Block Island Race Week took place June 22–27, 2025, celebrating its 60th anniversary of racing. Hosted by the Storm Trysail Club, the biennial regatta is the largest big boat race in the Northeast and one of the most prestigious in the U.S. With a variety of events, from buoy races to the coveted “Around the Island Race,” the week draws serious competitors.
As someone who’s draws inspiration from people typically in or around the ocean, yacht racing is a natural extension of the stories I try to tell, real people in iconic places. There’s a rhythm and precision in yacht racing that’s both choreographed and instinctual. And there’s a timelessness to the sport as well. For its rich history, sailing carries a distinctly retro quality that fits right into my broader body of work.
For this collection, I knew I needed speed. I opted for my Nikon D750 paired with the Sigma 150–600mm f/5–6.3 DG OS HSM lens. This combination allowed me to shoot rapid sequences without limitation, essential for catching the subtle moments between crew members that unfold in the middle of high-speed action. The lens is part of Sigma’s Contemporary line, and its Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) gave me incredibly fast autofocus, helping me lock onto the gestures I wanted to capture, like a sailor pulling in a spinnaker or crew leaning over the hull. The lens is lightweight, versatile, and reliable; everything I needed to keep up with the race.
I photographed the series on Tuesday, Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day, the sunniest day of the week. Shooting from a spectator boat gave me a dynamic vantage point of the upwind/downwind course, where the action centered around spinnaker sets and takedowns. At the top and bottom marks, crews worked in rhythm, raising and wrangling sails in a flurry of motion. It made for images full of energy, shape, and color.
A favorite photograph of mine in this series features the bright pop of color from three vessels’ spinnakers. The camera setup captured the detail of the middle sail collapsing just as the shot was taken, creating the illusion that the two red spinnakers beside it are touching. The vibrant color becomes a visual anchor, creating the kind of moment the eye naturally gravitates to.
Spinnaker Drop
Another moment I enjoyed was seeing the TP 52 vessels jockey for position at the first warning. Presented in black and white and shot vertically, the frame brings a sense of energy and movement to an otherwise minimal composition.
Holding the Line
Shop the full series in the Yachting Collection.
