Tom Laperche / Ultim SVR Lazartigue

Image Bank Ultim

Atlantic Ocean - Les Birvideaux

This day was the result of a perfect combination of conditions — and maybe a bit of luck too. The weather: A front bringing gusts of up to 45 knots and a 3–4 meter swell. The light: Early in the morning, after the passing front, the sun broke through in perfect alignment. The boat: An Ultim — one of the most powerful offshore racing yachts in existence. The skipper and his team: Tom Laperche and his crew met all our expectations — maneuvers, wind angles, light exposure… The helicopter pilot: Yves-Marie L’Hôpital, one of the best aerial image pilots today, understood exactly what I needed and positioned us perfectly. All these factors were meticulously analyzed, right up until the night before. Together with the Ultim teams, we scrutinized weather files, compared different models, and made sure the front would pass offshore from the shooting area. By combining our aerial photography experience with the sailors’ expertise, we managed to capture an image that conveys both the power of the ocean and the magnificence of this incredible yacht. On the way to the airport, before takeoff, we realized that all the conditions were perfectly aligned — and we felt we were about to capture something truly special. We froze a moment of extreme intensity, as this aerial shoot turned out to be by far the most physically demanding we’ve ever done.

Canon EOS R5m2, RF 24-70 F2.8 / 28 mm, 400, f3.5 , 1/2500