2023 calendar on sale now, $9.95 while supplies last!

Going Air Borne - in Australia

by Ultimate Sailing Contributor July 29, 2019

Following the SuperFoiler series in Australia was a steep learning curve for everyone. Personally, I had never photographed anything that foils but I knew my reflexes has to be switched. Anything could happen and if it did it would happen quickly.

The SuperFoiler series was in Busselton, Western Australia was in a perfect setting even though the event almost did not take place due to lack of wind.

SuperFoil trying to get up

Eventually, the wind picked up. A constant 15-18 knots in the late afternoon made for perfect downwind leg and great light. Busselton is known for its very long jetty where the public gathered to see the race. Boats would gybe literally feet before the pier thus giving a thrill to all the spectators. This was the perfect spot for me to position while on the media boat.

Jetty public viewing

I was on what we call a tinny in Australia. Basically a floating tin bathtub. Nothing fancy, nothing fast but at least it was stable. The main issue I had was that if we positioned ourselves on the lay line with boats on one side and the jetty on the other we had no escape route in case something went wrong… The first boat flew past but gybed with plenty of room between us and them. So did the second….Then came the third boat which waited till the last minute to gybe and that was a close call for us. I quickly shot the image thinking ‘this is a bit too close for comfort’ and then told my driver we needed to get out of there. He smiled and said ‘no worries mate, we’ll be alright. We can go under the jetty. If they follow us then keep shooting because you’ll get a bloody good pic’

I still wonder if he used the word ‘bloody’ as a slang or literally….Anyway all good. We did not have to dart under the jetty and I got the shot.

July 2019 Ultimate Sailing Calendar

Day 1 of the first race of the series was no exception. On the second downwind leg ‘Tech 2’ was the first boat to foil all the way. Even the crew on my support boat said ‘this is going to end in tears, they are going too fast’. At that stage, I picked up my lens expecting anything to happen. Just when my muscles started burning and hoped for me to put down my 500mm lens the boat did something a bit strange and then was airborne. Up, Up and Away

The whole sequence was caught while our driver floored it towards the vessel in support. No one got hurt. Scared, yes, but not hurt.

~ Andrea Francolini 

Andrea Francolini




Ultimate Sailing Contributor
Ultimate Sailing Contributor

Author




Also in News

Winning both ways
Winning both ways

by Betsy Senescu May 17, 2023

And the legacy that started nearly half a century ago and continues to this day. Pyewacket 70, pictured here, crushed the 2021 Transpacific Yacht Race, coming in first-to-finish in just five-and-one-half fast and furious days.

Read More

Thirty, Flirty & Fun!
Thirty, Flirty & Fun!

by Betsy Senescu April 04, 2023

There was a time people used to say, ‘Don’t trust anyone over 30!’ Well you can trust this: the Melges 24 turns 30 in 2023 and is here to stay! The ease and excitement of this thrilling sportboat has endured as a leading craft for high-performance yet fun one-design racing.

Read More

TIME MARCHES ON
TIME MARCHES ON

by Betsy Senescu February 28, 2023

“Our March images were captured at the 2022 LVSB, which definitely delivered ‘fresh to frightening’ wind and massive seas!” adds Sharon. “I had been biting my nails, anticipating my favorite conditions would develop, and they did!”

Read More

Join our crew!