The Opti-mal Angle
Although Matias Capizzano is an Industrial Designer by profession, his passion for sailing and photography have repeatedly brought him to the pages of the Ultimate Sailing Calendar: this time in our September 2024 spread. These dynamic images from Optimist regattas on opposite sides of the globe show just how far he 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!” 
At top: a birdseye view of some of the 260 racers flocking the windward mark at the International Opti Regatta in St. Thomas, USVI. Below, it’s the Arkas World Championship in Turkey where nearly 300 racers competed. Optis are sailed by youngsters up to 15 years of age, with a weight limit of 110 lbs. These competitors are young, but they are talented, and there are lots of them!
Matias has a long history with Opti sailing – as a sailor himself, then coach and ultimately professional photographer, beginning in 1998 when he shot the prestigious Semana Internacional del Yachting at his home yacht club in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Since then he has covered more than 60 International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) regattas but also photographs Lasers, Snipes, Stars, plus big boat and Olympic events.
“I have been so lucky to be able to visit incredible places and meet great people all around the world,” Matias says. “The racecourse is a great office: sometimes difficult, uncomfortable and wet – but always beautiful.” He shoots from a tiny RIB often smaller than the Opti itself (which is 7-ft. 9-in.) in order to get his unique perspective. “I go alone so I can be very close, but the small RIB can be a very wet, rough ride.”
He gets so close, “Sometimes I feel I am part of the fleet racing, jaja!” he admits laughingly. “Photographing boats are great, but the sailors are my real target. My challenge is to show off their skills and their soul – easier to capture in the smaller dinghies. They exhibit amazing skills you cannot even imagine in such a small boat, but also face fears in challenging situations, particularly the beginners and being so young!”
Matias admits the ‘coach’ side of him sometimes kicks in and as he’s shooting, he will encourage the stragglers as they struggle to round the windward mark or lag behind the fleet, bailing. He finds it gratifying, he says, “that parents can see through my photos what their children are doing out there in the ocean, all alone, in that little soap box.”
‘And even more gratifying to see that after two dozen years of photographing Opti sailors around the world, to see several of his subjects at the America's Cup or lifting a medal at the Olympic Games.
“I have always pushed to have the best possible quality. When I started photographing regattas I used a Minolta film camera, then moved to digital photography with the Canon 10D and all the way to the Canon 1DX. Now I shoot with the Canon R5 and most of the time use the Canon 100-500mm lens which is very versatile, and also a fixed 300mm lens.”
“I like to shoot on the water (positioning himself near the buoys to capture the mark roundings while staying out of the way) using an Aquatech water housing camera, which is a lot of fun.” He has also started to film video footage, saying modern camera equipment has facilitated that transition. “It's incredible – you use one finger to simply switch between stills and video. Although being a photographer it's tempting to like every frame of a clip when you are editing the video …” He continues to advance his art, adding that he also started shooting both stills and footage from a drone, as depicted on September’s featured photo in the Ultimate Sailing Calendar. “Now I am using the Mavic Pro 3 (a state-of-art triple-lens camera), which is amazing! This thing it's there, waiting for you, pushing, saying, ‘Come on! What do you want me to do now?!’”
Sharon’s niece, Rachel Green, took a selfie with Matias during the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile.
A professional photographer since 25, Matias jokes, “I am 51 and not sure how long I will be able to continue this!” In the same breath however, he continues, “But my job is fun and refreshing, and makes me feel young being around these young sailors.”
Sharon adds, “We hope he continues shooting for a long, long time. His work always inspires me, capturing the true essence of the sport.”
In return, Matias replies, “I am honored to be part of the Ultimate Sailing Calendar for many years and appreciates being recognized for my work. Thank you so much Sharon.”
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Sardinian Rhapsody
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.
+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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