Brand

The century-old brand Gaastra traces its origins back to 1897, when Douwe Gaastra, a 22-year-old visionary, founded the company in the small Dutch town of Sneek.

In 1988, Mr. Li Ka-shing—then Chairman of the Board of Hutchison Whampoa Group, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate led by Asia's richest Chinese entrepreneur—acquired Gaastra with a substantial investment. Three years later, in 1991, due to industrial restructuring, Hutchison Whampoa decided to divest its windsurfing business, and the Gaastra brand was subsequently purchased by a royal-backed listed conglomerate from Thailand.

In 1994, Mr. David Lo Pui-yu, a renowned patriotic entrepreneur from Hong Kong, China, acquired the global ownership of Gaastra and incorporated it into the Gaastra International Group.

A lifelong sailing enthusiast, Mr. Lo has leveraged his passion for the ocean to evolve from a professional sailmaker and avid sailor into one of China's most respected patriotic entrepreneurs over five decades. Since acquiring the global rights to Gaastra in 1994, he has successfully introduced this iconic European brand to Asia. Guided by the philosophy of "Think Globally, Act Locally," the group has achieved remarkable success in expanding its international footprint. Moreover, its commitment to balancing social responsibility with business ethics has earned widespread admiration within the industry.