PhotoBoat.com Sailing, Boating and Regatta Photography: Aug 7, 2008

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Governor's Cup 2008

Yes, we were back on the Chesapeake, and here's a shot of another screwpile lighthouse to prove it. This time it's the Thomas Point light, left to starboard by Governor's Cup racers on their way from Annapolis to St. Mary's College at the mouth of the Potomac.

See the 2008 Gov Cup photos here.

We did this exact trip in November '06 on our way to Key West from CT, but we did not have to anchor in the middle of the trip to avoid drifting backwards like many of these sailors did. That's the beauty of a working engine (not always to be taken for granted) and a need to get South before it gets even colder.

But enough about us. Around 150 boats of varying sizes started at sunset and finished throughout the next day on the 70-mile race down the Chesapeake.

Conditions were very light at the start, but the setting sun created some nice soft light, as expected.

This event includes a photography competition and also draws a lot of spectator boats from Annapolis, especially on such a calm evening. The result, lots of spirit for the race- a good thing- but also a lot of big boats buzzing around the start on a light wind night. Dude, get a dinghy.

This wake was the result of something big. I watched American Flyer and Dame Blanche get knocked to a standstill. It took them several minutes to get any boatspeed back while the rest of their division pushed ahead.

As the sun set, we dinghied back to Annapolis, put the boats on the trailer and drove to Historic St. Mary's City. St. Mary's is the original capital of Maryland, but is not in our GPS or in Mapquest. It's a beautiful place if a little hard to find.

The next morning, with a dozen or so boats already on the dock after a nocturnal finish, we captured many boats heading toward the finish in a variety of conditions, including pouring rain in the middle of a storm.

The nice light before the storm and the banks of the river made for some great shots, like the is one of the St. Mary's College team on Hendonism.

With only one or two hours of sleep behind them, hundreds of sailors enjoyed a 12-hour party on St. Mary's College campus, with three bands, many local vendors, ice cream, and a beer truck that opened at 10 am.

For photos of the 2008 Gov Cup, click here.

For more about this event full of tradition and fun, including this year's results, see the SMCM website: www.smcm.com/govcup

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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.