Always Happy with the Sense 51 – Beneteau Sense 51 & Gary Cheung

What boat do you currently own?

I own a Beneteau Sense 51.

How did you come to buy this boat and why this one?

I shopped around, including with Simpson Marine’s competitors, but the Sense 51 was available at a fair price and with a very family-friendly layout.

Where is the boat based?

Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, Hong Kong

How do you use your yacht?

We tend to use the boat for day sailing, but have recently started going for overnight trips as well. My two daughters have fallen in love with spending time on the water, and we recently added a dog called Twist (complete with her own life-jacket) to the mix as well!

Please share your favourite moment on your boat.

It was the moment when I showed the boat to my family for the first time after taking delivery from Simpson Marine. For some reason (I still do not know how I managed to keep it a secret) I kept the whole project undercover for a good seven months. On the day when Tom Allen from Simpson Marine told me that the boat was ready for handover it was a special moment when my family saw this magnificent sailing yacht the first time. It was the surprise on my daughters’ faces, and the moment my wife saw the boat with her name painted on the stern, that make this such a favourite memory.

Please share your most memorable trip/experience and why?

It was our first overnight trip to Long Ke Wan. Although the journey was only a two to three hour sailing trip from Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, it became the most exciting experience for our family, especially my two young daughters, sailing by ourselves and staying overnight at the lovely beach at Long Ke Wan. Everyone enjoyed this adventure a lot! The happiness on their faces is still the most unforgettable moment for me.

What is your favourite place on board?

The Sense 51 is equipped with a retractable swimming platform and we spend most of our time there. The kids enjoy diving into the sea and swimming around the boat. We stay on the deck and enjoy the open space very much.

Which Asian cruising destination do you recommend to your fellow yachtsmen to visit?

So far I am still sailing within Hong Kong waters. To me, Sai Kung is the best area, and Double Haven is a must see location which everyone should make the effort to visit.

What are your sailing plans for the next 2-3 years?

I have always wanted to sail to Ishigaki, in the southern islands of Japan, but this can only happen with the right knowledge and sufficient experience.

Why join the yachting community, what attracted you to this lifestyle?

Everything nautical is always appealing to me. This is especially true for sailing yachts as they give you the freedom to travel on the sea with no engine noise at all. You only hear water and wind. It is a joy to escape from the hassles of city life.

If you could change your boat for another in the future, what would be your next one and why?

I have my eye on the CNB 66. To me, it appears to have the best interior layout and excellent open spaces. The boat also allows single handed operation.

Please share your experience of working with Simpson Marine?

It is almost inevitable that you will encounter unforeseen problems when it is your first time owning a boat. Commissioning a boat from overseas to Hong Kong and getting it ready to sail is not any easy task. However, I must say the only thing I did was sign the boat license application form. The boat was available right on the date Simpson Marine promised. I am sure that every new owner has many questions and makes all sorts of mistakes. This was exactly the case for me. But Simpson Marine’s team is always just one phone call away, and they do answer the call every time. I would very much like to say that no other yacht brokerages can offer this level of service.

Thank you Gary! Smooth sailing!