Use of Video Session Four

Video Used properly - powerful tool to aid race management Used poorly - distraction and false sense of security.

General tips - equipment Must give easy on-water review Waterproof and tethered Use video app for date/time stamp Enough storage capacity and battery charge Spare power pack?

General tips - usage Dedicated person on the committee boat for videoing Hand held, not mounted on the boat - standing with arms not resting against the boat Watch for ‘stills mode’ or ‘pause’! Start each video with voice header - which start/finish Protect the mic from wind noise Sync timestamp to master clock

Finishing – usage tips Position behind or at the finish mast Pan camera to track groups of boats approaching or leaving the finish  Ensure camera is on the line for close finishes Keep finish line short Prioritise capturing every boat over resolving “photo finishes” 

29er Winter Champs Draycote 2014

Observations Why was the line so congested? The gate was set too high The wind dropped The wind went left All combined to force boats to soak or gybe on the finish leg Watch for this and mitigate by: Moving gate downwind Moving the pin upwind Shortening Finish Vessel anchor line

Did the finish teams get all the boats in the finish? Yes! They had a video

Starting - general On U-Flag starts, no X-Ray so Race Committee has the whole race to review video. Video evidence is harder to dispute in redress Video may shows boats clear which might have been called over

Starting – Usage Tips Use “title board” with race details to identify each start Position lens just to the course side of the mast Video from both ends if possible Video from -90 seconds until boats have cleared the line Capture ‘preparatory’ being removed Pan camera to capture as many numbers as possible pre start At start time have camera pointing directly down line with pin- end mid frame Use voice over to add numbers not visible on video

Sailing World Cup WPNSA, 2015

It is the board which counts, not the kite First at real speed…

Over or Clear? Now in Slow Motion…

Over or Clear?

At start time Even better (or necessary?) to see the visual signal? Note some segments of the LCD display changed and some have not! CLEAR – but three people called this over in real time. U-Flag start so corrected on the water during the race. Even better (or necessary?) to see the visual signal?

Conclusions Video can be powerful addition to your arsenal But only an addition. there is no substitute for good process Like all tools, requires practice to get the best out of it