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.

There are moments in sailing that defy scale — and then there’s Barcolana.

Held each October in the Gulf of Trieste, the Barcolana is the largest regatta in the world. Thousands of boats converge for a single start, transforming the water into something that feels less like a racecourse and more like a living, shifting tapestry of sails.

Photographing the classics is when the wide-angle lens comes out. You want everything in the frame — sweeping sheerlines, polished varnish, full sails, and crews moving in choreography. These yachts are beautifully restored and deeply loved, and the pride in this fleet shows in every detail.