International 8-Metre "Hispania IV" racing the the 2012 World Championship at Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
In 2012 the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes hosted the International Eight Metre World Championships. Eight Metres are, confusingly, typically about 45ft (15 metres) overall length (8 metres is the sum of a complicated equation of various measurements taken to ensure yachts are in-class: to the International Rule, first formulated in 1907). This yacht is "Hispania IV", designed by Joseph Guédon and built in 1927 by Sagredo Hermanos, Las Arenas, Bilbao, Spain, for His Majesty King Alfonso XIII. She is now registered in France (sail no. FRA 7); she is owned by Tanneguy Raffray and her home port is now La Trinité. In this photograph, we see her beating to windward in the North Channel (which runs up the Hampshire coast of the East Solent towards Southampton). Taken from a large vessel that had to stay in the channel, "Hispania" decides to risk being run down by crossing our bows. She made it.
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Eastern Solent, Hampshire; UK
Photo credit: © will Perrett / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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