It’s that time of year again when photographers from all around the world submit their pictures to the ‘Pantaenius Yacht Racing Image Award’ jury. The final 80 have now been selected and you can view them all HERE

A quick scan of the images shows that 13 are of wooden or “traditional” craft, so lets call it 16%. My unscientific gut feeling suggests that about 1% of all racing would be done in these sort of craft, so in a sense classic boats are rewardingly over represented. But that’s hardly surprising as they are intrinsically more photogenic! It’s easier to make an attractive photograph if you’ve got attractive subject matter.

And this is where the self promotion comes in. One of the photographs selected this year was made during the Victorian State Tumlaren titles when I was recording the event for SWS. Tumlarens are inherently sexy looking boats! On a cold and wet Port Phillip day, the Godfather of Melbourne’s Tumlaren revival, Roger Dundas, expertly guided me around the fleet in the RMYS RIB, chasing the best angles and the best light.

The picture chosen shows YVONNE built by Charlie Peel in 1937. It’s perhaps not as dramatic as some of the high octane, foiling spray drenched alternatives, but the composition is good, the intensity of the competitor’s faces is apparent and the silvery light of Port Phillip will be familiar to many a Melbourne sailor. YVONNE is helmed by the legendary Dave Allen (ex sailing master of NO LIMIT) with Aaron Cole, North Sails Loft Manager & 20+ S2H Veteran on main and bowman is Ollie Grieve, Cadet champion from RYCV. (Also, a champion on the bilge pump). Not a bad selection of talent onboard a little old double ender!

Not surprisingly, given the reputation of the boat and the expertise of the crew they won.

We’d now like you to help YVONNE win another competition, the 2025 Pantaenius Yacht Racing Image Award.

Just go the the gallery by clicking HERE select the image above and press VOTE!

If we can win the people’s choice award, we promise to put the prize money into bringing you better sailing imagery in the years ahead!

And just for the record here’s a selection of the other twelve chosen images that could be considered as Classic Material.