MacGregorSailors.com

Has anyone ever contemplated running a solar-powered, forward facing video camera from 1/2 mast?

My thoughts are to run a 1/2 minute interval, 1-megapixel shot which would take up about 60 megs per sailing day.

The reason for the solar would be that the camera could run while the sun is available to run the camera and be turned off at night, when sailing is usually not taking place(or in any case the pictures would be "bad").

I'm not sure why I'd want to do this, but I think I do.

You might consider something like the following:

http://europe.nokia.com/pt-6

You could power it with a small solar panel, perhaps affixed to the top of the mast. One nice feature of this is you can request photos by simply sending a text message, and the battery should allow it to run 24/7, charging when the sun is up and running off the battery when the sun is down.

New to Horizon True! Introduced at the Strictly Sail Chicago Boat show 2008. This is a self contained video camera and water proof!
Great entry level camera! One hour video with 2 gig SD card and Lithium batteries (not included) at the highest quality setting. This camera will work with all of our Horizon True camera mounts!

Price $129

http://www.horizontrue.com/sections/order.php

this was posted on the trailersail message digest, it is an interesting alternative to a fixed camera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGupz_9mGc

I like that sailboat a LOT better than the sailcam

Rick

That's a really cool idea

Guess you'd need a waterproof camera, there'd be a serious danger of dunking it, esp. when reeling back in.

I'd like to know what kind of kite he used. A kite that you can deploy single-handed from a sailboat cockpit and that will lift even a lightweight camcorder has got to be pretty special OTOH I'm nowhere up to date with all the latest developments in kites, and the art and science seems to have had a resurgence in recent years

Cheers, Rick

That video is awesome. Like hiring a helicopter crew to film your boat for you.

I second the dunking concerns. I wonder how he got the angle so good. Probably a lot of outtakes.

They sell disposable video cameras at CVS. That would work.

I had some kites that were ram air kites much like the parachutes we use today . They were very stable and could easily hold a image stablizing 8 mm camera aloft My favorite was a 4.5 feet by 3 feet, Could easily lift 6 lbs in 15 mph winds

All info about kite for photo

http://scotthaefner.com/kap/