Au Large

Sometimes, I pursue projects and ideas over the course of weeks or months - or even years.  However, sometimes opportunities arise that only last a day and which I need to seize with a sense of focus and urgency.  Beyond photography, offshore sailing remains the other consuming love of my life.  There is nothing quite like feeling the heel of a boat under sail, the constant hiss of the bow wave, and the creak of tightening sheets and sails.  Most of the time, I simply enjoy cruising along quiet coasts and sometimes across wider seas.  But occasionally, there is nothing quite like the excitement, beauty and drama of being part of a big fleet of racing yachts.  Each year, a group of so-called ‘classic yachts’ race against each other in various parts of the Mediterranean, culminating  each October in the ‘Voiles de Saint Tropez’.  This collection of images were all made during the course of a rare and special day amongst these most beautiful and romantic boats - their old ages belying the vigour and competitiveness of their crews.