Filming the Competent Crew Course – What Worked… and What Didn’t

When we booked the Competent Crew course in Croatia, one thing was certain.

We wanted to film it properly.

Not just the pretty sunsets and harbour shots, but the actual experience of learning to sail a yacht for the first time:

The mistakes.
The confusion.
The rope tangles.
The nervous moments.
The breakthroughs.

The reality.

And after a week aboard a 47-foot yacht, with cameras spread across bags, pockets, cabins, and occasionally hanging around our necks while trying not to fall overboard, we learnt a huge amount about filming on a sailing course.

Some things worked brilliantly.

Other things absolutely didn’t.

---

What Worked Well

Small Cameras Beat Big Cameras

This was probably the biggest lesson of the entire trip.

The large “professional-looking” cameras stayed in bags far more often than expected.

Why?

Because sailing lessons move quickly.

One moment you are discussing springs and breast ropes.
The next you are suddenly casting off lines while trying not to stand on the genoa sheets.

There simply isn’t time to unpack a large camera, fit a microphone, balance exposure, and start recording.

The cameras that got used the most were:

• The 360 cameras
• The Olympus Tough cameras
• Small handheld cameras
• Phones

The best camera on a sailing course is often the one already switched on and within reach.

---

The 360 Camera Was the Star

The 360 camera turned out to be the hero of the trip.

Mounted in the cockpit, it quietly captured:

• Sail hoists
• Tacking
• Steering
• Crew movement
• Harbour manoeuvres
• Conversations
• The occasional panic

The beauty of 360 filming is that you do not have to point the camera.

You simply record everything and decide later what matters.

That matters enormously on a yacht where events happen very quickly and often in the “wrong” direction.

Several moments we thought we had missed entirely were rescued later in editing because the 360 camera had silently captured them.

For sailing content, that flexibility is incredibly powerful.

---

Audio Was Harder Than Expected

Wind noise is relentless.

Even when conditions feel fairly calm, microphones hear far more wind than human ears notice.

Some clips were unusable because:

• Wind hit the microphone directly
• Clothing rubbed against microphones
• Ropes banged against the deck
• Engines drowned conversations
• People spoke while facing away

Inside the cabin created a different problem.

The cabins were dark, cramped, and echoey.

Filming lessons below deck was difficult because:

• There wasn’t enough light
• People blocked each other
• Cameras fogged slightly after moving from outside heat
• Background noise from engines and pumps constantly appeared
• We weren't down in the cabin very often

Next time we would:

• Use more small wireless microphones
• Carry additional wind protection
• Add compact LED lighting below deck
• Record more separate narration afterwards

---

We Missed More “Learning” Than Expected

Interestingly, we filmed plenty of sailing…

…but not enough learning.

We captured:

• Steering
• Sailing
• Harbour arrivals
• Rope handling
• Views
• Sunsets

But we missed many of the genuinely important teaching moments:

• Some of the Briefings
• Mistakes
• Corrections
• Discussions
• Planning manoeuvres
• Crew problem-solving

Why?

Because when you are learning, your brain is busy simply trying to keep up.

You forget to film. Often because we were doing the job.

And honestly, sometimes filming would have got in the way of actually learning safely.

That balance is important.

---

Some Moments Were Impossible to Film

There are moments during sailing where filming simply stops being the priority.

For example:

• Entering busy marinas
• Strong crosswinds
• Tight manoeuvres
• Sail changes
• Getting a camera on deck when it is in a cabin and you are busy.

At those points, safety and concentration matter far more than content creation.

There were several times when the cameras simply stayed off because everybody needed both hands free.

And that was the correct decision.

---

What We Wish We Had Filmed

Looking back, there are several things we now wish we had captured more carefully.

More Mistakes

Oddly enough, mistakes often make the best educational content.

People learn far more from:

• Wrong rope handling
• Poor sail trim
• Confused manoeuvres
• Failed docking attempts

…than from polished “perfect” sailing.

Real learning looks messy.

---

More Daily Reflections

By the end of each day we were tired.

Really tired.

But we now wish we had filmed short diary segments every evening discussing:

• What we learnt
• What went wrong
• What surprised us
• What we found difficult

Those reflections would have added enormous value later.

Memory fades surprisingly quickly after a long sailing day.

---

More Life Aboard the Yacht

Living aboard is a huge part of Competent Crew.

Things we should have filmed more:

• how to use the head
• Storage
• Sleeping arrangements
• Charging batteries
• Drying clothes
• Shower routines
• Packing
• Cabin organisation

These are exactly the things beginners worry about before taking a course.

---

What We’ll Do Differently Next Time

The next sailing series will be filmed differently.

Especially with the upcoming Thames A-Rater project and future yacht sailing content.

Better Planning

Not rigid scripting.

But having a checklist:

• Morning briefing
• Manoeuvre explanation
• End-of-day reflection
• Equipment shots
• Harbour arrival
• Mistakes and lessons

---

More Fixed Cameras

Fixed cameras reduce workload enormously.

Instead of chasing footage:

• Mount cameras
• Start recording
• Forget about them
• Having different and better Camera mounts.

That allows you to concentrate on sailing.

---

More Audio Recording

Sometimes audio alone tells the story beautifully.

Commands shouted during manoeuvres.
The noise of winches.
Water against the hull.
The silence after engines stop.

Good sailing audio is incredibly atmospheric.

---

The Biggest Lesson

The biggest surprise?

Filming sailing is far harder than sailing itself.

Because you are trying to:

• Learn
• Stay safe
• Avoid getting in the way
• Protect expensive equipment
• Capture meaningful footage
• Remember batteries
• Avoid seasickness
• Stay dry

…all at the same time.

But despite all the problems, we came home with something valuable.

Real footage.

Real learning.

Real mistakes.

And that is often far more interesting than polished perfection.