Tomlinson gets the gig

Round the world race veteran appointed official photographer for 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race

The Volvo Ocean Race will provide a cutting edge photography for the 2008-09 event with the appointment of leading marine photographer Rick Tomlinson as the official race photographer.

Rick Tomlinson Photography was established in 1986 at the conclusion of the 1985-86 Whitbread Round the World Race. In that raace Rick was a crewmember/boat builder aboard Simon le Bon's maxi Drum and had a keen interest in photography. His pictures taken onboard Drum set new standards in onboard photography and were published in magazine and newspapers around the world.

Since 1986 Rick has set up shop as a professional yachting photographer. Combining racing and photography he competed in three Whitbread races aboard The Card, Intrum Justitia and with Team EF where he was commissioned for a feature article by National Geographic Magazine.

Rick was the official photographer to the 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race, producing some outstanding images which have become the icons of the race.

In 2005-06 Rick was responsible for photography for Ericsson Racing Team’s entry in the Volvo Ocean Race, working in partnership with Thierry Martinez.

“The Whitbread and Volvo Race have been integral to my career as a yachting photographer,” Rick says. “To do the Whitbread was my only ambition at school, and to race in four events was a great experience. With every race challenges change dramatically; new designs, faster boats and better crews. It is a true professional arena. This time it’s the course that sets the new challenge, both for the sailors and for photographers like me that will capture the images."