"In 2010 I was given a beautiful monograph on yacht Mariquita by her skipper Jim Thom. The book featured many superb photographs of the yacht in her heyday before WW1 and also after she was recommissioned in 2004. One contemporary picture by Den Philips stood out though - Mariquita close hauled with the city of Imperia behind. I was transfixed by the yacht set against the beautiful Mediterranean architecture in a place I'd never heard of. When the dates for the 2014 season were announced and Imperia was scheduled for late September I was determined to be on the start line. On Day 1 I couldn't believe my luck - although it was a sunny, breezy day the cloud built up behind the city and Mariquita got a superb start in clean air. Usually there are other yachts or photographers to contend with but there was Mariquita totally alone in front of the cathedral city, lit by the bright Mediterranean sun with these dramatic dark clouds on the horizon. We manoeuvred the rib into the perfect position and the composition was made. One of my very favourite sailing images."