Soverel 33's fight for position on Lake Norman

I had a chance to photograph the Soverel 33 National last year.  The only reason that I am posting this entry to my Blog, is in an attempt to get the Soverel 33′s to hold another event on Lake Norman.  Last Year, the Lake Norman Yacht Club: http://LakeNormanYachtClub.com hosted the Soverel 33 Nationals.  It was a beautiful event as always, and just a real good time.  This post is not only to showcase some of my Yacht Racing Photography, but also in an attempt to convenience the Yacht Club that they need to host this event again in 2010.  This time, make it in early Spring so as to get a good breeze.  So please take some time and enjoy the images.

Thanks,

Sam

Soverel 33's duel upwind in order to gain an advantage

In this Image, the wind has somewhat died off, but the UltraLight Soverel 33′s are able to hold together in an upwind Duel.

Below is the same image done in Black and white

Soverel 33's Duel upwind

Here are some down wind images after the mark rounding

Soverel 33 Nationals. Down Wind run

Soverel 33 Nationals. Down Wind run

Here are some images of the competition upwind.  I personally used to own a Soverel 33, and raced it often.  I can tell you from experience that they are truly upwind Machines.

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

Here is a black and white version of the above image.  I left space in the upper right hand part of the frame for text if an editor so wished to put writing in the image.

Soverel 33 Nationals.

More Upwind Battles:

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

The following are images of Set-ups for Mark Roundings.  The wind was not blowing all that hard on this particular day, so nothing really spectacular.  I really did not mind, because these boats are truly beautiful machines.  I was juts happy to be out on the water for the day!

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

Soverel 33 Nationals

Thanks for looking.

Sam

These are some images that I have shot offshore  in Charleston, SC for the Charleston Offshore Racing Association’s annual Charleston Race Week that occurs in April of every year.  If you have never gone to this, do yourself a favor…….GO!  It is a party unlike anything else you have seen.  These guys do it for pride, and the rum……need I say more?

Yachts heading "down wind" to the Battary in Charleston Harbor during Charleston Race Week

The above images was taking with some of the bigger yachts racing “down wind” on the Harbor course inside Charleston.  I thought that the combonation of the colors, light, and background made for a good shot.

Start of the PHRF B Fleet.

If you have never seen the start of a Yacht Race, it can be something quit spectacular!  It is a timed start, so they all try and hit the line at the same time up to speed.  The Client had requested an image that showed the “closness” of Yacht Racing……this is what I came up with.

J 105's tearing Up Wind

After the start of the J 105 Class, things started to get sorted out.  These were the 3 lead boats that broke away from the pack.  I thought that the image had a certain element to it that really showed “racing” upwind.

J 105 Class running Down Wind

Here are the J 105′s again running Down Wind.  After rounding the “Weather Mark” the boats will head down wind on the course.  I really liked the way that the yachts formed a “train” while heading down wind.  Between this, the sails filling, and the Cranes in the background to somewhat break things up, I thought that this was a good image.

J 105 turning at Whether Mark and heading Down Wind

I really liked the way I captured the guys working together as a team in this shot.  I also thought that the Freighter Ship behind them in the background made for an interesting image.

Upwind Tacking Duel......the True Essence of Yacht Racing!

I love the above shot!  It just is one of my favorite images that I have ever taken as far as yacht racing.  It just shows it all…..the essence of competition, the way the captain of the blue yacht is poised top Strike when the time is right, the other yacht heading upwind, the closeness of the yachts……..I have just always liked this image.

The beauty of sail

This shot weas made into a promo piece for the client.  I always thought that it was a beautiful image.

Swan 42 Charges upwind

This shot was purchased by the sailmaker to show how well his Sails perform on a high end yacht.

Tacking Duel upwind.

Here again is an example of a Tacking Duel occurring upwind.  Anytime that you can get this in Yacht Racing Photography, do it……it can be very dramatic.

Tacking Duel upwind

Here again is a tacking Duel…….but this time shot on the vertical.  I like doing this because it shows the masts and the sails in the image.

Melges 24's turn the Weather Mark and head downwind

This is the one design class of the Melges 24′s.  These are really FAST 24′ Sport Boats with Bow Sprits to fly their Spinnikers Sails from.  The thing that I liked about this shot was the sails.  It shows how the colors of the sails, but was shot in a backlit condition, which really brings out the colors.  Sometimes a backlit condition throught the sails can create a nice effect.

J 105's Tear Upwind

This picture and the next really show how tight things can get in a Yacht Race.  These guys are all heading to the Weather Mark, and they are going to be real “tight” once there for the rounding.  Anytime you can get ahead of the Weather Mark and shoot, it can make for some nice images.

J 105's tear upwind to the weather mark

The next picture below I have always liked.  It shows Yachts tearing upwind with their Masts full in the frame.  If you can get back far enough away from them, I would suggest trying this.  It happened to work out for me.

Charging towards the Weather Mark

The nxt image I shot from behind the starting line after the yachts had started.  The wind was not all that strong this day, but I still thought that it was a good shot……to me it showed the way things can develop on the line.

Start of race

This last image is another favorite of mine.  It shows Melges 24′s heading Down Wind, but the real nice element in it are the American Flags, and Fort Sumter in the background.  Anytime you can incorporate a nice background into a Spots Shot without taking away from the action, do it.

Thanks for looking!

Sam