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BEN WOOD - PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
Solomon Wood<br />
The first time I saw <strong>Mariquita</strong> was on a<br />
slightly disheartening morning in Scotland<br />
on the opening day of the Fife Regatta in<br />
2008. I had made the trip up from the Isle of<br />
Wight and the conditions for photography<br />
on Day 1 were typically Scottish. It was<br />
a cold, wet and slightly misty day when<br />
suddenly, from behind Cumbrae, appeared<br />
this boat. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I’d been<br />
photographing the classics for over 10 years<br />
but here was a yacht from another world.<br />
As she glided past, the crew were in their<br />
matching uniforms ready for the pre-start<br />
briefing with Jim Thom and Chris Tibbs – it<br />
looked pretty serious and very professional. I<br />
didn’t photograph many of the other yachts<br />
that week!<br />
Fast forward exactly eight years and I’m<br />
knee deep in photographs of <strong>Mariquita</strong>.<br />
Choosing the pictures to go into this book<br />
has been one of the hardest selections I can<br />
remember. Over three years we’ve taken<br />
over 40,000 photographs! On these pages<br />
are a few of my favourite images that didn’t<br />
quite make it. Hopefully the photographs<br />
speak for themselves. I do however have a<br />
few people to thank.<br />
First of all I’d like to thank the <strong>Mariquita</strong><br />
syndicate for inviting me to be part of the<br />
team and giving me the opportunity to<br />
photograph this magnificent yacht over<br />
three years in some pretty special locations.<br />
Secondly I’d like to thank the numerous<br />
people who have helped with the<br />
photography and the production of this<br />
book. Compiling a monograph such as<br />
this is a massive jigsaw puzzle and certainly<br />
something I could never have completed<br />
on my own. I’d like to thank all the crew<br />
on <strong>Mariquita</strong> but especially George and<br />
Matty for putting up with all my questions<br />
and requests over the years!<br />
Thirdly I’d like to thank all of the<br />
photographers who have kindly given<br />
permission to use their work to illustrate<br />
some of the moments I missed.<br />
Finally I’d like to thank Stephen Hemsley<br />
who back in 2013 not only recognised<br />
the importance of <strong>Mariquita</strong>, the only<br />
surviving 19-Metre yacht, but also gave<br />
me the chance to capture the <strong>Mariquita</strong><br />
Project in all its glory.<br />
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