Peter Burling / Black Foils SailGP Team

Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix

Perth - Western Australia

I submit this picture because it is the only one existing showing the collision in between the Switzerland and New Zealand time on the first racing day of the inaugural Perth SailGP Grand Prix held mid january this year in Western Australia. As we can't go on the water anymore as freelance photographers on this circuit, I decided to choose a spot where congestion could offer some intense racing situations and the downwing gate appeared to me an interesting option. The proximity of the race course was offering incredible vision of those boats flying really close to the shore. The massive moving wings, the sound of the foils cutting the surface of the water at lightning speed, the music around, the shouts of the enthousiast crowd generated an incredible souvenir. Then came that close contact in between Switzerland and New Zealand. I heard a massive "bang" and immediatly spoted my lens on where it was coming, showing clearly the collision. Hopelly no one got hurt. That day, I was the only photographer to get the shot of this crucial moment. As a freelancer, it is a very rewarding moment considering the conditions you are working in are usually giving you less opportunities that the ones that are part of the organisation and can get closer to the action. I got the feeling I couldn't optimize better the choices I had to get the best shot I could regarding the format of the race and I reacted fast enough to not miss the action, which is not such an easy process to go through. I must confess also that it is not such a confortable position to have to shoot for some crashes and it is a big releaf that no one got hurt and that now the fleet can be divided in 2.

Nikon D5, Nikkor 200 - 500 mm, 1250, f18 , 1/1600