Team Aqua leads the fleet event of the Valencia RC44 Cup

This is getting very repeating but you can't avoid it when conditions are amazing for so long. It has been yet another great day of sailing in Valencia and the 11-strong RC44 fleet had a blast under the shiny Valencian sky, the 20-knot breeze and the big waves. I had the opportunity to be onboard Chris Bake's Team Aqua during the first race and witness how the tandem Chris Bake - Cameron Appleton together with the rest of the crew worked wonders, scoring two bullets, a third and a fourth.

No matter how many times one I have the chance to be onboard these rockets they never cease to amaze me. Unfortunately, the funkier the conditions get the tougher it is to hold on and shoot acceptable video and photos. It's not an easy task upwind but it gets a bit easier downwind, especially when planing. I saw a top wind speed of 20.5 knots and top boat speed of 17.5 knots, while in the third and fourth race boat speeds of up to 20 knots were reported.

The start of the first race was quite average for Team Aqua and up to the second weather mark, Chris Bake's boat was 6th or 7th. That's where Appleton made a great call, opting for the right side of the course for the final run while the rest of the fleet kept on the left. Team Aqua found more pressure there, sneaked in front of 3 or 4 boats and crossed the finish line 3rd.

However, the best was still to come with two bullets in a row and a fourth in the last race. Given the awful performance by "17" today, the US boat ceded 15 points, Team Aqua is now leading the fleet race event with 23 points, closely followed by Artemis with 27 points.

Prestart procedure onboard Team Aqua in the 1st fleet race of the day. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Video copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Chris Bake helming Team Aqua in the first race of the day. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Onboard Team Aqua in the first race of the day. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Gybing onboard Team Aqua with 20 knots of wind. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Team Aqua in the approach to the finish line in the first race of the day. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Team Aqua gets in front of BMW Oracle in the first top mark. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Team Aqua gets in front of Islas Canarias Puerto Calero in the first top mark. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle sailing downwind in the first race of the day. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The back of the fleet sailing downwind in the first race of the day. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Taking the spinnaker out while still hiking the Spanish way. Valencia, 31 July 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing