Superyachts in Big Winds (9 photos)

All photos © Cory Silken. Above: Meteor racing in the St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta.

An avid outdoor explorer, Cory Silken has crewed aboard the classic America’s Cup 12 Metre Class fleet in Newport, Rhode Island and currently races his own classic wooden Herreshoff S Class boat, in Narragansett Bay. Silken travels the world photographing boats, superyachts, and ships for assignments for yachting and luxury lifestyle magazines, among other clients. He also sells prints through his Newport, Rhode Island gallery, Mariner Fine Art. To see more of his work, click here.

Hanuman, J Class, sailing in race 2 during the Newport Bucket Regatta.

The J Class Hanuman is a replica of British Endeavour II, which unsuccessfully challenged the defending American Ranger for the 1937 America’s Cup trophy in these same waters. Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera with 16-35mm lens.

A fleet of antique sailboats competing in the Old Road Race, at the 2008 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, sail close to shore to take advantage of favorable wind shift and escape the current. A helicopter positioned Silken over the reef for this shot, which was made with a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II camera with 24-70mm lens.

The Costa Smeralda, or Emerald Coast, of Sardinia is named for the emerald green tone along the shore, created by the orange color of the submerged rocks. Pictured here is Saudade, racing in the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta.
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II camera with 24-70mm lens

Under steady 20-25 knot winds, the bow of this Twelve Metre Class boat leapt out of the water in spectacular fashion at the St. Maarten/St. Martin Classic Yacht Regatta in 2008, where she debuted the year before. It was a very wet day aboard the photo boat! Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II camera with 70-200mm lens.

Racing at the 2008 Superyacht Cup Regatta in Antigua provided a challenging yet extraordinary range of conditions that changed very quickly. This shot was taken only ten minutes following the bright and sunny conditions.
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III camera with 70-200mm lens.

Aboard Kalikobass II off Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy. Silken says, “Sailing onboard the most spectacular yachts in the world is certainly exciting, although one of the best aspects about it is the people. Not only is it a real treat to sail with some of the best professional sailors in the world, but it frees me to focus on the photography, rather than looking over my shoulder wondering what is about to go wrong!” Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III camera with 16-35mm lens.

Hanuman

“Holding on to the mast while swinging back and forth at 150 ft. feet up in the air is no easy task,” Silken says, “especially while the boat is pointed into the sun, instead of into the waves. And it is even more difficult while holding the camera beneath my dangling feet.” Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera with 16-35mm lens.

Hanuman at dusk, Jamestown, Rhode Island.
With the heart of a proper, traditional sailing yacht from the 1930’s, Hanuman sets the standard for the best contemporary high-tech superyachts. Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera with 24-70mm lens.