Tried to video Tape sailing...

SpcAlan1 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009

Well I finally tried to video tape some of this weekend's sailing.
Other than having a 15 mph windy day ( way to much for me ), i was struggling with trying to video tape..

How do you guys attach a camera to your main halyard and make sure the camera is pointing down at the cockpit for some 35' point of view?

The camera went up great but swung around pretty bad and was pointed almost straight out ( instead of down )..

Any ideas????

Or what are my other alternative options with video taping????

Thanks.

drobarge · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009

attach the camera to your hand and then connect the bosuns chair to your posterior end, this will allow you to hold the camera steady

SpcAlan1 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009

Hmm, sounds scary.. I'll pass on the bosum's chair..

How about a contraption to hold the camera?

Boasun · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpcAlan1

Hmm, sounds scary.. I'll pass on the bosum's chair..

How about a contraption to hold the camera?

You don't have to go all the way to the top. Just to the spreaders.

Wait if you have a jammed halyard you will have to go all the way to the top.
Have fun!!

SpcAlan1 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009

So are there any 'real' ideas on how to video tape from the top of the mast?

Boasun · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009

You could make a special box or harness for your camera and with tag lines to hold it steady you could then hoist it to the truck.

zz4gta · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009

Holding it steady w/o actually mounting it to the mast is goin to be very hard. That mast is moving around a lot more than the rest of the boat.

xort · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009

Build a hard rig that will run up the sail track. Hoist it with a spare halyard or maybe the topping lift. You will get steadier shots that way.
Also use a very wide angle lens.

knothead · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpcAlan1

So are there any 'real' ideas on how to video tape from the top of the mast?

Sailors have used sheets, guys, braces and spars to control huge sails in the face of gales for centuries.

A sailor should be able to figure out how to haul a camera aloft and hold it steady.

Boasun · #10 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009

Pick the lightness person in your crew and send them up to the truck with the camera.