PHOTO GALLERY November 07, 2019

All the beauty of sailing in 20 frames

Shortlist of the 2019 Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image Award Jury

New IMOCA by Sébastien Simon - ArkeaPaprec. The photographer took it from a helicopter while Sébastien and his teammate Vincent Riou were training before Transat Jacques Vabre 2019. «The Vendée Globe 2020 will be amazing»,

The sails of the two J70s, with different tackles to the finish of one of the Trophy Semac races in Marseille, formed a single symmetrical figure.

The Pata Negra team is training for the Rolex Fastnet Race 2019 Strait Solent. «The midday sun has transformed this boat. When I look at this photo, I forget the direction and space. It is a gift that the sea and sailing have made»,

The Volvo 70 Wizard, a Pineapple Cup member, sails all the way through the troubled area 25 miles from Miami. Because of the Gulf Stream, the current here reaches about three knots and a strong breeze blows. «You have to keep the boat from burying its nose in the wave. With such limited visibility, all the free hands at the stern are thrown onto the winches»,

Harry Price, Paul MacKenzie and Matt Stenta on the 4.9-meter «Skeefer» Sutech during the first Point Score race in Sydney Bay. «I've always wanted to try to take a picture of what it's like to be on the Scythian. Specifically that day it was wet and crazy»,

An impressive flotilla leaves Sydney Bay at the launch of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on 26 December 2018. Hundreds of spectators join the famous regatta on their boats.

«The Bol d'Or Mirabaud regatta on Lake Geneva will be remembered for its rare power storm. When this photo was taken, the storm front was moving at a speed of over 100 km/h. It covered us, and daylight disappeared beyond the horizon. We realized that a super-modern lake catamaran can run in winds exceeding 60 knots! Ylliam's Comptoir immobilier took first place in the Décision 35 class and second in the overall standings, losing to Ladycat to Spindrift racing»,

«In the extreme conditions in which the first SailGP European regatta was held, the Australian team dominated, winning all three races on the first and only race day in Kaus. The photo is taken in the middle of the Solent Strait, where the Australians invariably walked by a wide margin. It was on this stretch that they became the first team to overcome the 50 knots speed barrier during the race. I chose this frame because it demonstrates the power of the F50 and the excellent handling skills of the Australian SailGP team. (The Boat Barn in the background is the entrance to the Beaulieu River in Hampshire)»,

American Tommy Sitzmann confronts waves at his «Optimist» Regatta during the St Thomas International Optimist Regatta in the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea.

The Alegre team rushes to the finish line during the TP52 super series regatta in Kashkai. The wind was over 30 knots on that day. «Tough conditions for all teams. And for the drone, too»,

«I took that shot on the last percent of my drone battery. I was aboard IMOCA Apivia, which left Port-la-Faure in La Rochelle, and was filming Charlie Dalin and Yann Eliès. From the drone, I took a photo of the boat from all angles, using the high-speed mode, and then went into the settings and began to reduce the speed. Just to see what happens. Looking through the frames on my computer, I deleted 90% of them. They were blurry and didn't reflect the actual speed of the boat. This photo is the only exception»,

Team Sled removes spinnaker at the World Cup in TP52 class.

«When I shoot races that involve many boats and yachtsmen, I usually hunt for certain details that characterize the day or situation. A day when a strong wind blows gives me the chance to observe the variety of forms that water can take. In this picture, the water crashing against the nose of little O'pen Bic creates a very strange and atypical figure. It seems as if a magic shield has emerged that protects the young yachtsman»,

«This photo is one of those I took for The Guardian about Alex Thomson and his stunning new IMOCA 60 Hugo Boss. The yacht was on the water for 10 days and Alex and his crew were still testing what she could do. The 18-20 knots breeze was at that time the strongest wind the boat had ever encountered. The team took the reefs, the boat is going under the staysail number 3, but still speeds up over 30 knots. It's a real rocket. The photo shows the moment when Hugo Boss went as far above the water in the foyles as possible. A little higher and it will fall back into the water»,

«This photo was taken on October 3 at Voilles de Saint-Tropez 2019 regatta. It was the first time I saw a special sail attached to a spinnaker ray. On a full course, the 10-meter vintage gaffer cutter Marga has an impressive area of sails. A few meters from the bottom sign there were five of them: the mainsail, the jib, the genaker, the spinnaker and this small sail. I really like this white wall, the blue picturesque sea and the tank»clothing,

«Due to bad weather the SailGP regatta in Kaus had to be reduced to one racing day. I was hired by an American team. The boats rushed forward from the starting line, circled the first sign, and I watched with horror as the guys slowly flipped over just seconds after the race started,»

«The day was almost over, the results of the last Italia Cup #7 regatta in the Laser class were discussed. The light of the November day was gradually fading. We were on our feet all afternoon, everybody was tired, but the golden light that preceded the sunset created a magical atmosphere in the racing zone. I think this photo, taken behind the top sign, conveys the energy, tension and drama of the last minutes of the regatta»,

Supernikka and Pendragon in «stealth» mode during race 151 Miglia in Pisa.

View of Maxi 77 JETHOU from helicopter during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2019. «Usually I think the closer the better. But this time, the higher the principle worked, the better»,

Blazej Ozog trains in Egypt on the Red Sea. «I chose this photo because it is different from

1 / 20

Eloi Stichelbaut; France

New IMOCA by Sébastien Simon - ArkeaPaprec. The photographer took it from a helicopter while Sébastien and his teammate Vincent Riou were training before Transat Jacques Vabre 2019. «The Vendée Globe 2020 will be amazing»," says Iloa.

2 / 20

Pierick Jeannoutot; France

The sails of the two J70s, with different tackles to the finish of one of the Trophy Semac races in Marseille, formed a single symmetrical figure.

3 / 20

Bo Wang; China

The Pata Negra team is training for the Rolex Fastnet Race 2019 Strait Solent. «The midday sun has transformed this boat. When I look at this photo, I forget the direction and space. It is a gift that the sea and sailing have made»," says the author about the photo.

4 / 20

Sharon Green; USA

The Volvo 70 Wizard, a Pineapple Cup member, sails all the way through the troubled area 25 miles from Miami. Because of the Gulf Stream, the current here reaches about three knots and a strong breeze blows. «You have to keep the boat from burying its nose in the wave. With such limited visibility, all the free hands at the stern are thrown onto the winches»," says Green.

5 / 20

Michael Chittenden; New Zealand

Harry Price, Paul MacKenzie and Matt Stenta on the 4.9-meter «Skeefer» Sutech during the first Point Score race in Sydney Bay. «I've always wanted to try to take a picture of what it's like to be on the Scythian. Specifically that day it was wet and crazy»," says Chittenden.

6 / 20

Craig Greenhill; Australia

An impressive flotilla leaves Sydney Bay at the launch of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on 26 December 2018. Hundreds of spectators join the famous regatta on their boats.

7 / 20

Loris von Siebental); Switzerland

«The Bol d'Or Mirabaud regatta on Lake Geneva will be remembered for its rare power storm. When this photo was taken, the storm front was moving at a speed of over 100 km/h. It covered us, and daylight disappeared beyond the horizon. We realized that a super-modern lake catamaran can run in winds exceeding 60 knots! Ylliam's Comptoir immobilier took first place in the Décision 35 class and second in the overall standings, losing to Ladycat to Spindrift racing»," says von Siebenthal.

8 / 20

Sam Kurtul; United Kingdom

«In the extreme conditions in which the first SailGP European regatta was held, the Australian team dominated, winning all three races on the first and only race day in Kaus. The photo is taken in the middle of the Solent Strait, where the Australians invariably walked by a wide margin. It was on this stretch that they became the first team to overcome the 50 knots speed barrier during the race. I chose this frame because it demonstrates the power of the F50 and the excellent handling skills of the Australian SailGP team. (The Boat Barn in the background is the entrance to the Beaulieu River in Hampshire)»," Kartal said of his photo.

9 / 20

Matias Capizzano; Argentina

American Tommy Sitzmann confronts waves at his «Optimist» Regatta during the St Thomas International Optimist Regatta in the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea.

10 / 20

Eike Schurr; Germany

The Alegre team rushes to the finish line during the TP52 super series regatta in Kashkai. The wind was over 30 knots on that day. «Tough conditions for all teams. And for the drone, too»," Shurr said.

11 / 20

Maxime Horlaville; France.

«I took that shot on the last percent of my drone battery. I was aboard IMOCA Apivia, which left Port-la-Faure in La Rochelle, and was filming Charlie Dalin and Yann Eliès. From the drone, I took a photo of the boat from all angles, using the high-speed mode, and then went into the settings and began to reduce the speed. Just to see what happens. Looking through the frames on my computer, I deleted 90% of them. They were blurry and didn't reflect the actual speed of the boat. This photo is the only exception»," says Orlaville.

12 / 20

James Tomlinson; Sweden

Team Sled removes spinnaker at the World Cup in TP52 class.

13 / 20

Martine Orsini; Italy

«When I shoot races that involve many boats and yachtsmen, I usually hunt for certain details that characterize the day or situation. A day when a strong wind blows gives me the chance to observe the variety of forms that water can take. In this picture, the water crashing against the nose of little O'pen Bic creates a very strange and atypical figure. It seems as if a magic shield has emerged that protects the young yachtsman»," says Orsini.

14 / 20

Graham Snook; Great Britain

«This photo is one of those I took for The Guardian about Alex Thomson and his stunning new IMOCA 60 Hugo Boss. The yacht was on the water for 10 days and Alex and his crew were still testing what she could do. The 18-20 knots breeze was at that time the strongest wind the boat had ever encountered. The team took the reefs, the boat is going under the staysail number 3, but still speeds up over 30 knots. It's a real rocket. The photo shows the moment when Hugo Boss went as far above the water in the foyles as possible. A little higher and it will fall back into the water»," says Snook.

15 / 20

Thomas Campion; France

«This photo was taken on October 3 at Voilles de Saint-Tropez 2019 regatta. It was the first time I saw a special sail attached to a spinnaker ray. On a full course, the 10-meter vintage gaffer cutter Marga has an impressive area of sails. A few meters from the bottom sign there were five of them: the mainsail, the jib, the genaker, the spinnaker and this small sail. I really like this white wall, the blue picturesque sea and the tank»clothing," said Campion.

16 / 20

Ian Roman; United Kingdom

«Due to bad weather the SailGP regatta in Kaus had to be reduced to one racing day. I was hired by an American team. The boats rushed forward from the starting line, circled the first sign, and I watched with horror as the guys slowly flipped over just seconds after the race started,»" Roman says.

17 / 20

Marta Rovatti Studihrad; Italy

«The day was almost over, the results of the last Italia Cup #7 regatta in the Laser class were discussed. The light of the November day was gradually fading. We were on our feet all afternoon, everybody was tired, but the golden light that preceded the sunset created a magical atmosphere in the racing zone. I think this photo, taken behind the top sign, conveys the energy, tension and drama of the last minutes of the regatta»," Rovatti Studihrad said.

18 / 20

Fabio Taccola; Italy

Supernikka and Pendragon in «stealth» mode during race 151 Miglia in Pisa.

19 / 20

Jöran Bubke; Germany

View of Maxi 77 JETHOU from helicopter during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2019. «Usually I think the closer the better. But this time, the higher the principle worked, the better»," recalls Babke.

20 / 20

Robert Hajduk; Poland

Blazej Ozog trains in Egypt on the Red Sea. «I chose this photo because it is different from "wet shots" taken on board the boat or dynamic shots from regattas. I like the background and the mood of my shot»," says Hayduk.

Text by: Anastasiya Nosova

Image courtesy of: Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image

The jury of the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image Award selected 20 photographers from 80 applicants who in their opinion are worthy of being short-listed for the award.

Unfortunately none of the six Russian photographers made it onto the list. But they can still be voted for on the Award's website and could be placed on a par with the best photographers according to the judges and the delegates of the Yacht Racing Forum in Bilbao . Online voting will end on November 15.

An awards ceremony will be held for the winners and runners-up at the Yacht Racing Forum on November 25-26.