© Richard Bennett Photography
Shogun (1984)
There were only 46 boats left in the race when I flew around Tasman Island and saw the most beautiful backlight in my favourite gunmetal colours streaming through Tasman Passage, the narrow gap between Cape Pillar and Tasman Island where you can see right the way up to Port Arthur … but not a boat to be seen.
Then, to the north, I spotted a red, blue and yellow spinnaker. “Too far away,” I thought, deciding to stay put and orbit for twenty minutes or so as the spinnaker approached. “The light won’t hold,” I thought. “I am not that lucky.” And it was expensive! Every hour in the air cost. But the light did hold and Shogun sailed into the perfect shot. When preparedness and opportunity meet great things sometimes do happen.
This Shogun picture won a gold award at the Professional Photographers of America Awards in 1985 and a gold award at the Australian National Print Awards and won the Ilford Trophy for the highest scoring entry that year.
Best of — Yacht Racing
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