Behind the Scenes – A Day on the Water with Onne van der Wal
Some of the best days on the water don’t go according to plan.
I had just flown across the country after another event to photograph the Rolex TP52 World Championship in Newport, Rhode Island. Thanks to multiple flight delays, I didn’t arrive until very late the night before. After only a couple of hours of sleep, I was up early, camera gear in hand, excited for what promised to be a spectacular day on the water.
Then came the first surprise.
When I arrived at the photo boat I had been assigned to, it was already full.
Not exactly what you want to hear after traveling across the country!
I immediately called my dear friend and colleague, Onne van der Wal, to see if he was heading out to the race course and, more importantly, if there might be room for one more photographer. It was a beautiful, breezy Newport day, the racing was taking place offshore, and I wasn’t about to miss it if I could help it.
Without hesitation, Onne said yes.
Onne van der Wal driving RIB “Onnesignment”
A short time later, Onnesignment came alongside the dock. I couldn’t help but smile. It was the perfect name for the photo boat of someone who always seemed to be “on assignment.” He welcomed me aboard but warned me that riding as the third person on his RIB wasn’t going to be comfortable. I laughed and told him I didn’t care. After everything it had taken just to get to Newport, I was simply grateful for the chance to get out on the water.
He wasn’t kidding.
Photographing from the third position on a small RIB in those conditions was definitely a challenge. Every wave reminded me I was sharing a very small workspace! But none of that mattered. I was exactly where I wanted to be—photographing world-class racing on a gorgeous day and spending it alongside one of sailing’s true legends.
As we bounced our way around the race course, Onne shared stories from a remarkable life spent on and around the water. He has sailed around the world in the Whitbread Round the World Race, cruised extensively, restored beautiful classic boats, and, through his iconic Newport gallery, inspired countless visitors with his breathtaking photography for decades. Today, he continues to share his passion by leading photography workshops on the water, helping others learn to see sailing through a photographer’s eye.
Grand Banks 32 “Snow Goose” restored by Onne van der Wal
We talked about photography, boats, sailing, careers, and life itself. It was one of those rare days where the conversations became just as memorable as the photographs.
The day wasn’t over yet.
As soon as racing finished, we hurried back to shore, cleaned up in record time, and headed to the Newport Art Museum, where an international panel of sailing photographers had been invited to speak. It was a remarkable gathering of photographers from around the world, each sharing favorite images and the stories behind them.
It was an honor to be included among such talented colleagues.
Listening to Onne speak was especially inspiring. That evening, he graciously thanked the people who had supported him through one of the most difficult chapters of his life. It was a deeply moving reminder that even those we admire most face challenges we may never fully see. Sitting beside him on that panel after spending the day together on the water gave our conversations even greater meaning.
Looking back, what started as a stressful morning—running on almost no sleep with no seat on my assigned photo boat—turned into one of my favorite memories from Newport.
Before that day, I knew Onne as one of the world’s great sailing photographers. By the end of it, I had been reminded that he is also a sailor, a craftsman, a teacher, a storyteller, and above all, a generous friend. Sometimes the greatest gifts from this profession aren’t the photographs we come home with, but the people we meet and the friendships we build along the way.
Sharon Green & Onne van der Wal, Newport RI, Rolex TP52 World Championship 2024
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you never planned.
