Behind the Scenes, May 2024

Sharon Green

The walls of Scuttlebutt HQ include the Ultimate Sailing calendar by Sharon Green, with Betsy Senescu sharing this behind-the-scenes story regarding the May 2024 images.

Blue on blue on blue. How can one word embrace so many hues and moods? But the symphony of blues on the May pages of the 2024 Ultimate Sailing Calendar do just that. The solid intensity of the 85-foot maxi yacht Deep Blue.

The frothy ombre of the sea. The ethereal powder-puff of the sky. The severe slate of the perfectly trimmed sails. The vibrant capri of the sailors’ crew shirts. Blue is a color that represents loyalty, confidence, intelligence and strength, and in this case also illustrates Sharon Green’s mastery and artistry as a premier yachting photographer.

The May images depicted in the 2024 Ultimate Sailing Calendar were captured during the 2022 Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille (LVSB), one of the more elite yacht racing events in the world. It has been held annually off the posh Caribbean island of St Barthélemy: for more details about this exciting regatta see our July 2023 blog ‘Jolt ‘N Jibe’

May 2024

Sharon recalled the weather was ‘fresh to frightening’ – surely her favorite conditions but also the most treacherous (although she is never one to shy away from the thrill of the chase).

“It had been blowing for days and the seas were huge!” she revealed. “This was the very first day of racing and I was on a Contender (a speedy offshore fishing boat). There were massive seas and it was extremely challenging to follow the race boats around the islands. It was totally victory at sea!”

Courses wrap around the rugged, elbow-shaped island and rocky islets, with adrenaline-charged beats and exhilarating runs. No match for the impressive Deep Blue though: at 85-feet long with a crew of roughly 25.

This stunning yacht is owned by Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of 11th Hour Racing. Launched in 2020, the pandemic kept the yacht on the sidelines until 2021, but Schmidt and crew quickly came up to speed. In the 2022 LVSB racing against Vesper, Bella Mente, Prospector, and Rambler 88, Deep Blue earned a bullet in Race Four and finished third overall.

“The challenges of shooting in these conditions are part of what make it so rewarding,” Sharon added. “Adjusting my setting, framing my shots … I’m fully immersed in the moment as I seek to capture the energy and beauty of the scene unfolding before me.” These moments frozen in time were created with the Canon EOS R5, with RF100-500mm, f/5 1/4000 sec.

Editor’s note: The documentary, Fresh to Frightening – The Sharon Green Story, profiles legendary yacht racing photographer Sharon Green. To stream the 19-minute film online, click here.