Veteran Yacht Race Photographer Reflects

Professional photographer, Daniel Forster wraps up his 12th consecutive year covering the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The 68th annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is a premier event that attracts the interest of boat racing enthusiasts from all over the world. Held on the Australian coast this past December 2012, the event marked the 12th consecutive year for Daniel Forster’s contract as official photographer.

Beginning in Sydney Harbour, 75 yachts set sail for a 628 nautical mile race toward the finish line in Hobart, Tasmania. After only 1 day, 18 hours and 23 minutes of racing, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race found its winner in Wild Oats XI. However, it wasn’t until day six that the race saw its end as the last boat, Maluka of Kermandie, crossed the finish line. There to capture it all for yet another year was seasoned yacht photographer, Daniel Forster.

“It’s the most exciting assignment of the year,” said Forster, “it’s all about the unusual backgrounds and the tough conditions.”

Each alternating year, the photographer will switch his platform from shooting among the action in a boat, to an aerial view from a helicopter. To capture photographs for the 2012 race, Forster and his crew started off in a boat before flying to Hobart for the finish. From there, the final frames were shot from a 45 ft sport fishing boat.