Christine and Mike established Regatta Sailing Academy initially in 1996 having met whilst involved in the management of the successful Sail the Gulf regatta the previous year. Christine, an experienced yachtswoman in the UK sailed International 470s as a member of the Qatari team. She brought her professional marketing skills to bear and together with her husband and business partner Mike whose lifetime experience of racing, developing sailboats and more importantly coaching successful national and Olympic teams developed Regatta Sailing Academy.

From 1996 onwards Regatta Sailing Academy grew with the help of commercial sponsorship and a steadily expanding team of UK qualified instructors moving to a larger premises at the Intercontinental Hotel in 2005.

Regatta Sailing Academy gained RYA Recognition at the end of 2012. The following year saw the small boat division move to Katara. At Christmas that year Christine was diagnosed with cancer. Her indomitable spirit and the expertise and exceptional care of the team at Hamad Hospital cancer unit allowed Christine to carry on with her dedicated work at RSA until January 2015 when she died peacefully in the UK surrounded by Mike and her family.

Mike and his team are in Christine’s memory continuing the development of RSA starting a windsurfing section in October and resuming International Award activities including expeditions for the 2015/16 season.