Mariquita Book - mk2.5

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