Tuesday 29 December 2009

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race - Sailors


Barrows hustled, managers bustled. Tension and anticipation oozed. Weathered profiles contemplated the conditions, the course, the tactics, the contenders.


Gnarled hands of experienced salts gesticulated expansively, as younger members nonchalantly osmosised the ambience. Tactics were determined beyond the maddening crowd. Would the million-dollar mast do the trick? Did they stow sufficient King Island Ash Blue? Would the winds in Storm Bay sweep them up the Derwent or strand them in no-mans-land?


The 2009 Sydney - Hobart Yacht Race line honours winner, Alfa Romeo fom NZ, crossed the finish line into Constitution Dock in Hobart at 10:02pm Monday after being the first out the Sydney Heads on Saturday and leading all the way.

Tomorrow: the starter's canon ...

21 comments:

Birdman said...

There's great excitement in the many faces you've recorded in these images. Why we race? You've captured the human side.

Anonymous said...

Great pictures, we can see the pressure and the joy on the faces.
Serge

Olivier said...

une belle serie de portraits

Leif Hagen said...

Some wonderful portraits! They must all have some great sailing stories!

Lois said...

They all certainly seem to be enjoying themselves! Nice pictures Julie.

Icy BC said...

Great portraits!

lizziviggi said...

Oh, how I love your candid people! These look like the faces of people who love the outdoors. No vitamin D deficiency here!

Unknown said...

Your photos of a yacht race focus on the people, not the boats. Clever.

Rinkly Rimes said...

What great portraits! The subjects would all be delighted with copies. So full of character.

JPT said...

A weatherbeaten bunch!

Joan Elizabeth said...

Wow ... how did you get so close to get so many great portraits.

Jim said...

Great snaps Julie.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Jim said...

Julie, the images seen on the Mitchell Library are related to its Centenary in 2010. George V as monarch of Australia in 1910 was just one of the images from that time. Not sure about the 'AB' though.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Virginia said...

AT first I thought I'd fallen in love with #1 ( or maybe it was the guy! :) ) Then I thought all of the smaller portraits were just terrific.........but the last one says so much. I"m gushing I think. Well of course I should!!!

Marka said...

I really like the first photo. The gentleman seems to be pondering and visualizing the entire race.

Regina said...

Amazing. Great shots!
Cheers fort he New Year!
Regards.

Elaine Yim said...

The sea and the sailors are always fascinatin. Happy New Year 2010!

brattcat said...

You capture such an emotional spectrum in these portraits. Such intensity. Excellent work.

VP said...

Great series of portraits, they all look very happy to be there!

diane b said...

Wonderful portraits. You really get amongst them. Well done.

Bruce Caspersonn said...

One of the nicest things you can do in this life is to sail around Sydney Harbour or the Whitsunday Islands on a lovely day in a yacht with no motor going.
Then,,,someone turns it into a race!!! I can't get my head around that!