'Stavros S Niachos' off the Jurassic Coast, Dorset 2001

I had hoped to photograph the ‘Stavros S. Niachos’ from my RIB one windy, cold but sunny day in February 2001. She was a new brig undergoing sailing trials from Weymouth, before she took on trainees. This was a perfect opportunity for photography. Unfortunately I missed the boat, literally and metaphorically. I left it too late for the tide to launch my boat in Portland Harbour. Time and tide do not wait for photographers.

So I drove onto the Isle of Portland and took this aerial 'like' picture from the top near the ‘Admiralty Portland Stone Quarry' of the match box sized ‘Stavros’ on the foam flecked sea.

In the distance, through the mist (visible a little more clearly on the colour print which is for sale) can just be seen the Wessex Jurassic Coast around Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove.

These are exactly the waters that the Olympic sailors from all over the world will compete for gold in 2012. Let us hope they get such good winds, or just a touch less good. They will be in a range of dinghys and open boats, not a substantial square rigged brig.

I was luckier later another time. Please also view 'Stavros S. Niachos' in Lyme Bay 2001 which makes a great pair to this one.