TEAM AQUA - Our Team

Team Aqua - RC44 Copenhagen Cup 2010

Team Aqua is an international sailing team owned by Dubai based businessman Chris Bake. “Aqua”, the Spanish word for water, is also a reference to Chris’s kids’ names. Indeed, the first letters of their names spell out AGAW, which he shifted to AGWA and then AQUA.

After having been introduced to Kiwi sailor Cameron Appleton in late 2006, soon after having decided to acquire the RC 44, Chris Bake and Cameron Appleton set about developing the team. Using Cameron’s experience with Team New Zealand and on the international racing circuit the team was quickly formed.

The team’s objective is always to be competitive, always looking for solutions to enhance its performance, and training as and where possible to ensure that it functions as a team. Each team member has a unique position within the team and we look to capitalize on that, and rely on that. In conjunctions with the challenges we set ourselves on the water, we also seek to balance this with some fun both on and off the water, so as to experiences the opportunities and challenges that participating in this circuit provide.

Chris is a passionate sailor, who grew up in Spain, sailed through school in England and University in America. After University, the pressure of work and raising a family also meant less sailing. Chris moved from North to South America, then Europe and most recently to the Middle East for the oil company he works for. Now with four children and a successful career, there wasn’t much time left to enjoy sailing and other non work related activities. But this was about to change.

“I have been contemplating getting back into sailing for a while, but could never really find the vehicle to re open the door”, he comments. “And then I saw some pictures of the RC 44 competing in a match racing event in Dubai in the spring 2006. I almost immediately decided that I would love to get the boat. Russell Coutts and the RC 44 Class proved to be hugely supportive and helpful in encouraging me to join the RC 44 Championship Tour. The formula seems to be a winner; dynamic one design boat, ease of transport, varied locations, competitive, huge support from the class and ultimately fun. It seemed like there was no time like the present to get involved in what I truly believe is developing to be a global phenomena for sailing.”

Team Aqua started the RC 44 Championship Tour in the best possible way, by dominating the first racing season. This is just the beginning of a story about rekindling a passion and pursuing it to the best of our abilities...