French captain finds berth where he feels at home

French captain Godfrey Zwygart is now more sentimentally attached to Sanya, where he is the first foreigner to receive a permanent residence card after spending 10 years in the tropical coastal city.

"The 'green card' has made me Hainanese, and given me a strong sense of belonging. I feel at home, and am filled with expectations for the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, which I believe will bring huge opportunities to the yachting industry," he said.

The Frenchman is busy drafting plans for an international yacht exhibition and trading center at the Sanya Central Business District. He said invitations are coming from coastal cities in other parts of the country, asking him for help in drawing up blueprints for yachting services elsewhere.