What makes you watch YouTube sailing videos?

laika

laika

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Following on from the "Mayday Mayday Mayday" thread...

laika said:
I can understand watching a sailing channel because:
- they're glamorous and you want to be them
- they're sailing purists with some complicated rig and no engine and you admire them
- they're adorable goofballs who have no clue but somehow muddle through and make you feel good
- they're much better sailors than you and you learn stuff
- they're funny (e.g. hilarious old curmudgeon)
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I'll also add in "or you know them" (which doesn't preclude any of the above also applying to you Yngmar)

But from the earlier thread it seems that fairly ordinary people doing fairly ordinary things can rack up views in 5 figures.

What ingredients does a youtube sailing channel have to have to keep you coming back?
 
It helps a lot if it's well produced. In particular bad sound editing- big jumps in volume from scene to scene- get annoying very quickly. Well chosen soundtrack and good narration are essential for clips longer than a few minutes.
 
Kelpie said:
It helps a lot if it's well produced. In particular bad sound editing- big jumps in volume from scene to scene- get annoying very quickly. Well chosen soundtrack and good narration are essential for clips longer than a few minutes.
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I hate and and all soundtracks - extremely distracting. I'd much rather listen to the sound of the water and wind. Lose the concept of music and simply add good narrative where needed.
 
Different groups of people will watch a YouTube video for different reasons.

Sailors to see what others do. Non sailors because they want to live the dream through them.

I've appeared in one video due to my climbing and sailing skills and was surprised at the number of calls from people I know asking to confirm it was me. I have no plans to publish a vlog on my future adventures. A few cryptic notes and the odd picture is all I'll be doing.
 
Sandy said:
Sailors to see what others do.
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Granted learning from others has always been a good reason to go sailing with different people and YouTube might make that easier but some of the channels out there seem to have a very low tally of "oh they do it like that. That's interesting" moments compared to shots of waves backed by royalty-free classical guitar music and explanations of things which should already be familiar to anyone with a competent crew certificate.

Maybe my attention span is just too low...
 
Vietnam TV! YouTube sailing videos help to keep us connected to our boat in the med. I spent an hour in the gym today watching various YouTube vids which made the excersise less tedious and helped me to prioritise the job list!

Chris
 
I must be the wrong generation because I would never set out to watch a sailing video unless I came across it from anther source, such as the forum. There are several reasons for this:
a We have enough cock-ups of our own
b Watching someone do something brave/perfectly makes me jealous
c They occupy 1/2 hour or more of my time to little effect.

I quite enjoy short videos, such as Halcyon's, but with the sound off.
 
We would not consider ourselves the YouTube generation (mid 50s) but we have come to appreciate the offerings on YouTube when faced with so little choice in a city/country far from our boat and cruising grounds. Surely having so much choice is a good thing, we only whatch what we want to.

Chris
 
laika said:
Granted learning from others has always been a good reason to go sailing with different people and YouTube might make that easier but some of the channels out there seem to have a very low tally of "oh they do it like that. That's interesting" moments compared to shots of waves backed by royalty-free classical guitar music and explanations of things which should already be familiar to anyone with a competent crew certificate.
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I was thinking along the lines of, trips to the Arctic Circle, crossing the north Sea in winter, sailing single handed across the Atlantic, rather than hoisting a sail or gybing. :D
 
Sandy said:
I was thinking along the lines of, trips to the Arctic Circle, crossing the north Sea in winter, sailing single handed across the Atlantic
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So are you saying you (continue to) watch things where people undertake something challenging that you haven't personally done but you're interested to see what it's like?
 
I can't summon up any interest in a bunch of irritatingly attractive twenty something's in bikinis and speedos swanning around the Crabibean on a quarter million dollar yacht.

I can when there's nothing better to do pass the time watching a genuine couple on a boat I could aspire to doing stuff I'd quite to do myself
 
Bru said:
I can't summon up any interest in a bunch of irritatingly attractive twenty something's in bikinis and speedos swanning around the Crabibean on a quarter million dollar yacht.

I can when there's nothing better to do pass the time watching a genuine couple on a boat I could aspire to doing stuff I'd quite to do myself
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Adventures of an olds eadog
Is good for a giggle some times and old Barry aint no spring chicken
but I gave up on then as it got so boring , like watching big brother during the day.
There is a few informative vloggers out there follow the boat can be interesting and do some reviews of equipment
but apart from that most of the US college kids is boring .
 
The films need to offer something special. it might be the individual, the project. or the adventure. Christian Williams is a natural with his thought provoking analysis of why we sail. he adds to this with his own personal adventure and humour. Erik Aandrea uses music to enhance his obsession to sail when most would not dream of going out. then there is Madz of saillife, well this man has his own unique way of capturing an audience. Sampson boat co is self explanatory, simply a wonderful and challenging rebuild of Tally Ho.

Whats more interesting is why they do it. Why would someone commit so much time in creating great films. some are focused now on creating an income to support projects and very successful at it. some quite the opposite, just sharing their exploits. I don't think its something anyone can do. they have to have a usp. Some get it very wrong. its a fine line.

Steveeasy
 
I've watched a few, and usually linked on YBW, and after a maybe 30 seconds I'm bored to tears - and switch off, I don't even bother to fast forward. This is not a criticism of YouTube sailing videos but YouTube offerings in general.

The few I have watched, beginning to end, would be those from Halcyon - I don't watch them because I'm a potential customer - I watch them because I enjoy them (and I'm not watching to learn). Make of this what you want.

Historically before YouTube was even a dream I did watch some North Sail sail handling videos, made on a J24 (which we then owned and raced). They were informative.

Much depends on why people watch.

Of all the thousands of months worth of Go-Pro filming I do wonder how much of it is actually, ever, watched. Go-Pro, and its like, is a clever idea, must have sold millions worth - but it needs to be really good filming and really good editing - and few of us have the skill or patience (in my very humble opinion)

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
I've watched a few, and usually linked on YBW, and after a maybe 30 seconds I'm bored to tears - and switch off, I don't even bother to fast forward. This is not a criticism of YouTube sailing videos but YouTube offerings in general.
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+1 as far as sailing videos are concerned but I do enjoy watching YouTube videos of craftsmen at work.
 
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