1. Use of Video
Session Four

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

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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” 

6. 29er Winter Champs Draycote 2014

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Sailing World Cup WPNSA, 2015

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

13. Over or Clear? Now in Slow Motion…

14. Over or Clear?

15. 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?

16. 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