Drone photos

Halo

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Has anyone tried getting pictures of their boat under sail using a drone camera ?

If so how did it work out and do you have any tips ?
 
No tips but here there are now restrictions and I believe you have to have a license.

A lot of estate agents seem to use them now.

From what I’ve seen though it’s a dedicated jobs so someone needs to sail and someone needs to fly.

W.
 
No tips but here there are now restrictions and I believe you have to have a license.

A lot of estate agents seem to use them now.

From what I’ve seen though it’s a dedicated jobs so someone needs to sail and someone needs to fly.

W.
Correct on license, but only on drones over 250g. The Mavic mini would be license free for example.
 
Under FAA regs? I know I could look it up but feeling lazy if you already know!

How does Europe compare?

W.
Yes, as far as I know. Same for Europe. There are further restrictions in Europe, such as range etc. airports (obviously). In Canada the restrictions and licensing are draconian. Requirements are essentially the same as for flying a plane, minus the actually flying a plane bit and you need to register the drone. Under 250g you still have to follow certain restrictions such as distance to people, buildings and airports etc., but you do not require a pilot's license.
 
Under FAA regs? I know I could look it up but feeling lazy if you already know!

How does Europe compare?

W.

Plenty of decent camera 'drones" under 250g
Anyone responsible for a drone or unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) weighing between 250g and 20kg needs to register as an operator. The cost for this is £9 renewable annually.
CAA regulations
 
I understand that you need to register a drone (over 250g, UK). But you don't need a license to fly, correct?
Anyone flying a drone or unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) weighing between 250g and 20kg must take and pass an online education package. This is free and renewable every three years.

Both of these requirements become law on 30 November 2019.

Drone and model aircraft registration
 
Regardless of legislation, I thought that drones needed to be stationary on take-off. Is this right? And, if so, how easily does that work on a boat?
 
Regardless of legislation, I thought that drones needed to be stationary on take-off. Is this right? And, if so, how easily does that work on a boat?
You can hand start a drone, I don't think that's a problem. It can't, obviously, do auto return on a moving boat, as it returns to it's GPS starting point. Some (better) drones do this automatically when they start to run out of power, which can be a lot sooner than you think, and at which point the ($$$$) drone returns to a designated spot in the ocean. So, you have to try and catch the drone by hand. That can be a lot of fun (especially on a sailboat) and be potentially dangerous.

This is why I'm keen to get some info here.
 
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There's a Mavic Faceache group that will probably have all the answers.
 
Not just a matter of programming. It would also need GPS in the controller. I'm not certain but I have feeling such devices are available.

Again I have no idea and
just thinking aloud.

I assume they store their initial location.

I believe geo fencing of airports, etc is possible?

W.
 
Again I have no idea and
just thinking aloud.

I assume they store their initial location.

I believe geo fencing of airports, etc is possible?

W.
Yes, they store the initial location and I believe the Mavics all have geo-fencing.

Flying off a boat appears to be fairly tricky in any case.

Our local licensed drone operator covered our regatta last year, have a look on the Aberaeron Yacht Club website to see some results.

Thanks Praxinoscope, nice pics and yes, that is what I'm looking for, plus the odd video.

Getting good shots of your boat under sail is never easy. Last year we put my brother over the side in the dinghy. The winds were light and while it did prove my point that doubling the SA for light air performance is beneficial, I was hoping for more Vendee Globe style stuff with jumping off waves etc.
The video he managed to take is so bouncy that I get seasick watching.
The next day we had a F7 and he declined to have another go ... they just don't make brothers the way they used to.
 
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