Heads above water
Heads Above Water
Every once in a while, my adopted hometown of Santa Barbara, California serves up the fresh-to-frightening conditions that make for a truly epic day of shooting. One of those times happily coincided with the Santa Barbara Yacht Club’s hosting of the Laser Midwinters West.
After over 30 years at this, I can reliably peg a “calendar day,” from the moment I get out on the course. This was no different; it was a photographer’s dream.
After over 30 years at this, I can reliably peg a “calendar day,” from the moment I get out on the course. This was no different; it was a photographer’s dream.As a former Laser sailor, it sure looked scary, but these competitors — adults and kids alike — were eating it up, planing through the waves downwind and carving around them on the way uphill.
Two of the three days were extremely challenging for the race committee. Seeing the signal boat bobbing around was enough to make my stomach churn. I spent one day on a dedicated photo boat and another on the weather mark-set boat. In both cases the drivers showed great skill in getting us into position while keeping the boat from being set broadside to the waves.
For my part, my job was to manage my monster lenses and camera bodies — some weigh up to 15-plus pounds — from a 22-ft whaler, try to keep them dry, and try to compose and focus in the huge sea state.I keep my gear in a cooler. It may sound odd to stow tens of thousands of dollars in camera gear in a $50 cooler, but it’s a great way to keep it (mostly) dry, readily accessible, and protected from impact damage. Nonetheless, that’s all meaningless if the whole thing falls overboard, which it nearly did a few times.
I’m fortunate to do what I do. When all it takes is a 15-minute commute to get to work, I really couldn’t be any luckier.
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Make mine a double
The January pages of the 2025 Ultimate Sailing Calendar: in Luca Butto’s featured image the crew hikes hard, defying the explosion of spray buffeting the maxi yacht Cannonball, as it plows to weather at the Tre Golfi Sailing Week in Naples. In the inset image, at the bottom, Stefano Gattini captures the Club Swan 36 Farstar in hot pursuit at the Swan Croatia Challenge.
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+About Ultimate Sailing
Sailing is a magnificent, colorful and dramatic sport. This unique sport has many variables with the constantly changing elements, sea conditions, boats, events, competitors and locations. The challenge is to capture on film electrifying moments that take your breath away. Those moments and opportunities are very few, but when they happen... it is ultimate sailing." ~ Sharon Green
Sharon Green has been capturing electrifying images of performance sailing for more than 40 years. Her annual Ultimate Sailing Calendar, featuring the highlights of competitive sailing, is eagerly anticipated by yachting and photography enthusiasts worldwide. Sharon has been published in major boating publications, both locally and internationally, since she first took up a camera while still in high school.
The pursuit of 'Ultimate Sailing' images never seems to grow old. Four decades and I still love the challenge of creating memorable images for my clients and the calendar."
Sharon is happiest when she is on the water or hanging from a helicopter in search of the elusive image that can be called 'Ultimate Sailing'. "My greatest satisfaction is when it all comes together: the anticipation, planning, organizing, traveling and epic conditions that combine to create a thrilling photograph.
The passage of time eludes our grasp: we can only look back in awe and look forward in anticipation. Never did I expect, 40 years ago, that my vision of creating the Ultimate Sailing Calendar would endure and provide such an extraordinary life experience. boundless advancements in sailing, and concurrently radical developments in camera and photographic technology, have kept me on my toes and the years have swept by! I find myself at this landmark anniversary: humbled by your patronage and inspired by your support. To my many friends, colleagues, clients, and subjects who have sustained and fueled this endless passion for capturing the ultimate Sailing image, I extend my deepest love and gratitude.
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Sharon Green
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