Round the World Racing opens door for top photographer
by Bob Fisher on 11 Nov 2014
The image that won Rick Tomlinson the public vote for photograph of the year at the 2013 Mirabaud Awards Rick Tomlinson / Team SCA
The Volvo Race, and it’s predecessor the Whitbread, and Rick Tomlinson are as inseparable as sailors and beer.
Rick has been part of these races since he first ceased building Drum in 1985, and became one of her crew. It was the start of a new life for Rick.
It provided Rick with the opportunity to change careers, from boatbuilder to photographer. It was one he welcomed. He was going afloat with a camera and he was unaware of the limitations. Waterproof cameras were restrictive of operation – more normal cameras needed additional protection and there was a limitation on the types of lenses to be used.
Rick wasn’t the first to face these problems in the days of film – there was no instant review, he had to wait until he reached shore and the film had gone to the processors before he could see whether he had anything to offer, and as often as not there was not much to offer any possible purchaser.
But Rick and these round-the-world races have become inextricably entwined. He has shot them from the boats, from the water and from the air. Each race has forced new demands and Rick, with his trademark nonchalant shrug has answered the challenge.
He has remained one step ahead of his competition, adapting his technique over the 40 years that he has shot the race and its competitors. In his collection there are the highs and the lows – the winners and those who have suffered along the way.
Rick gave a display of some of his images of the race to an avid audience at the Royal Cape Yacht Club including many of those who had sailed the Whitbread and Volvo Ocean races over the years. Some of those were depicted in their bunks, others tackling nasty tasks in the face of bow waves sweeping the decks – their reactions were strangely similar.
It is almost a chicken and egg case as to which came first – Rick or the race. One thing is certain, the race has benefitted from the images that Rick Tomlinson has produced, and continues to produce (as team photographer for SCA this time) on these races. Everyone wants his photographs.
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