"The Round the Island Race around the Isle of Wight is one of the largest and most famous races in the world. As a photographer it's a godsend because unlike most yacht races you have a fair idea where the fleet is going to go! There are various landmarks which make super backdrops such as The Royal Yacht Squadron, St. Catherine's lighthouse and of course the Needles. By the time the yachts make it to the forts in the eastern Solent, it's quite late in the day so I was particularly pleased with this shot of Mariquita off Spitbank Fort. All the competitors have to leave the fort to port and Mariquita chose an angle which brought her quite close in. As she approached she eased her sails coming off the wind and headed a little to starboard opening up the length of the boat and giving me the perfect angle as the sun popped out and lit the decks. Right place, right time and right lens."