Ever more competitive line-up

Can Team Aqua hold on to the golden wheels in this year's RC44 Championship?

With less than a month to go, 11 teams are set to line up in the 2015 RC44 Championship Tour season-opener set to take place in Malta's renowned capital of Valletta, the historic 'City of Knights', over 25-29 March.

The crew line up for the RC44 Valletta Cup reads like a who's who of sailing greats and top international businessmen, guaranteeing that it will be a highly competitive fleet racing right in the heart of the Mediterranean.

While the majority of teams have opted for consistency, retaining the same crew as last year, a few key changes promises to mix things up.

Team Aqua remains the boat to beat, starting off 2015 as the defending Tour Champion for the fourth consecutive year. However this season Chris Bake will be sharing the owner-driver role with Sweden's Richard Goransson, while top match racer Cameron Appleton remains a permanent fixture in the team as tactician.

Following an extremely strong first year in the class, Nico Poon's Charisma will be vying for a podium position after finishing fourth in 2014. American Olympic silver medallist Morgan Reeser will be joining the team as tactician, replacing Tom Slingsby whose focus is back on his America's Cup programme with Oracle Team USA.

Reeser, coach for the British 470 sailors at London 2012, said: "The RC44 class has a fantastic reputation as being incredibly challenging while also offering a friendly and welcoming environment. I can't wait for the first event in Valletta and being part of the team onboard Charisma for the 2015 Tour."

A consistent challenger at the top of the RC44 fleet since joining the Class in 2008, Team Ceeref returns to the Tour after taking a break for the 2014 season. Owner Igor Lah had made a one-off guest appearance last year on the helm of Bronenosec and win the fleet racing at the RC44 Sotogrande Cup.

With a taste of victory, Lah and his team are looking to improve and will be pushing for the podium this season under the direction of new tactician, Britain's Adrian Stead.

Stead commented: "I'm looking forward to joining Team CEEREF along with fellow RAN sailors, Matteo Auguardo and Jon Gunderson. As a team, we'll be aiming for consistency and pushing to get as many top results as possible in this competitive fleet at the RC44 Valletta Cup."

Having finished 2014 on a high by securing the RC44 Oman Cup with a race to spare, Team Nika is aiming to keep the momentum going by welcoming America's Cup sailor Dean Barker onboard to call tactics in Valletta.

Current RC44 World Champion, Bronenosec Sailing Team is a strong, up and coming team owned by Vladimir Liubomirov, Commodore of the Yacht Club of Saint Petersburg. With Italian America's Cup sailor Michele Ivaldi calling tactics, Liubomirov and his team will also be strong challengers for Team Aqua's Tour title.

Double Olympic gold medallist and America's Cup Team Manager Iain Percy will once again be leading Artemis Racing alongside owner Torbjorn Tornqvist. The team will be looking to improve on last year's results as they embark on their second year of the Tour with the same crew.

As part of the Artemis Racing programme and America's Cup team building process, the team's America's Cup helmsman, Australian Olympic 49er gold medallist Nathan Outteridge will be back onboard Artemis Youth Racing, helping to encourage young Swedish sailors into professional racing and develop potential future America's Cup talent.

Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team is also a serious contender this season after leading the Tour during 2014 to end up second overall - a personal best for owner John Bassadone since joining the class in 2010. Having briefly taken the 'golden wheels' off Team Aqua at the RC44 Cascais Cup last season, owner Bassadone will be pushing his team to reclaim the coveted prize.

Katusha, MAG Racing and Anywayanyday are relying on their experience within the Class and maintaining the same crew as a way of climbing the ranks. All three teams have the potential to mix it up at the front of the fleet and will be looking to steadily progress throughout the season.