“No Photos!”

So I’m in Sydney. On what for me is an extremely rare holiday. I get down here, stop into CYCA and am advised that the Bavaria Yachts International Youth Match Racing Regatta is on.

“FANTASTIC! I will get some awesome images from that regatta, be able to post some on LSD for WTF, Caption This and other random stuff!”

A brilliant coach from Melbourne offered to take me out on the water for the day and give me the opportunity to take some photos. I was going to be on the water for about half a day. But this was brought to the attention of the ‘Regatta Manager’ and I was advised that I was not allowed to take photos of the event under any circumstances as it was a sponsored event and the official photographer was the only one able to get any shots.

Hmmmm… Riiight…

Apparently photos that are taken at an ISAF Grading Regatta (this was Grade 3), are automatically owned by ISAF, regardless of who takes the photo. Now, I have searched the ISAF website, and I can’t seem to find anything stating this.

But here is what I did find… (relating to the 2007 ISAF World Sailing Championships)

LSD is a non-commercial website. We don’t make any money from the site, we actually lose money keeping it running! But we maintain it regardless because we love sailing and want to make our contribution to the sailing world.

The Bavaria Yachts International Youth Match Racing Regatta was being held on Sydney Harbour. There were hundreds of boats passing by including recreational and commercial vessels, and nearly all the time, someone on board would whisk out there camera and start taking photos of the sailing. Why wouldn’t you!!?? There was plenty of action to capture! But as far as this rule goes “photos taken of an ISAF event are owned by ISAF” we need to track down these amateur photographer, seize their cameras, and overwrite their photos.

Pft… What a load of bollocks.

The only thing that I can gather, and perhaps one of the reasons I was not allowed to take photos is they may have thought I would have sold them. The professional photographer for the regatta (whom is brilliant by the way), who I am assuming was employed for the duration of the event, should have the right to sell them, and not have anyone undercut him. Granted, and agreed, however that was never my intention. Respecting the fact that I was a visitor, selling the photos was far from my mind. I was more of a tourist enjoying my holiday.

However would ISAF own his photos as well???

I did end up on the water watching the Match Racing, but in a different capacity than originally planned. I was much closer to the action, however the only images I have are those in my mind. Perhaps I should have got my phone out and used the camera in that…

On Sunday, at this stage, I will be on the water watching the 18′ Skiffs.

The thumbnail images in this post are courtesy of the CYCA website.