The world’s best yacht racing photographs of 2013 will once again be celebrated during the World Yacht Racing Forum, in Gothenburg, from 10th to 11th December. The prize for the ‘Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image’ was first awarded in 2009. The award seeks to recognise the very best yacht racing image taken during the year, and that which best represents the essence and excitement of yacht racing as a sport. More than 200,000 people visited last year’s online exhibition, and generated more than two million hits. The exhibition and award are sponsored by Mirabaud & Cie, one of Switzerland’s oldest private banks, who is enthusiastic about developing the notoriety of the contest in the future. The competition is organised by MaxComm Communication, who will develop a new website and help promote the event. “We are very pleased to have been associated with the world’s best yacht racing photographs since 2009,” said Antonio Palma, Partner and CEO of Mirabaud. “The ‘Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image’ is a visual expression of our passion for teamwork, technology and high performance – three themes that are particularly dear to us. We look forward to discovering this year’s best yacht racing photographs.” The contest is open to professional yacht racing photographers from all over the world. Its goal is to pay tribute to their work, to provide them with a promotional platform and to help promote the sport of sailing to a wider audience. All the photographs submitted will be published on a website, where the public will be able to vote for their favourite, while a jury of professionals from the yacht racing and photographic industries will vote in parallel. www.yachtracingimageoftheyear.comTwo prizes will be awarded:

• The ‘Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image 2013’, chosen by a panel of specialists from the yacht racing and photographic industries
• The ‘public prize’ decided by the number of popular votes on the website and the delegates from the World Yacht Racing Forum.

In order to respect the photographers’ rights, the contest will be run according to the ethical principles of the ‘Concours Equitable’ label. Only low resolution photographs will be published, and the name of the photographers will automatically be associated with each photograph. Thierry Martinez, winner of the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image 2010 and 2011, will act as advisor for the organisation of the contest, guarantee its fairness and be a member of the jury.