Foaming waves crashing against the bow, huge sails under extreme strain and crews fighting for every metre in breathtaking heeling angles - sailing is pure action and aesthetics at the same time. The dynamics of the water, the play of light and shadow, the elegance of yachts in motion: Hardly any other sport offers such spectacular visual moments as sailing.
Capturing these fleeting moments is a feat. Sailing photographers work in the most extreme conditions - on swaying boats, surrounded by salt water and spray, in wind and weather, often with expensive equipment that they have to protect from the elements. They brave rain, heavy seas and glaring sunlight to capture the perfect moment. The Pantaenius Yacht Racing Image Award winning photographs shown here are the best in international yacht racing photography.
Public vote opened
It's that time again: the public vote for the Pantaenius Yacht Racing Image Award 2025 is now open. An international jury has selected the 80 best images from a total of 120 submissions from professional photographers from 26 nations, which are now available for online voting. The jury will also use their votes to select the overall winner of the Yacht Racing Image Award. The public has until 14 November to vote for their favourite image and thus determine the winner of the Public Award. Click here to vote.
Exhibition and award ceremony in Amsterdam
The 20 best images will be exhibited from 18 to 20 November at Metstrade in Amsterdam, the world's largest trade fair for the maritime industry. The award ceremony will take place on 21 November as part of the Yacht Racing Forum.
Two main prizes will be awarded at the event: The Pantaenius Yacht Racing Image Award, selected by the international jury, and the Public Award, determined by public online voting. The first-place winner of the main prize will receive 1,500 euros, the runner-up 750 euros and the third-place winner 250 euros. The winner of the Public Award will receive 500 euros. Additional prizes may be awarded to photographers who attend the award ceremony.
A high-calibre international jury has been put together for this year's edition. The jury members include Samo Vidic from Slovenia, the winner of the Yacht Racing Image Award 2023 and 2024Anna Schroeder, Marketing Director of the Pantaenius Group, and Ludovic Sorlot, Editor-in-Chief of the magazines Course Au Large and CupLegend. Other jury members are Clare G. Harrington, Vice Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, Holly Cova, Team Director of Team Malizia, Cécile Andrieu, "Ceo" of Mer Concept, and Niels Klarenbeek, Director of Metstrade.
16 years of photographic excellence in sailing
The Pantaenius Yacht Racing Image Award, formerly known under the sponsor name Mirabaud, is being held for the 16th time this year. The competition is open to professional photographers from all over the world, who are invited to submit their best images taken between 14 October 2024 and 12 October 2025. The deadline for submissions was midnight on 12 October. One of the winners in 2017 was Sören Heese from Germany.
