Graduate Volunteers join Team Aqua at RC44 Cascais World Championship

2nd October 15

Graduate Volunteers Lucie Carrington, Mark Stevens and Tom Roberts were invited out to the RC44 Cascais World Championship for a few days by Chris Bake and his Team Aqua.

Given the chance to experience first hand the ins and outs of the RC44 Championship Tour. Welcomed by the Team Aqua sailors, the trio were given the opportunity to get out on the water with the team, watch the practice racing and learn the ropes of professional yacht racing.

Mark, Tom and Lucie with Team Aqua © Martinez Studio

Here, in her own words, Lucie described what the trip was all about and the impact the Trust and the trip had="

"I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity by Chris Bake, to come out to Cascais, Portugal for the penultimate event in the 2015 - RC44 Championship Tour. We were warmly welcomed into Team Aqua, the crew were happy to quite literally show us the ropes. Unfortunately due to zero wind, we didn'" t get to see the crew in action for a race, but just to watch them on the practice day showed us how exciting and how much fun this particular Tour is.

"The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust introduced me into sailing 4 years ago, during remission from a bone cancer I had in my left forearm when I was 16. The trip transformed my physical and mental confidence; and since then I have fallen head over heals for the sport, this RC44 trip has just reaffirmed how special sailing is! The sea quite simply sets me free and this trip especially just helped put everything back into perspective.

"Thank you to the Trust, Team Aqua, the RC44 team and particularly Chris for having me."