PhotoBoat.com Sailing, Boating and Regatta Photography: May 5, 2008

Monday, May 5, 2008

AYC Spring Series 2008 - Epic Conditions

Here's Rima2 on one of the downwind legs at American YC Spring Series on Saturday. The course was 2 miles each way and Rima2 did 3 laps in 78 minutes. Even better, they did each downwind leg in just 6 minutes at a speed of 18-19 knots with TWA of 155. It's no surprise that this photo is from behind...it was hard to catch this heavy weather speed machine built by Reichel-Pugh. Thanks to owner John Brim for the stats.

Mother nature whipped up a nasty combination on Saturday, with 30 knots of breeze, an Easterly on Western Long Island Sound, and, worse, opposing tidal current. For an Inland body of water, Long Island Sound can get surprisingly rough when the stars are aligned like this.

As a result, some crews were not as gleeful as the Rima2 team. We heard of at least two blown out spinnakers, a broken mast, two broken booms, and a collision. Ouch. Nobody likes a gearbuster at the beginning of the season.

This brings up a controversial question...is it okay for photographers to post photos of carnage?

We do post those photos - though we make sure not to post thirty photos of one incident - because 1. it can happen to anybody and 2. those photos help describe the day. After the initial emotions pass, it is important for boat owners and crew invovled to be able to look at the photos and remember what happened.

American Yacht Club Spring Series lived up to its reputation for us this weekend. Both Spring Series and Fall Series frequently have big winds and always have big boats and big fleets. What a great combination. The photos are portfolio quality and are must-see action shots.

See more photos at http://thephotoboat.com/American_Yacht_Club_Spring_Series_2008.html

See results at http://www.americanyc.com/

See more about Reichel-Pugh Yachts at http://www.reichel-pugh.com/

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PhotoBoat.com

PhotoBoat's Professional Marine Photographers provide regatta and boating lifestyle photography, with specialties in commercial advertising photography, editorial photography, private yacht assignments and on-the-water event photography. Their online galleries include personal event photos, stock power and sailboat images, and marine art. They are based in Connecticut and regularly travel to Newport, Annapolis, Miami, Key West, Boston, New York, New Jersey, and other sailing hotspots.

Allen and Daniela started PhotoBoat in 2005 and have spent every day since building PhotoBoat from the ground up. Their growth has been tremendous. Their "crazy" style- harnessed into a small RIB and photographing and driving at the same time- got them noticed quickly, and their oustanding photos and professionalism have done the talking ever since.

Today the brand is known across the United States sailing community and beyond. With thousands of hours on the water photographing, they use their experience and creativity to go beyond the usual.

With as many hours logged at sea and also in front of the chalkboard, teaching sailing, their love for the sport comes out in their work, and their skills behind the "wheel" have been noticed across the country. Their "never-satisfied" attitude has made waves in the marine photography field.

Now Allen and Daniela shoot from a variety of platforms, depending on the gig and the client, but they still utilize the "dinghy" extensively to get the close-up shots that nobody else can without disturbing the race course.

Allen and Daniela both have 50 Ton Master USCG Captains licenses. When they are not on their way to or from an event or assignment in South Carolina, Maryland, Maine, or beyond, they live in Connecticut in the summer and Florida in the winter.