David Harding of Sailing Scenes is a yachting writer and photographer whose work is widely seen in the yachting press and marine industry; from books, magazines and newspapers to web sites, brochures and exhibition displays.

His archive includes yacht and dinghy racing, motor-boats, cruising, coastal scenery and commercial shipping, together with an A – Z library of production cruising yachts which is used by publishers on both sides of the Atlantic.

David’s photographs have appeared on the covers of magazines such as Yachting Monthly, Yachts and Yachting, Dinghy Sailing and Practical Boat Owner, and inside many more from Classic Boat and Dorset Life in the UK to Segeln (Germany) and Sail (USA). Marine Industry clients have ranged from the UK Hydrographic Office, Royal Yachting Association, Royal Offshore Racing Club, RNLI and National Maritime Museum to Axa, Zurich, Lombard, Laser, J Boats, Luhrs Marine, Select Yachts, Tohatsu, Beta Marine, Seldén, and sailmakers including Hyde, North, Kemp, Sanders and Speed.

David undertakes commissions for boat-builders and commercial organizations as well as private owners. He has covered world, European and national championships for leading dinghy and keelboat racing classes, and regularly photographs local club racing and regional events. In addition to his photographic work, David writes boat tests and technical articles, and is principal boat tester for Britain’s biggest-selling yachting magazine, Practical Boat Owner. He has tested over 300 types of boat, from keelboats, multihulls, offshore racing and cruising yachts and sailing dinghies to inflatable tenders, RIBs and power boats throughout Britain and Europe. He has also become involved in the production of nautical films, with Practical Yachtsman.

Although most of his time afloat is now spent working, David is a former dinghy national champion and continues to race periodically when time allows – occasionally still managing to point boats in the right direction. In 2005, he was joint winner of the RYA UK Media Sailing Challenge, sailed in Laser Picos at the London Boat Show, and later in the year skippered and helmed the winning entry in the Marine Industry Regatta, sailed in Sun Fast 37s.