcomed the relaxation of the rules.
“We’ve been battling for this for years. Until now, every time we sailed to China or the nearby islands, we needed to acquire a licence in advance. This will be a great help,” he said.

Escaping the doldrums
The Maritime Administration believes the new rules will help promote yachting in Zhuhai, Macau and Hong Kong. A spokesperson told Macau Business: “The Maritime Administration welcomes the adoption of the policy and will keep in close contact with the Zhuhai authorities in order to stay well informed of relevant measures and reinforce cooperation in the management of yachts.”
Mr Galbraith is hoping that from now on, more people will get involved in sailing. Just after the handover, sailing in Macau was in the doldrums after an exodus of expatriates who were yachtsmen.
His academy started more than two years ago. It has five yachts and 20 dinghies, and counts 65 children and 42 adults among its members. It is starting to get involved in competitions in Hong Kong.
“The growth in the number of sailors in Macau is tremendous,” Mr Galbraith said. “There are over 100 people sailing now in Macau but we want to grow to the next stage.”
In November, 80 yachts were registered with the Maritime Administration.
The vice-president of the Macau Sport Development Board, José Tavares, is less impressed by the change in restrictions.
“At this moment, I believe it will not have a big impact in Macau. Yachting activity here is very small. It is limited mainly to social sailing and there are few sport competitions,” he said.
But the business community is certain that change has come. Australian boat builder McConaghy Boats foresees an increase in sales to Macau yachtsmen due to the new rules (see report on these pages).

Boatloads of booty
Even so, the head of the company’s Chinese operations, Mark Evans, points out that there are still limitations in Macau. “You can only sail in certain areas, while in Hong Kong you have a lot of freedom,” Mr Evans said.
The city also suffers from a lack of facilities. “Macau could have a good marina business, with casinos entering into the business as well. It would be a multibillion business but you have to have the facilities,” he said.
“That would not only create hundreds of jobs just in servicing and maintenance of the vessels, but it would be supporting local businesses by having the owners and crews spending their money in the local hotels, restaurants and casinos.”
Macau has two places where yachts can tie up. One is the Lam Mau Marina, in the Inner Harbour area. The facility, privately-run by the Macau Yacht Club, has 150 berths. The other is the Cheoc Van Nautical Club, managed by the Macau Sport Development Board, in Coloane.
The Maritime Administration spokesman said: “If the demand for yachting increases, the facilities at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf will be able to serve as a new yacht berthing area after some additional works.”

Set on a slipway
Australian boatbuilder McConaghy Boats is considering setting up a boatyard to build or service yachts in Macau, said Mark Evans, who heads the company’s Chinese operations. But there is no concrete timetable for the development.
Mr Evans initially looked at an old boatyard in Coloane and started discussions with the government but the project is still on hold. At present, yachtsmen or would-be yachtsmen have to go to Hong Kong or Zhuhai to buy a boat, unless they buy a share in one of the Macau Yacht Sailing Academy’s craft.
McConaghy Boats was founded by John McConaghy in 1967. In 2006, it opened a 27,000 square feet facility in Zhuhai, which has since tripled in size. There, the company’s 160 employees build boats ranging from foiling moths to luxury yachts.
“Although at this stage we have no immediate plans to manufacture in Macau, we have looked at, in the future, servicing and providing repairing works for vessels,” Mr Evans said.
For now, the company’s main goal is to increase sales. It expects business to improve after the completion of the Macau Yacht Club’s new clubhouse. Club president Vicente Ó Man Seng said construction of the MOP10 million clubhouse has begun and is expected to completed in the second half of 2011.