Make mine a double
Not one, but two magazines chose to kick off the New Year with images from Sharon Green and Ultimate Sailing! Both Sailing and Sailing World launched 2025 with spectacular cover shots which we hope herald a great year to come. Our thanks to the editors, colleagues, photo boat drivers and everyone who make it possible to share the beauty of Ultimate Sailing with the world.
On the cover of Sailing magazine the crew of the of the majestic 140-foot yacht Svea readies to douse their massive red spinnaker during a showcase J-Class regatta in Barcelona, in the lead-up to America's Cup 2024. And on the cover of Sailing World magazine, the legendary 70-footer Merlin soars toward the Golden Gate Bridge during the 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series, where 'fresh to frightening' conditions create huge rollers in the Bay.
Congratulations to Sharon on being the ‘cover girl’ on both of these fabulous yachting magazines!
Back to the January pages of the 2025 Ultimate Sailing Calendar: in Luca Butto’s featured image the crew hikes hard, defying the explosion of spray buffeting the maxi yacht Cannonball, as it plows to weather at the Tre Golfi Sailing Week in Naples. In the inset image, at the bottom, Stefano Gattini captures the Club Swan 36 Farstar in hot pursuit at the Swan Croatia Challenge.
You met Luca in our June 2024 Ultimate Sailing blog ‘Sardinian Rhapsody,’ and Stefano just last month in our December 2024 Ultimate Sailing blog ‘Here it Comes.’ You can read more about these two incredible photographers, at https://www.ultimatesailing.com/blogs/news/sardinian-rhapsody and
https://www.ultimatesailing.com/blogs/news/here-it-comes, respectively.
“I love the breadth and creativity of the calendar images submitted by my colleagues,” Sharon explains. “I follow their work on social media and from yachting events around the world and start grabbing screen shots early. I know how hard these images are to capture, and truly understand how much work – both physically and creatively – is involved. In particular if they are busy with a major event like the Olympics, America’s Cup, or any of the numerous around-the-world races; if I see something dynamic and extraordinary I bookmark it, to follow up when I am sending out requests for submissions.”
Sharon’s goal is to display a wide variety of classes, locations and events, and this year’s Ultimate Sailing Calendar is a testament to that! “The 2025 edition has an amazing variety of images, from foiling kite boarders to a Mod 70 – all just spectacular!”
Aside from the images curated from her colleagues, Sharon still travels the globe in search of the ‘ultimate’ sailing shot. “Several of these photos bring back distinct memories of how ‘I got the shot,’ such as the two Transpac images, where the boats are closing in on the last 30 miles of the 2,225nm race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.”
“It’s a massive undertaking, with the challenge and coordination required by my epic team, pilot, chase boat driver and Race Committee, to successfully intercept the racers in just the right location and right time. ‘Because of course, it has to be daylight!” she quips. “I captured the Argo shot (April 2025) using a slow shutter speed as they screamed down the Molokai Channel. They had been racing hardcore nonstop for just over four days when we zoomed out in the helicopter at just the perfect instant to shoot them. And the cover image, which is also featured on the Dec. 2025 pages, is of Fast Exit II, who fortuitously approached late in the afternoon. When we intercepted John Raymont and his team they were truly ‘lit up’ – both lighting and speed!”
Sharon continued, “I have been photographing Transpac races since 2001 and cannot wait for the 2025 race, which is just five months away! Aside from that, I’m targeting some classic yacht events, perhaps Antigua, and a few others I’ll announce soon!” And of course if you’d like Sharon to photograph your event, reach out!
ED NOTE:
The year began sorrowfully with devasting fires and losses in the Los Angeles area. The distance between Sharon’s house and mine, on opposite reaches from LA, has never seemed as far as it did then, as we clung to our TVs and prayers and watched this tragedy unfold. To our friends and patrons who have suffered loss, we send you our heartfelt sympathy and sincere hopes for comfort and strength in the days ahead.
– Betsy Senescu
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Here it Comes
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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.
+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.
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