It will be smoother sailing for yachtsmen and other boaties at the Keppel Cove waterfront project in Guangdong with the opening of a customs and immigration post in the development.

It is the first time such a facility has been sited in a private marina in Guangdong province.

Keppel Cove, an integrated residential and marina lifestyle development in the affluent Pearl River Delta region of Zhongshan city, is well-placed to promote sailing-based tourism, given that it takes just 45 minutes by boat to cover the 31.5 km to Macau.

The Keppel Land project spanning about 890,000 square metres will comprise 250 waterfront villas, each with a private berth, as well as the marina at Keppel Cove which offers facilities and services such as 158 yacht berths, boutique hotels, yacht rental and aquatic sports.

Keppel Land chief executive Ang Wee Gee said yesterday: "We are happy to play a part in Guangdong's growth story through promoting the yachting industry and tourism, as well as enhancing connectivity in the Pearl River Delta region."

The customs and immigration post was opened yesterday in a ceremony attended by over 300 government officials and guests.

The marina at Keppel Cove is expected be operational in the middle of next year. Keppel said the phase one collection of 42 villas at the waterfront development has been built and launched for sale.

It declined to reveal the prices of the villas, but said they are"competitively priced in a region of rapidly developing real estate".

Keppel Land China said the villas received "positive interests" from prospective homebuyers in Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China.