This year, 133 professional photographers from 29 countries entered their best shot of the season for the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image Award 2019.
Once the jury had selected the 80 best images for the prestigious photography prize, they were released for public voting. It will run until 15 November 2019, You can vote online here.
Drone flight and silver water
However, the main prize is awarded by an international jury, which has now announced its selection of the 20 best images. Among them are two German professional photographers, Eike Schurr and Jöran Bubke - who was already among the top ten last year.
Eike Schurr photographed the "Alegre" from the air during the Cascais 52 Super Series Sailing Week 2019. As she hurtled towards the finish line in winds of over 30 knots on a downwind course, he kept a DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone on course high above the mast for the photo.
"The higher, the better"
This portrait format shot by Jöran Bubke shows the "Jethou" from a special perspective. While the Maxi 77 is sailing through the silver waters of the Voiles de Saint Tropez under a pink gennaker, Bubke took the photos from the helicopter with a Canon 5D Mark IV - and integrated the helicopter into the picture.
The trick gives the picture an exciting foreground. Bubke's comment: "Normally, my credo is: the closer, the better. But in this case, the higher, the better."
The winner of the "Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image" will be announced on 26 November 2019 at the Yacht Racing Forum in Bilbao, Spain. The prize for the winner of the public vote will also be awarded then.
About the competition
The Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image Award was launched in 2010 and is the world's leading sailing photography competition. The award is open to professional photographers who are given a platform to showcase their regatta photography and present it to a wide audience.
