Stanmore photographer Andrea Francolini’s love of water, oceans, sailing secure him major awards

A Sydney man with ‘one of the best eyes in the world’ has won two major awards in Spain overnight thanks to his love of the ocean and sailing.

One of the award-winning images captured by Andrea Francolini of the Margaret Rintoull.

A Sydney photographer with ‘one of the best eyes in the world’ has won two major awards in Spain overnight thanks to his love of water, the ocean and sailing.

Stanmore snapper Andrea Francolini dominated the Ocean Power Watersports Photography Awards, in Spain as a finalist in an unprecedented seven categories and winner of two.

His iconic photo of the famous old Australian yacht Margaret Rintoul during the Sydney to Hobart Classic Yacht regatta held prior to the famous ocean classic each year, won the Old School category.

Margaret Rintoul, owned by Bruce Gould, is one of the most recognised classic yachts in the country and finished second on handicap in one of the early Sydney to Hobart yacht races back in 1949.

The yacht also claimed line honours in the infamous race in 1950 and 1951.

Andrea Francolini winning his award in Spain.

Francolini is regarded as having “one of the best eyes in the world’’ when it comes to capturing sailing and yachting photos and has worked for years shooting during the Sydney to Hobart and other international events.

His second award was for the stunning aerial image of a 120 foot yacht captured from a helicopter.

Andrea Francolini’s winning image.

The second winner from the Sydney photographer.

This saw him take out the award in the Jet Ski and Powerboats category.

“Winning in two categories is an incredible honour though I’m still trying to process it,’’ Francolin said.

With photographers from 27 countries and five continents entering images, the winners were Australian with Nick Green taking home the award in the Crashes, Wipeouts & Funny Moments category thanks to his image of Sydney professional surfer Laura Enever caught in a dramatic wipe-out and Ryan Pierse winning the Nautical Tourism award for his image from a Getty Images project for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which captured a surfing projection set against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.

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Originally published as Stanmore photographer Andrea Francolini’s love of water, oceans, sailing secure him major awards