The Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image contest has released its top 80 yacht racing pictures for 2018. These are then judged by an international jury and open to a public vote. Here are some of our favorite shots ...
Chinese photographer, Bo Wang used a drone for this beautiful shot during the Sinan Cup Regatta. "Yacht racing are not only fierce confrontation, but also quiet and beautiful," he says.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Wang Bo
Lauri H?nninen's shot captures the Helsinki lighthouse in the Baltic Sea during Finland's biggest off-shore sailing race. "[The lighthouse] was under renovation and looked strangely sci-fi in the middle of light Nordic summer night," says Lauri.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Lauri Hanninen
During the Volvo Ocean Race, Eloi Stichelbaut photographed the Dongfeng Race Team near Lisbon, just after their boat had been hit by a massive wave in 30 knots of wind.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Eloi Stichelbaut
Bernardí Bibiloni captured Marigan 1898, a traditional sailboat, during the XXIV Regatta Illes Balears Clàssics off the coast of Mallorca, Spain.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Bernardi Biblioni
During the Taiwan Regatta on Penghu Island, Lien Shou Lin photographed sails and their reflections, as the boats gathered at the starting line.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Lien Shou Lin
Off the shore of Egypt, Ivan Bugarev snapped a windsurfer mid-jump, during the Winderland Windsurf Challenge.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Ivan Bugarev
Peter La Fontaine took this shot of a Volvo Ocean 65 passing through Port Phillip Bay Heads, Australia, while competing in the around-the-world yacht race. "This photo reveals the immense power in these incredible racing yachts," says La Fontaine.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Peter La Fontaine
Alfred Farre's chosen photograph shows the Mercury's crew near Barcelona during the XI Puig Vela Clàssica.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Alfred Farre
Loris von Siebenthal pictured the Monofoil Gonet flying over Uri Lake, Switzerland.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Loris von Siebenthal
Martina Orsini photographed Franziska Maege as she flew above the water during the Moth European Championship in Sweden. "[Maege] is a true role model, always smiling as she competes and showing her love for foiling," says Orsini.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Martina Orsini
Ingrid Abery captures the texture of a billowing sail in this arty shot taken during Cowes Week in the UK.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Ingrid Abery
Christophe Favreau took this shot at the Australian 505 nationals in Wangi Wangi. "This picture is showing the joy of sailing at the edge," he says. "You're not sure if it is going to end with a crash or if the situation is going to be saved."
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Christophe Favreau
Polish photographer Szymon Sikora captured sailor Piotr Kula training before the Volvo Gydnia Sailing Days in Gdańsk.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Szymon Sikora
Les Voiles de Cassis is a regatta for old sailing ships in Cassis, France. Gérald Coulon took a classic shot of Irene VIII and her crew on a cloudy day.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Gerald Coulon
This quirky drone shot taken in Algarrobo, Spain by Benjamín Sans, shows two athletes on the center board after flipping their boat.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Benjamín Sans
In the creeks of Marseille at sunset, Piérik Jeannoutot captured a boat and her crew during the SNIM regatta.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Pierick Jeannoutot
French photographer Yvan Zedda captured sailor Armel Le Cleac'h in Brittany, a week before the trimaran capsized off the coast of Morocco. "I chose this photo for the strength that emerges in these monsters skippered by a single man," he says.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Yvan Zedda
Christian Beeck captured the race between a boat and a seagull during the German Classics regatta in Kiel-Friedrichsort.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Christan Beeck
Bertrand Duquenne took this long shot of the Tahiti Pearl Regatta in Bora-Bora from an airplane. "When you see these kind of pictures from the window of your day office, you think you're lucky," he says.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Bertrand Duquenne
British photographer Claire Matches captured superyacht Rebecca in Antigua. "I have been photographing her for many years and it is always a real pleasure to see her," says Matches.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Claire Matches
Andy Green photographed a young sailor racing at the Optimist Nationals in Pwllheli, Wales. "I love this image as it shows the concentration of the child's face," he says.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Andy Green
S?ren Hese captured a traditional-style boat soaring through the Baltic Sea during the German Classics regatta.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Soeren Hese
This black-and-white shot was taken by Australian photographer Beau Outteridge in Thorpe Bay, UK. "I love the contrast of the silhouette of the foiling Moth," he says.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Beau Outteridge
Sander Van der Borch photographed the silhouetted crew of Xenia preparing to turn the boat around the mark during the Hague Offshore Worlds race.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Sander van der Borch
Ugo Fonolllá pictured two boats alongside one another as the crew prepare the mainsail with help of a support boat during the Volvo Ocean Race. "The challenge with this picture was to get some symmetry with the masts of both boats," he says.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Ugo Fonolla
Andras Kollmann captured a bird running across flat water towards sailing boats competing in the Kékszalag regatta on Lake Balaton, Hungary. "Birds and sailors operate in the same way," says Kollman. "They both trim lightweight streamlined structures to create lift."
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image/Andras Kollmann
Russian photographer Eugenia Bakunova took a dynamic shot of two boats during the Volvo Ocean Race in Lisbon.