Photographing Ocean Racing Yachts
Spectacular Maxi Yacht Images From Australia’s Blue Water Classic
The Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race is one of the sporting highlights of the Australian summer, set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour and the Derwent estuary
Australia's Rolex Sydney Hobart race takes over Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, December 26, with a mass of spectator boats joining the large fleet of yachts for the run to the Heads and then out to sea. After annual 63 races, the Rolex Sydney Hobart now ranks along with the Rolex Fastnet Race in England, and the Newport to Bermuda Race in the USA, as a major ocean racing event.
The race attracts extensive media attention, with the start covered live on national television. Once at sea the yachts are out of sight of most photographers, except for those on other vessels and aircraft. The last leg of the race is the journey up the Derwent River to the finish line off Castray Esplanade on Hobart’s waterfront.
There are many vantage points for spectators and photographers along the river banks for those without boats or a helicopter. There always have been regular media bulletins on the progress of the fleet. In the 21st century, the power of the internet and satellites provide comprehensive information on yacht positions and performance with a yacht tracker web page.
Using this information, the photographer knows when to be in position as a yacht approaches the finish line. The larger maxi yachts are particularly suitable for shore-based photography with their huge sails filling the frame.
The vagaries of wind and weather can play havoc with the yachts and photography. Yachts arrive in Hobart at all hours of the day and night. So when the leading yachts, Wild Oats and Leopard, made their run up the Derwent for a mid morning finish the photographers headed for their favorite spots.
Unfortunately, a heavy grey cloud cover made for dull lighting conditions, giving the river a grey appearance rather than a brilliant dark blue. A northerly wind meant the yachts had to tack back and forth across the river as they sailed into the head wind. This has two consequences for photographers standing on the riverbank. Firstly, the angled progress can take a yacht to the other side of the river as they pass the waiting cameras. On the wide Derwent. this is quite significant as it makes close up shots difficult. The other significant effect is a headwind, which means that the spectacular colored spinnakers stay in the sail lockers.
Shooting from the shore does require a reasonably long focal length lens. In this case, a Sigma 135-400mm zoom lens that spent most of its time at maximum focal length. A monopod proved to be essential in reducing camera shake and just to support the heavy lens.
One difficulty shooting with a large lens equipped with a lens shade in an exposed outdoor spot is that the wind becomes a factor. To achieve a fast shutter speed in the order of 1/750 in the dull light meant an increase in ISO setting with the consequential increase in noise. This also tended to produce larger apertures producing the effect of a shallow depth of field at long focal lengths. With a large yacht heeled over it can be hard to get the top of the sail and the hull in focus.
Shooting in the marina calls for a very short focal length, or wide-angle lens. Typical fickle Tasmanian weather saw the clouds clear soon after winner Wild Oats XI, and close challenger Leopard, finished. A polarizing filter helped to accentuate blue of the sky and the water, as well as the bright summer colors of the dockside crowd enjoying the summer festival .
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
