The winner elected by the jury is the French photographer Gilles Martin Raget and his photo of the trimaran Orma Fujifilm II, taken during the 2002 Race of the Lighthouses. It represents Loïck Peyron at heart in front of the "Trou du Diable", located south of the island of Ouessant, where the waves are due to the meeting of the Atlantic swell and a strong counter-current.
Gilles Martin Raget has been a sailing photographer since 1986. Based in Marseille, he works for several races - notably the Voiles de Saint-Tropez - and ocean racing teams.
"I'm thrilled and very, very heureux?! I've submitted a photo every year since the inception of the contest, and as with any contest, it's nice to win once in a while. Of course, being able to choose from 20 years of archives has given a little bonus to old foxes like me - compared to younger newcomers - - that's good news - but the future is theirs." said the photographer.
The Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image Award was once again a real success with no less than 12?000 votes counted on the event's website. Find the Top 20 of the most beautiful sailing photos selected in 2020 .
Gilles Martin-Raget won ahead of another Frenchman, Antoine Dujoncquoy and his photo of Tomas Ruyant on the IMOCA LinkedOut during the Azimut Challenge. Australian Dallas Kilponen completes the podium.
"Gilles' photo is undoubtedly an iconic image that deserves to be rewarded as the best sailing photograph of the century. On the one hand because this stormy sea and these pyramidal waves are absolutely incredible and on the other hand because the photo was taken at a time of transition from slides to digital cameras. Congratulations to Gilles and also to all the other photographers." said Nicolas Mirabaud.
The Spaniard Alfred Farré received the highest number of votes on the Internet and won the Audience Award thanks to his photo of two Mini 6.50 in the storm at the Mini Med 2009 in Spain.
The Special Prize is awarded to the British photographer Dan Towers, who was rewarded for his photo of Bernard Stamm in the storm, taken in the Bay of Biscay after the start of the Velux 5 Oceans 2006-2007.
