Who wouldn’t want to climb aboard one of these Melges24s and enjoy the brisk spray, during these dog days of summer? The July images in the 2024 Ultimate Sailing Calendar feature the Melges24 World Championship regatta captured by Sharon Green, and bring a cooling breath of fresh air as summer heat blankets the land.
The 2022 Worlds marked a long-awaited and exhilarating return to competition after two years of cancelation (due to the pandemic). “The mood was really high and it was a thrilling event to photograph,” revealed Sharon. “And I love shooting offshore in Ft. Lauderdale. When it is great, it is really great! The first few days of this regatta were definitely fresh-to-frightening.”
“It was terrific to be back in Fort Lauderdale, where I’ve spent a ton of time,” she continued. “For many years my parents had a beachfront condo there near the entrance to Port Everglades, and my Dad and I used to sit on the patio with binoculars, watching the boats and cracking stone crabs!”
This star-studded event drew 31 boats from around the globe and was won by Peter Duncan and the crew of Raza Mixta, pictured in the inset at bottom. “I was shooting from a rib driven by Sandra Askew’s coach Grant “Fuzz” Spanhake because the event was short photo boats – so the coach boats took turns running me around. It’s tricky to have a coach boat turn into a photo boat: they are trying to do their job and I am trying to do my job. But they were so accommodating and I was able to capture some stunning images.”
‘Such as Sharon’s shot featured at the top of the July pages of the 2024 Ultimate Sailing Calendar, with Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy leading the pack. “This reminds me of a photo I took during the Big Boat Series,
where I captured a perfect flying formation of spinnakers on San Francisco Bay,” she noted. “During a multi-media presentation one evening a member of the audience asked me, ‘How did you get all those boats to line up like that?’ That always gives me a chuckle, as if I could command that during a race! No, it’s all about being at the right place at the right time – and a bit of luck.”
Sharon added that one day at the Melges24 Worlds, lacking a photo boat, she was treated to a ride on Peter and Edit Harken’s beautiful Outback 50 Lady Hawk II. Peter doesn’t really need any introduction: co-founder of Harken, a leading manufacturer of sailboat, safety and rescue hardware and tools; they have a longtime relationship with Melges Performance Sailboats. The Harkens and company have been good friends and supporters of Ultimate Sailing too, and the feeling is mutual. That day Sharon enjoyed their hospitality and friendship while Matías Capizzano handled the official photography duties.
Sharon said she captured the July images with her Canon EOS R5 camera and 100-500mm lens set at shutter speed 1/2000 F-stop 7.1 “All in all it was a fantastic event, hosted by Lauderdale Yacht Club, with a great Race Committee headed by PRO Tom Lihan, and I was so thrilled to be there!”
Behind the Lens
On July 16 Sharon will be one of a panel of leading yachting photographers featured in a discussion on ‘The Art and Adventure of Sailing Photography’ at the Newport (R.I.) Art Museum!
The Museum announced, “This special talk will dive into the captivating world of sailing photography, offering a rare glimpse into the artistry and technical prowess behind each breathtaking shot. Led by three-time J/24 World Champion and Executive Director of Sail Newport Brad Read, the panelists will share their unique journeys and experiences, shedding light on how their practice unfolds from preparation to execution. Learn about the meticulous planning and the split-second decisions that go into capturing the perfect moment during a race. Hear thrilling stories from behind the lens at regattas and discover the challenges and triumphs they face in the dynamic and unpredictable environment of the open sea.”
Sharon will be joined on the panel by Carlo Borlenghi, Stephen Cloutier, Daniel Forster, Dan Nerney, Marina Semenova, Cory Silken and Onne van der Wal. “Whether you are a photography enthusiast, a sailing aficionado, or simply curious about the intersection of these two exciting worlds, this event promises to be both informative and inspiring.”
It starts at 5PM and will be followed by a cocktail party and opportunity to meet the panelists. For tickets and further information go to: https://newportartmuseum.org/events/behind-the-lens-the-art-and-adventure-of-sailing-photography/
Below are the photographs Sharon will feature and discuss, which will be auctioned off after the exhibition! If you are interested in one of these signed images (approx. 24” by 36”) please email us at sail@ultimatesailing.com.
These dynamic images from Optimist regattas on opposite sides of the globe show just how far he (Matias Capizzano) will go to capture the sport – from any angle, in any place!
“Matias is an incredibly versatile photographer,” Sharon Green asserts. “He operates underwater with his housing, flies a drone, drives his own rib, and captures phenomenal stills and video!”
These stunning photos are from our colleagues at Studio Borlenghi: Luca Butto’s dramatic capture of the Landmark 43 Skarp (top) and Francesco Ferri’s artistic spinnaker douse aboard the superyacht Sorceress – both photographed in Porto Cervo, Sardinia.
Betsy Senescu
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