Philosophy on Sailing Videos?

[Ndavies]

I wanted to put out here my philosophy on Sailing Videos and see if I get any feedback. First a little background - I have always been a boater and later in life a sailor. I was inspired to take longer trips and extended stays on my boat by watching some of the early "Drake Paragon" videos. (if you have not seen them, watch some of his early ones on YouTube). Drake portrayed "real sailing life" - what I mean is no babes in skimpy bikinis; no staged shots or shoots; no multiple costume changes by girls.......so why was it so good? Well, he captured the essence of his adventures. Things that really happened, what sailing conditions were like, where he visited and how he solved problems. To me, that has value and is worth my time to watch.

So when I started to make sailing videos, I tried to capture the same essence. To be honest, my "target audience" is my kids, family and friends. And if anyone else would like to watch - for fun, or to learn something from our adventures, trips, mistakes etc.- - well that's just a great bonus.

We don't stage anything, have never re-shot a scene......what happens (when the camera is out) is what you get to see. I add a bit of commentary here and there, edit, add titles and music. Many of the music pieces are things I compose and play on keyboards.

Well I guess that all sounds good - but it has not made me a "YouTube" star😂. Clearly staged shots, bikinis, ass shots and sensational titles work better than my formula (hence the success of others). Don't get me wrong - I like to watch Delos, Vagabond, WE sail, and O'Kellys .....but its obvious that YouTubing has become their jobs - churning out one per week (often when there's really no new content). Its often entertaining, and can certainly be addictive. But I sure wish there was more stuff like the early Paragon!

What is your opinion????

Neil
SV Midnight Sun III [search for "Sailing SV Midnight Sun" on YouTube]
midnightsunii.blogspot.com/

PS - don't forget to thumbs up or subscribe to my channel lol

[Ndavies]

Wow - I can't believe there are no replies......I was sure this would stir someone up on here!! Must be too busy watching bikinis!

[dougweibel]

I feel increasingly uninterested in YouTube sailing videos, of the Paragon, Delos, bikini or whatever else variety. Sometimes I'll look at some to get an idea what to expect when going somewhere we haven't been before. Beyond that, meh.

[Mike OReilly]

I read your initial post, but wasn't sure what you were looking for. You seem to have answered your own question. Yes indeed, sex and sensationalism outsells reality. Not really a revelation.

The other reason people might not have responded is that we're not really your target audience. I for one don't watch any youtuber cruisers. Why would I? I already cruise (when not Covid locked down ). Tuber cruisers mainly attract the dreamers and planners, much like the readership of sailing magazines. Once you're doing it, there's little need for this kind of content.

It also feels like this thread is an attempt to drive traffic to your channel. Nothing really wrong with that, but it has a tinge of crass marketing.

These are the reasons I didn't respond. Hope that helps.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

It also feels like this thread is an attempt to drive traffic to your channel. Nothing really wrong with that, but it has a tinge of crass marketing.

These are the reasons I didn't respond. Hope that helps.

Me too.

[Manateeman]

Maybe if you buy a cat. Or even a stuffed cat might be better...Inject some humor. I’m serious. You talk to the stuffed cat and sailors will think...hey, these guys are like us...alone on watch, everybody talks to themselves. L OL.
What do people read first in the Sunday paper. The comics or sports.
Maybe your blog is too serious.
The manatee crew.

[dwedeking2]

Natural progression of any medium is towards a refined more scripted format. In a mediums infancy the audience will overlook "roughness" in the delivery because of the uniqueness of the new format.

The really expert film makers are able to make the editing appear "natural" so it doesn't interfere with the story telling.

When I worked in marketing I had a boss that loved short videos that appeared spontaneous. He would then try to make a spontaneous video (no planning, no storyboard, no practice takes). They just came out bad.

[Pete7]

I started watching some of your videos and gave up. Personally I prefer the more gritty, raw videos or really challenging sailing areas off the beaten path.

Here is an example. 8 weeks after the UK lock down ended these two young folk have given up their jobs, hopped on board a really cheap 28ft yacht and about to depart on an adventure, with little money or experience. I find this much more interesting to watch and something easier to relate to as we have all been there, rather than living on a 40ft cat.

Pete

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HibI...hasingCurrents

[Hawkmouth]

Maybe I should make a YouTube then. It’s my wife, daughter, and I with 2 cats in the most boat we could afford (32 foot). Struggling to learn how to fix the boat, sail, save money for repairs, search for DIY yards to work on the boat. We don’t have savings to fall back on. We don’t own a house or land to rent. We don’t own a business. Just struggling to live the dream of freedom.

[danstanford]

The ones I enjoy most are the repair/upgrade ones. I have a hard time liking the Evans couple but I watched every episode that involved fixing the boat. When Delos does one of these type his descriptions of the needs and solutions are great watching for me.

Somehow the titillations involved in some of the other series is vaguely embarrassing to watch. We humans have a built in mechanism to glance at attractive people but when it is portrayed as overtly as it sometimes is it seems to imply that it represents the worth of the person. I bet some of the bikini babes are interesting people if you could get to know them.

Curmudgeonly rant over.

[Mirage35]

Originally Posted by Ndavies

To be honest, my "target audience" is my kids, family and friends.

Are they watching? If so, you've met your stated purpose; what's the problem?

As much as I like bikinis, I personally have a very limited interest in watching other people sail.

(So ignore me, because whatever your other target market may be, I'm not it.)

[Tellie]

I'd be interested in a Ceicl B. Demille made sailing blog. The other 213,687 blogs, not so much....That being said, I'd really be interested in a GordMay blog.

[Pegu Club]

Most you tube vids are sensationally boring, Drake is good for all the reasons that you stated, Keep turning Left, is another good one, very well done imo, Ran sailing is not super fake, and well produced for what they intend to portray, but as you said, the endless staged imaging and poorly done titillation that is the vast majority of YouTube sailing shows lacks any actual authenticity, jmo.

Fair winds,

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

...we're not really your target audience. I for one don't watch any youtube cruisers. Once you're doing it, there's little need for this kind of content.

+1

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

It also feels like this thread is an attempt to drive traffic to your channel... which has a tinge of crass marketing.

Ditto

LittleWing77

[belizesailor]

Are you really asking a question or just promoting your channel?

My philosophy on YouTube sailing channels is that I rarely watch them and if I do, dont make it thru more than a few minutes of their self promoting content.