10 of the best photos from the Perini Navi Cup 2015

This photo of Perini Navi Cup 2015 winner Rosehearty is the perfect example of what sets superyacht racing apart – even during hardcore racing these big, beamy yachts can carry a bevy of guests along for the ride in luxurious comfort. As Rosehearty heels hard to starboard, her guests on the flybridge scramble to the high side, peering over to get a view of the racecourse ahead as she tries to overtake fellow Perini Cup yacht 60 metre Seahawk.

The Perini Navi Cup is held out of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy. This photo shows the Perini Navi Cup in a more restful state before the action begins, with the sailing superyachts' towering masts lit up against the backdrop of a dazzling Porto Cervo sunset.

This photo emphasises the recognisability of Perini Navi 88 metre sailing yacht Maltese Falcon. As she sails behind the rocks on the racecourse in Porto Cervo during the Perini Navi Cup 2015, obscuring her hull and superstructure completely, you can still tell what boat she is thanks to her iconic Falcon Rig.

This year's Perini Navi Cup attracted 16 yachts – all built by the Italian yard – and also along for the fun was the Perini Navi-Picchiotti motor yacht Exuma. The photo above shows the Perini Navi Cup fleet sailing along in a row. Even the iconic yacht Maltese Falcon gets in the queue among her sisters.

A lone sailor tightrope walks the bowsprit of this Perini Navi superyacht to help bring in an unwieldy spinnaker during racing in the 2015 Perini Navi Cup, making for a beautiful photographic moment.

In another bold moment captured on film during the Perini Navi Cup, a crew member from Seahawk climbs the mast during racing. He's safely harnessed in, of course, but it still looks like a pulse-quickening sailing stunt.

One of the most iconic parts of the racecourse in Porto Cervo is the rocks and islands that the yachts must circumvent. Not only does this give an added challenge to the racers, but it makes for beautiful scenery for the aerial photographs of the racing action. The Perini Navi sailing yachts, barren islands and green-blue waters combine for a beautiful photo.

An aerial photo of Perini Navi yacht Perseus3 shot during the 2015 Perini Navi Cup perfectly captured the shadow of her towering mast, making for a lovely, artsy photograph. Launched in 2015, this 60 metre Perini was one of the newest on the racecourse.

In a photo that could well go on a motivational poster promoting "teamwork", the crew of Seahawk work together to bring in a sail during the Perini Navi Cup 2015. All hands on deck, flybridge and everywhere!

This final shot shows just what it takes to get some of the best photos from the Perini Navi Cup 2015. The helicopter swoops in low over Perseus3 to get the perfect view of the racing action.