Here it Comes
These festive and fabulous images on the December pages of the 2024 Ultimate Sailing Calendar herald the oncoming Holidays and New Year! With that cheery burst of red and white amidst the frothy spray – and is that Santa on the bow? – you can’t help but smile and think of all the joys and celebrations of December.
These thrilling and dynamic shots come to us from Studio Borlenghi’s Stefano Gattini, who took a circuitous route to get to the pages of the Ultimate Sailing Calendar.
Windsurfing and hiking in the mountains were Stefan’s passion in his youth, and “taking pictures just for fun,” he revealed. That segued into studies in photo editing, which then brought him to Carlo Borlenghi’s Studio. Working as a photo editor with Carlo on the 2005 America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, Stefano was able to put into practice what he had learned. “And thanks to Carlo I started shooting sailing events, and combine my passion for photography with watersports,” he adds.
And what a talent he is: capturing the Swan 36 Farstar barreling head-on through the water, the crew cool and confident as they battle to second place overall in the Swan One Design World Championship in Valencia – just missing first place in a tiebreaker.
Looking back at this regatta, Stefano notes, “these were days with tough wind and sea conditions. When you are lucky enough to have these elements then you can also try to photograph the race staying closer, without creating too many problems for the sailors. The secret for a good job in these cases is definitely having a good driver!”
“We had different conditions in the other photo,” Stefano explains, while shooting the Swan Tuscany Challenge Marina de Scarlino. “There was not much wind and quiet seas … in these situations you try to capture the most dramatic moments, such as the spinnaker drop in a mark rounding.” This poetic and fluid image depicts a takedown on the Swan 36 G Spot, which went on to ace first place in this 10-race series. Both images, top and bottom, were taken with the Canon 5D Mark IV, using a 100-400mm lens “and always in shutter priority,” Stefano adds.
Stefano says his favorite events are long distance races, because “they’re more exciting to photograph and they allow you to have changing and unusual light conditions, such as sunrises and sunsets!”
Sharon enjoys curating Stefano’s image for the Ultimate Sailing Calendar. Stefano has a remarkable talent for unique compositions and knows precisely when and where to be to capture stunning photographs.”
“It's always great when your photos are selected for prestigious and well-known projects, and for sure seeing my name in the Ultimate Sailing Calendar is something that makes me proud and really happy!” Stefano adds.
Also in News
No- No- No-vember?
Color is back in the world of sailing
Everywhere there’s a pop of color – in the spinnakers, graphics and the depth of the sea – adding to sailing’s multi-sensory sport, art and passion. ‘Like the intense vermilion and marigold of Fast Exit II’s sail plan; the tones emblemizing the force and fury of the yacht as it plows through the azure waves of Hawaii.
The Opti-mal Angle
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!”
+About Ultimate Sailing
Sailing is a magnificent, colorful and dramatic sport. This unique sport has many variables with the constantly changing elements, sea conditions, boats, events, competitors and locations. The challenge is to capture on film electrifying moments that take your breath away. Those moments and opportunities are very few, but when they happen... it is ultimate sailing." ~ Sharon Green
Sharon Green has been capturing electrifying images of performance sailing for more than 40 years. Her annual Ultimate Sailing Calendar, featuring the highlights of competitive sailing, is eagerly anticipated by yachting and photography enthusiasts worldwide. Sharon has been published in major boating publications, both locally and internationally, since she first took up a camera while still in high school.
The pursuit of 'Ultimate Sailing' images never seems to grow old. Four decades and I still love the challenge of creating memorable images for my clients and the calendar."
Sharon is happiest when she is on the water or hanging from a helicopter in search of the elusive image that can be called 'Ultimate Sailing'. "My greatest satisfaction is when it all comes together: the anticipation, planning, organizing, traveling and epic conditions that combine to create a thrilling photograph.
The passage of time eludes our grasp: we can only look back in awe and look forward in anticipation. Never did I expect, 40 years ago, that my vision of creating the Ultimate Sailing Calendar would endure and provide such an extraordinary life experience. boundless advancements in sailing, and concurrently radical developments in camera and photographic technology, have kept me on my toes and the years have swept by! I find myself at this landmark anniversary: humbled by your patronage and inspired by your support. To my many friends, colleagues, clients, and subjects who have sustained and fueled this endless passion for capturing the ultimate Sailing image, I extend my deepest love and gratitude.
View the images by clicking the 40th button
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