Post-Stabilisation vs In-Camera – How Best to Show a Dinghy Racing and Heeling Over?

Filming a dinghy in action is always a balancing act — literally. Sailing footage needs to feel dynamic, fast, and authentic, yet still be clear and watchable. The big question is: how much stabilisation is too much?

Whether you’re shooting from onboard the RS Toura, the Whaly Coyote safety boat, or from shore with a long lens, choosing between in-camera stabilisation and post-production stabilisation dramatically changes the look and feel of your footage.

At pmrsailing.uk, we film a lot of dinghy racing on the Thames, and we’ve learned exactly when each method shines.

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🎥 In-Camera Stabilisation – Natural Motion, Real Heeling

Modern action cameras (like GoPros, Insta360, DJI Action) use brilliant in-camera stabilisation to smooth out bumps and vibration.
But here’s the key: they don’t remove the big movements, such as:

• heeling,

• the bow cutting waves,

• quick tacks and gybes,

• crew hiking out.

This is perfect when you want to keep the authentic feel of racing.
Viewers should feel the boat lean, surge, and accelerate — that’s the drama.

Best for:

• Helmet-mount or pole-mount shots

• Bow or stern action cams

• Wide-angle “on-boat” footage

• Showing the motion of the boat as the sailor experiences it

Pros:

✔ Natural movement preserved
✔ Very stable for hand-held or boat-mounted shots
✔ Minimal editing required

Cons:

✖ Excessive smoothing can sometimes look too “floaty”
✖ Horizon correction can remove the feeling of heel if turned on

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🎬 Post-Production Stabilisation – Smooth Viewing, Cinematic Finish

Stabilising footage in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere gives you fine control over how much movement to remove.
You can:

• Keep the overall heel

• Remove small vibration from engine or chop

• Lock focus onto another boat during a race

• Smooth a pan or follow shot from the safety boat

This is perfect for cutaway clips, promotional films, or instructional videos where clarity matters more than motion.

Best for:

• Long-lens shots from shore

• Tracking a racing dinghy from the Whaly

• Explainer videos where you need clean visuals

Pros:

✔ Viewer-friendly, stable footage
✔ Adjustable – mild to very strong stabilisation
✔ Great for cinematic storytelling

Cons:

✖ Too much stabilisation warps the background
✖ Takes longer in the edit
✖ Can remove the “feeling of speed” if overdone

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⚖️ So Which Is Best for Showing a Dinghy Racing?

Use both — deliberately.

To show speed, power, and excitement:

👉 In-camera stabilisation (not horizon lock)
Keeps the viewer in the boat. Heeling feels dramatic and real.

To show technique, sail trim, tactics, or instruction:

👉 Post-stabilisation
Keeps the boat clean in frame so learners can see exactly what’s happening.

For a professional video, mix them:

• On-board wide shots = in-camera

• Safety boat follow shots = post-stabilised

• Shore long-lens shots = mild post-stabilisation

• Drone = in-camera, but adjust ISO/SS for smoothness

This gives an edit with energy and clarity.

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The Takeaway

Showing dinghy racing at its best means capturing both the feeling of being aboard and the precision of the technique.
In-camera stabilisation keeps the excitement; post-production stabilisation keeps the footage clean.
Use each intentionally, and your sailing videos will look sharp, fast, and beautifully controlled.