The top 80 yacht racing images taken this year have been announced by the Mirabaud Yachting Racing Image jury, and the public are now invited to vote for their favourite

20 October

The Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image jury has announced its selection of the best 80 images entered into this year’s Mirabaud Yachting Racing Image Award.

A total of 134 pictures were submitted by some of the world’s best marine and yacht racing photographers from 27 countries –  a record for the competition.

One of the photos shortlisted for the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image 2017

Gilles Martin-Raget’s photo of Emirates Team New Zealand’s pitchpole during the America’s Cup makes the shortlist. Credit: Gilles Martin-Raget

The photos include shots from the 35th America’s Cup, the 2016-17 Vendée Globe, the Mini Transat and Olympic sailing events.

Now, the public are being invited to vote for their favourite via the competition’s website.

“We are very proud to once again link the name Mirabaud with the world’s best yacht racing images,” said Nicolas Mirabaud, member of the Executive Committee, Mirabaud & Cie SA and a member of the international jury.

“The extraordinary variety of pictures submitted highlights the depth of the sport, from young future talents sailing onboard Optimists right through to Superyachts and the America’s Cup. The pictures often reflect high performance, teamwork and technology: attributes that are dear to us at Mirabaud,” he added.

Continues below…

The Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image is open to professional photographers from all over the world.

The contest pays tribute to their work and provides them with a platform that contributes to the promotion of the sport of sailing to a wider audience

The main prize is the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image, selected by an international jury, which includes Jean-Marie Liot, winner of the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award 2016, and pro sailor Sally Barkow.

The Yacht Racing Forum Award is decided by the 700 delegates of World Sailing’s Annual conference and the 300 delegates of the Yacht Racing Forum.

The Public Award is based on the number of votes on the internet.

Earlier this year, the Mirabaud Sailing Video Award was also announced. The deadline for this inaugural competition is 30 October 2017.

The sailing video award is intended primarily for professional video producers, although professional sailors who film their achievements during regattas are also invited to submit their entries.

The main prize – the Mirabaud Sailing Video Award – will be determined by a prestigious international jury, while the Prize of the Public will be awarded following votes from the public.

The Special Jury Award will celebrate the sailors who produce the best on-board videos during races.

The winners will share at least €2,000 in prize-money.

15 September

Professional sailing photographers have until 12 October 2017 to submit their pictures for this year’s Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award.

The winner will take home not only the converted award, but €1,000 and a clock designed by Swiss luxury watchmaker, Hublot.

Last year’s winner was the French photographer, Jean-Marie Liot.

His picture of Morgan Lagravière training ahead of the Vendée Globe onboard his IMOCA Safran, entirely submerged by a wave at high speed, was chosen by the five panel jury out of 149 entries.

Started in 2010, the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award is the world’s premier photography competition dedicated to the sport of sailing.

It aims to celebrate the very best yacht racing image taken during the year, and which best represents the essence and excitement of the sport.

Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image 2016 finalist

Nico Martinez’s photo of the crew on board Marigan during the XXIII Regata Illes Balears Clássics at Palma Bay, Mallorca, Spain, won the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Forum Award 2016

Open to professional photographers, it provides an opportunity for yacht racing specialists to display their work and share their passion with a wide audience.

More than one million people saw the pictures submitted for the last edition of the contest.

To be eligible for submission, all images have to be taken between 13 October 2016, and 12 October 2017.

The top 80 pictures will be pre-selected by Daniel Allisy (FRA), founder of Voiles & Voiliers, Rob Kothe (AUS), founder of the Sail-World network and Jean-Marie Liot.

 

They will be published on the event website and social networks on 18 October 2017, allowing the public and the international jury to vote.

The international jury consists of Allisy, Kothe and Liot, as well as Nicolas Mirabaud (SUI), member of the Executive Committee, Mirabaud & Cie SA, and pro sailor Sally Barkow (USA).

Two people on board a cat off the French coast

Christophe Huchet’s image of DIAM 24 training off Saint-Malo, France, won the Public Award 2016

The top 20 pictures selected by the international jury will be displayed during World Sailing’s annual conference in Puerto Valarta, Mexico, as well as at the Yacht Racing Forum in Aarhus, Denmark, on 27-28 November.

The winner will be announced at the forum on 20 November 2017.

Two secondary prizes – The Yacht Racing Forum Award and the Public Award – will also be be given out.

The Yacht Racing Forum Award is selected by the delegates attending World Sailing’s annual conference and the Yacht Racing Forum.

The Public Award is selected by the votes from the public on Facebook.

The winners will each receive €500 prize money.