Anonymous wrote:

Really like the idea of helping those users who have already chosen the rig. I am one of them, constantly learning and improving the rig. But I am not sure drone videos would help me a lot, if at all. They sure are amazing to watch, especially if professionally made, but besides entertainment, there isn't much I could take.

Having a few professionally made introduction videos would sure be amazing but would rather serve to recruit new members. Which would be great, but it's a different problem we would be solving. And I'm very sure the end result will be better and cheaper to buy it as a service, not investing in the equipment etc. 

If the goal is to help those who have already chosen the rig maybe let's find out what is the need before jumping into solutions? By asking from those people?

What has helped me the most is all the details of how the rig has been actually built.  For example, I've paused Roger Taylors (and others) videos (shot from the boat at sea or at harbour, etc) a lot and doing screenshots for analyzing and copying their solutions. Just to mention how I've found some videos being useful. The problem often is though, it happens fast there and it's a challenge to get the shot you need - how exactly are the sheets arranged, how is the camber looking and how all the running rigging has been arranged in details to support the sail in current conditions.

The legendary Arne has made a lot of super useful drawings and guides that help to build stuff and has also shared quite some photos in action, but there are not too many of those closeby photos in action. And there are many interesting boats that have only shared a general photo taken from a distance that can't be zoomed in to get something other than a sailplan. That's something I'd personally be really interested to see to learn from it.

Now thinking about it, what if we could get up to 10 photos taken from an operating sailboat (a photo or a short video clip from another boat nearby is just a bonus) and explain/comment/criticize the rig by the owner and by other JRA members? Even if 10 different boats "databased" like that it would be huge knowledge stored and shared and it wouldn't take any money, "only" contribution. It would scale better than having an expensive drone in one particular location.

Thank you so much for the 3D video. Really amazing.

From the point of view of a new (two years of reading all I could about junks) uneducated but enthusiastic first time junk rigger, technical videos are dearly needed. I can't tell you how easy it would be to seek help and take initiatives when building for the first time. I feel bad for saying this because I know that of course it does not replace the critical read of the PJR and following the forums, but some of us do not have all the experience and intuition the salty ones have...yet.

It’s easier for me to picture what people are talking about when someone shows me the gesture, when a video prepares you to ask a more precise question and have all your first 50 questions answered in one shot, without having to bother everyone and tiring them with the same thing over and over again. If you can’t find a fellow junk sailor in real life, a technical video is a lifesaver, and there are almost none ( I know, I looked, and hard).

I couldn’t figure out how to rig the simplest gunter rig, and I became an expert by just watching a short 4 minute video. So yes, there is a lack of technical videos, showing the gestures. Like slow TV. Watching someone saw, haul a yard, adjoining the blocks and spans. The 3D model on the JRA is a walking miracle for me. It is the best introductory explanation for anyone who wants to have a general view of what exactly is a junk rig. Thank you for this. 

Arne has generously taken shots and well documented is quality work, but there is always something missing when it's your first time building. And... You have to be selective in what you can ask, because I know this is all volunteer work and I truly appreciate the generosity. I don't think I would be nearly as relaxed as I am now if it wasn't for the generous, customized help of Arne Kverneland.

One example would be the sheets: while the reefing is easy, the rigging is complex. Some lines are more critical than others. Understanding their function and importance took me a long time (yard hauling parrel I am looking at you). But more importantly, seeing them move would help a ton in deciding how to build the rig. Sorry for the long tirade, but really, videos are lifesavers. And again, the 3d video is a huge step in the right direction.

Anonymous wrote:Would it be possible to have the sails sheeted in a full while the boat is securely tied to a dock? I'm which case one could easily stand on shore and take detailed shots of the rig in "action". Even if a drone is used to get the footage it would be a lot easier without the added variable of the boat moving.

 Good news: I just reviewed an animated piece submitted by our 3D graphics artist. He depicts what you are describing. That is, the functional equivalent of a boat tied securely to a dock, mainsheet tight. He illustrates how each reef is made and you can see very clearly how the sheetlets adjust themselves between reefs. Then he shows us the same sequence from the other side and from different angles. (Very nicely done.)

I can see where a drone come in, where a purchased segment might be worth the cost, following a boat and to film it turning to windward, releasing the halyard till a reef is achieved and securing the hauling parrels. One will notice right away there is no flogging. The skipper hauls in the mainsheet, takes tiller/wheel and resumes sailing. For contrast, the same could be done for a Bermudan rig. The difference will be dramatic. Maybe a split screen is possible but that may be crowding it too much on our little computer screens. Of course, there is no reason to zero in on details with the drone. (There are reasonably priced Gopro type cameras which could be used by our own people for closeups.)

I guess what I'm describing here is a hybrid video production.

Would it be possible to have the sails sheeted in a full while the boat is securely tied to a dock? I'm which case one could easily stand on shore and take detailed shots of the rig in "action". Even if a drone is used to get the footage it would be a lot easier without the added variable of the boat moving.

The automated control software for drones has improved a lot. My uncle has a small-ish DJI drone that impresses me to no end. It can automatically follow you and take smoothly sweeping shots, for example. They cost around a thousand dollars, I think.

Very interesting shots could be had with mast-mounted GoPro cameras, or perhaps mounted on the rails. It would be interesting to see things like the bulge of cambered panels, sail twist and so on. The best results are with many cameras shooting at the same time, so that one can cut to various points of view.

I'll look at these videos again and get back to you.

Every time I sit down to answer the question about the videos, I get too many ideas!

from the videos i see drones that are powerful and robust enough to ly in winds that are at least sufficient to illustrate the junk rig's function. As for the method of portrayal, that is going to require some study, planning, practice. and execution.There should be a script and story board.

For example, the opening scene: A junk rigged boat (single sail) is sailing in my direction, on a starboard tack, to windward. I (the drone) am about 4 boat lengths ahead, 30 degrees to port of the sailboat's centre line, about half way up the the sail. (Looking AT the sail, not DOWN at the sail.) I am moving at the same speed as the sailboat., remaining in place for 10 seconds. Then I start to move aft, keeping the same height above water and same distance to the imaginary vertical axis. I pause at the aft most position for a few seconds, then start again, continuing counter clockwise to a place 30 degrees to port of the centre line, holding that position for 10 seconds.

You get the idea.

Meanwhile, there is an introductory voice-over, accompanied by large-letter subtitles. I think music is better left out unless it be non-intrusive and inserted in a non-intrusive place.