Calling Solent sailors

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Mar 2005
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Location
Buckingham
www.keepturningleft.co.uk
Whenever I pick up a travel book I will always turn first to the passages where he makes observations on a place I know well

then I can see if the writer has anything of value to say about my patch

it is a chance to measure his observations against your own

I had concerns about making films about the Solent.

There are 50,000 Solent based sailors - apparently

and probably 50,000 different views of the Solent

I would love to get some feedback from fellow forumites

simple question

did the films do justice to the place?


please feel free to comment on the observations I made on the place - even if your only engagement with the project was to see one commentary free 50 second clip of a mobo.

However, I will obviously listen more keenly to the opinions of the blokes who have watched more than one of the films without being driven to apopolexit outbursts of invective

Dylan

PS - all 14 films are here in order and bereft of nasty distasteful donation buttons

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/blogs/calling-solent-sailors/
 
I reckon you must have done the area justice, because all I want to do is get out there again. :D

The only reservation I'd have (after not yet watching all the films) is that you might have benefited from local knowledge, if the appeal of the places was to be fully conveyed.

I've discussed far-flung places with other visitors and ex-residents years after going, and only realised then, how close I'd been to wonderful features I hadn't seen on my visits.

Not that it makes much difference to films made purely about the yachting angle - because one rural tidal river or muddy harbour looks very like another...

...but is it worth suggesting that you try to include distance-shots of your boat and her temporary berth, from hilltops and nearby scenic spots, as you go? The Isle of Wight is very green and pretty - as your Newtown film shows nicely - but if you'd pulled in at Ventnor Haven or anchored outside and climbed the south-facing Downs, you'd have caught sea views to beat anything, anywhere east of Lyme Bay.

I expect your first response will be that you didn't have time to cover everywhere...which is perfectly fair...but unless you're guided by someone who does know the locale really well, you'll surely miss some fantastic spots. So as I said in another thread, I hope you'll return and do it again, in further detail (or just covering the places you missed). :encouragement:
 
Thanks Dan,

you are correct

shots of you own boat are always hard to get

I have taken shots of the boat at anchor

lots of them.... but they are so dull

the trouble is that for film to work you have to have movement - either stuff in the frame or have the frame moving

ideally you would have another boat from which to film

however, that would change the nature of the beast

I do ecpect to be using a drone before I finish

they now autotrack






However, I think, that in films aimed at sailors of small yachts filming them from the perspective of the cockpit is not without its merits

getting local help would be possible - however that would require a schedule and diary, sailing by the calendar rather than by the weather forecast.

Most of my info comes from locals

- this forum was very helpful in telling me where to go - so to speak.

thanks for your perspective Dan
 
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Dylan,

I enjoyed your Solent films very much; my only slight quibble is I'd have liked more detail about each place, a little informal view of the pilotage and stays, even the ' big marina in Portsmouth ' !
 
It was certainly interesting to watch those films that I have watched (I've also watched some of the Humber series because I come from Grimsby - the footage from Tetney was fascinating) even if, on your trip into Portsmouth you inexplicably failed to film my boat!

Given how well you've captured the Solent I'd view your films of other areas as having a large degree of credibility about them, and it certainly encourages me to sail round Britain when I retire or am paid off. Unlike many others (yourself included, if your films accurately reflect your views) I'm not worried at all by the presence of other people messing around in boats and I accept with good humour that if I'm making a beeline from Gilkicker to Cowes I'm likely to be on a similar course to Mobos doing the same. I've experienced being alone on the sea, crossing Lyme Bay from Berry Head to Lyme Regis and saw no more than 5 yachts all day, and I wouldn't say that it's better or worse than the Solent. As a consequence, I'd tend to discount a bit comments made about anywhere being busy.

I loved the film about finding and preparing the Centaur, by the way.

In short, the films are well shot and well edited and great to watch.

Thanks

Mark
 
Hello Dylan

We enjoyed your Solent films and especially your observation on Lord Mont's river.

However you missed out or skimed over the western end, our boat is based on a river mooring on the Keyhaven River so the West Solent is our home.

a) I was suprised that you came from Christchurch you ignored the North channel which is much shorter (you could have waited for the tide off Milford.

b) Hurst Castle is an ineresting visit and a useful overnight stop if you want to put the hook down and stop in the shelter off Keyhaven.

c) The Keyhaven River is as good as Newtown and with Harmony you can go right up to the Quay view the old salt pans and have a pint at the Gun 200yds away.

d) You missed out Yarmouth, great for restocking provissions, fuel and very good showers etc (provided that you avoid weekends when the fees are higher and it can get packed out.)

e) Lymington- Usefull bolt hole for travelers on the town Quay and if you need them all of the boaty supply things/engineers/sailmakers etc you could think of.


Unfortunately in your hurry East you might have missed the best part of the Solent. If you are ever back in the area PM me and I would be happy to take you on a quick tour of the West.

Regards - Phil
 
thanks

Tomaret,

a film maker can ask for no more than that - to be credited with a reasonable outsiders view

as a traveller I cannot really get to know a place the way the locals do - probably better than any other video traveller before me though

the film about prepping the Centaur has had more hits than any other - and it has no sailing in it at all.

so will you be following me up to Scotland?

Seadog,

I agree it is frustrating when a bloke skims your patch. The solent is a big place with loads of havens. All I did was to zip into your place and out. I could see that you could have a lovely evening on a mooring behind your magnificent shingle spit

I did miss your fort

it looks great

much more my place than lymington and Yarmouth

I had been to them both in a former existence

I guess there is a level to how much you can do on an area

217 minutes on the solent - so I apologise for not doing your patch justice

in one of the films I explained that the wind lost me three days I had set aside for more on the west end.

as you know I took a lot of flack from people on Montys river so I heavily edited the final version

and yet was still roundly lambasted for failing to understand what a throughly nice man he is and what a thoroughly nice way he looks after his river

I disliked the idea that I had been tracked every step of the way up his river by the security cameras.

When I was up the Butley no-one on the planet knew where I was

my journey around the solent was tracked all over the place.



Seajet

I am always wary of putting too much pilotage in - that is all available in much more accuracy elsewhere

I even move shots around a bit - so that could be very deadly

and the films are not about how to get in and out but what a place is like

video is really efficient at conveying the feel of a place - very bad at the geography

however, I always do it on the basis that anyone following in my wake will have their own chart

D

PS - is there anyone where who watched all 14?
 
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Dylan,

that's why I said ' an informal bit of a view of the pilotage ', I certainly didn't mean ' go in on X heading ' !

Just a view of familiar approaches, and the ports when the boat is safely in.

I didn't see you get flak over Monty's river, I thought you were remarkably restrained considering the huge amount of ammo he gives his many detractors; sometimes if I need a chuckle I look up the ' pub and restaurant forum ' near here, or the travel guide reviews of the Master Builder's House Hotel at Bucklers Hard, pure gold ! :)
 
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Dylan,

I'll certainly follow you on film for now, and in your wake when I have the time. It's just that persuading my employer that I'm worth more not working for them than being on the payroll is proving a challenge.

Mark
 
Dylan

Thanks for comments, understand your time constraints.

I saw your orriginal comment on Monty's river and thought that you were remarkably restrained.

The reason why we enjoy your films is the "off the cuff comments", for directions read a pilot book, keep it up.

Good luck
 
I haven't re-watched any with this question in mind, but I don't remember much jumping out as wrong the first time round. Mispronouncing Newtown Creek was about the worst of it :)

It did come across as very much a visitor, who didn't know the place, rather than a local. But that's hardly surprising! And not a criticism, obviously.

Pete
 
prv said:
I haven't re-watched any with this question in mind, but I don't remember much jumping out as wrong the first time round. Mispronouncing Newtown Creek was about the worst of it :)

It did come across as very much a visitor, who didn't know the place, rather than a local. But that's hardly surprising! And not a criticism, obviously.

Pete
Click to expand...

I think I changed that for the final version

in my defence... I come from London

a place called Holloway

outsiders e always pronounce it by sounding the H

the locals never do

D
 
I really enjoyed the films Dylan. They made me want to go and sail the area again and inspired me whilst antifouling which is high praise indeed.

Whilst waiting for your latest videos I've been re watching KTL 1 and 2 (3 and 4 this week) and I do perceive a difference.

Within what I feel are your best videos, we get your comments , either live in your commentary or added presumably during the edit. This I think sets your videos apart from many others. You come across as well informed, articulate and with a talent to tell the story of the location as well as of the journey. Your weaker videos omit that sense of place or the narrative of the journey but all are beautifully shot, edited and set to music so still worth viewing and better than 90% of other stuff available. The commentary makes the difference between 9/10 and 10/10.

I know you got stick for the Monty video and the anti large MOBO comments and indeed I was one of those taking you to task for it. I don't think you should feel under any obligation to change your style though; more a case of being aware that your views are perhaps more to one end of the spectrum than the centre of your audience. Thats not to say you're wrong, just something to be aware of.

Final point from me. where is the donate button? I go to your videos from the links you post here or from Vimeo / you tube so don't see it. I assume that it is from the KTL website. Is it worth pushing this more?
 
jac said:
I really enjoyed the films Dylan. They made me want to go and sail the area again and inspired me whilst antifouling which is high praise indeed.

Whilst waiting for your latest videos I've been re watching KTL 1 and 2 (3 and 4 this week) and I do perceive a difference.

Within what I feel are your best videos, we get your comments , either live in your commentary or added presumably during the edit. This I think sets your videos apart from many others. You come across as well informed, articulate and with a talent to tell the story of the location as well as of the journey. Your weaker videos omit that sense of place or the narrative of the journey but all are beautifully shot, edited and set to music so still worth viewing and better than 90% of other stuff available. The commentary makes the difference between 9/10 and 10/10.

I know you got stick for the Monty video and the anti large MOBO comments and indeed I was one of those taking you to task for it. I don't think you should feel under any obligation to change your style though; more a case of being aware that your views are perhaps more to one end of the spectrum than the centre of your audience. Thats not to say you're wrong, just something to be aware of.

Final point from me. where is the donate button? I go to your videos from the links you post here or from Vimeo / you tube so don't see it. I assume that it is from the KTL website. Is it worth pushing this more?
Click to expand...

only on the website

youtube has banned me from profitting from the adverts alongside, at the bottom and before the films (they are allowed to make money from them though and they then become legitimate. There is a top jar on vimeo and everyone ignores it.

having said that I have had a brilliant March

two reasons I think. I am makinf silms about the solent with its 50,000 sailors. I get a tap rate of about one percent. The other thing is that North America has had a very cold polar vortex and Americans are great tappers when they are stuck indoors. I really make the films for the Americans - although they only account for a third of the views they contribute much more than 50 per cent of the revenues. They come from a tipping culture. The UK is less keen on gratuities.

D
 
dylanwinter said:
only on the website

youtube has banned me from profitting from the adverts alongside, at the bottom and before the films (they are allowed to make money from them though and they then become legitimate. There is a top jar on vimeo and everyone ignores it.

having said that I have had a brilliant March

two reasons I think. I am makinf silms about the solent with its 50,000 sailors. I get a tap rate of about one percent. The other thing is that North America has had a very cold polar vortex and Americans are great tappers when they are stuck indoors. I really make the films for the Americans - although they only account for a third of the views they contribute much more than 50 per cent of the revenues. They come from a tipping culture. The UK is less keen on gratuities.

D
Click to expand...
Interesting re the Tip Jar.

I've not joined Vimeo but just searched for tip jar on Vimeo and I think it only shows for those who have joined. So all those viewers who are directed to your videos from your Links on here have no incentive to join Vimeo and don't even get to know that tipping is possible.
 
jac said:
Interesting re the Tip Jar.

I've not joined Vimeo but just searched for tip jar on Vimeo and I think it only shows for those who have joined. So all those viewers who are directed to your videos from your Links on here have no incentive to join Vimeo and don't even get to know that tipping is possible.
Click to expand...


that is correct - however, tip jar on my vimeo account has been disabled. The music does not belong to me. Nothing wrong with that of course - the films count as mash-ups

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(video)

in the google case if the films contain music owned by google or their affiliates (ie all music) then the revenue stream from the films go to google who pass some of it to the music owner(sony et al) who might then pass an infinitesimal amount back to the bloke who plunked the guitar.

As with most things journalistic, the people who own the pipes, presses, antennae control the economics. Google has re-invented the dynamic by squeezing the creatives completely out of the financial loop.

I am really enjoying the digital ride. Really interesting. I am on my last year of university fees for kids but goodness knows how people trying to make a real living from it manage.

However, the paypal taps are working very well.

D
 
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