FAST EXIT & the Art of the Perfect Finish
There’s nothing quite like a Transpac finish.
After more than 2,200 miles of surfing down the Pacific, crews charge into the Moloka‘i Channel running on adrenaline, salt, and whatever remains in the snack bag. The wind is still up, the water is stacked, and the Hawaiian light turns golden. It’s the kind of moment photographers dream about.
This month’s image captures FAST EXIT, with John Raymont and his crew powering toward Diamond Head in the 2023 Transpac, securing second place in Division Two. The boat was perfectly loaded — bow down, kite drawing, spray flying. Pure Transpac energy.
The Finish: Where Tradition Meets Chaos
Transpac has evolved over the years — faster boats, smarter routing, shorter elapsed times — yet the finish retains its magic. Crews arrive exhausted and exhilarated, ready for the moment they’ve dreamed about since leaving Los Angeles.
And one tradition remains unchanged:
“Clear the decks. Hoist the good kite. Hawaiian shirts if you’ve got ’em.”
After two long weeks offshore, sailors still rally for the moment — FAST EXIT included.
Behind the Lens: What It Really Takes to Capture This Shot
Capturing a Transpac finish from the air is not luck. It’s choreography.
Sharon tracks each boat days in advance. Every aerial intercept is planned for a single team — one boat, one chance, one window.
“If a boat is projected to finish in daylight, that’s when the choreography starts,” Sharon explains. “I’m coordinating with the navigator, tracking their trajectory, timing the helicopter launch, and making sure the crew knows to tidy the deck, put the right shirts on, and get the owner on the helm.”
The R44 helicopter lifts off with the doors removed. As O‘ahu rises ahead, the first thing many teams see is the aircraft flying backward toward them — Sharon and the videographer leaning into the wind.
And the risks are real.
“So much can go wrong,” Sharon says. “If we take off even a few minutes too early or too late, we miss the intercept. If the weather shifts, everything changes. An inexperienced pilot is dangerous. Technical issues can happen. Even a tiny miscommunication can unravel days of planning.”
There are no second chances.
“I can’t radio a crew that’s just crossed an ocean and say, ‘Hey, I missed the shot. Can you turn around?’”
Sharon prefers meeting boats in the Moloka‘i Channel — the final stretch before Diamond Head, where current, breeze, and emotion all peak.
When she intercepted FAST EXIT, the moment was electric.
“We’re buzzing along backward, matching their speed,” she recalls.
“After days and nights at sea, the crew sees this little airborne mosquito show up — and suddenly everyone is wide awake and waving.”
The photo captures the culmination of a 2,225-mile odyssey in one frame.
FAST EXIT - from start to Finish, Transpac 2025
What Makes a Great Cover Image
Whether it’s the Ultimate Sailing Calendar or a magazine, a cover image must speak instantly. Before someone reads a word, the picture must grab them from across the room.
Sharon’s criteria:
energy and motion
clean, strong composition
color that pops
a story in a single frame
She shoots thousands of frames at every major event. Most never see daylight. Only a handful earn a place in the “maybe” stack.
“Sometimes I know I’ve got the cover right there in the helicopter,” she says.
“Other times, the magic reveals itself during the edit — after the salt is wiped off the cameras and I’ve had a chance to sit with the images.”
J-Class Svea on SAILING WORLD Magazine’s final issue.
Over the years, her process has produced countless covers — including Sailing World, Sailing Magazine, and the unforgettable red-spinnaker shot of J-Class Svea on SAILING WORLD Magazine’s final issue.
Why FAST EXIT Became December
2025 ULTIMATE SAILING calendar - December
For the 2025 calendar, FAST EXIT embodied everything December calls for: color, celebration, momentum, and that unmistakable “we made it” emotion.
The boat is alive.
The sea is alive.
The crew is fully in the moment — even after days offshore.
A Look Toward 2026
Calendar production takes nearly a year — from image selection and editing to proofing, printing, and shipping. Every page is chosen knowing it will live on someone’s wall for a month or more.
The 2026 Ultimate Sailing Calendar is complete and available now, and Sharon is especially proud of this year’s collection. Each image carries the same spark that drew her to FAST EXIT in the Moloka‘i Channel.r story online can make all the difference.
Wherever you’re sailing, working, or dreaming, may this December moment bring a Pacific breeze into your day — and remind you that the next great moment may already be building just over the horizon.
