Each team decides to bring the equipment it deems necessary for the shots, also taking into account the limited space on board. The mediaman must therefore agree with the skippers and the technical team to find the right compromise between quantity and weight. Because video and photo equipment adds weight on board and can affect performance.
"I'm not too limited in the equipment I bring, but I still limit myself otherwise I'd take on a lot of different equipment." explains Ronan Gladu, mediaman on board Actual Leader on the Atlantic Brest.
CAMERA AND CAMERA
Ronan has two specific cameras with the same lens, a Nikon D850 and a Panasonic GH5. If he systematically takes a waterproof box with him in IMOCA - these are boats that are very wet - he still raises the question of relevance in Ultimate. "I have some kind of waterproof covers that Guy Cotten customized for me. It saves weight and is also more convenient to use. When it moves, it's more difficult to move with the box. The Ultimates are boats, which, unlike the IMOCAs, provide a continuous speed shower."
The box is also particularly suitable for photo shoots. "When two crew members are at work, for example, or when I have to take pictures of the crew."
Ronan Gladu / Actual Leader
GO-PRO
If the go-pro still suffers from a bad reputation, it is very useful to replace equipment lost at sea or defective. "It's convenient and they're now stabilized. When used properly, it makes it possible to make superb productions, images or videos. In addition, the sound is outsourced."
Ronan is taking on several go-pro and some drones are filming in go-pro.
DRONES
"I assembled several elements to create my own drones. They drive with a virtual reality mask and are able to fly at 70 knots for 5 minutes." Because the problem in Ultimate is the speed of the boats. "These boats go faster than drones!"
Thanks to virtual reality, Ronan performs as "an immersion flight. It's operated differently from a conventional drone. It's like I'm on a plane and you have to be really focused. Because with the boat's movements, it can cause seasickness. I attach my feet to avoid moving too much."
It therefore carries on board a customised drone and a classic drone, which they buy second-hand, given their very short lifespan.
Alex Pella © Ronan Gladu / Actual Leader
The idea is to get it off the ground so that it can make a round or two, but above all to get it back. "I pray to crash it somewhere. I have a vertical net system to crash my drone into. I'll take two, but I know in advance that I won't come back with it." When the sea conditions are light, he then asks the skippers to recover.
Because apart from the weather conditions that add difficulty to launch and bring them back, many other factors affect these data. "It creates interference with carbon, with the fleet (e-satellite)... It's still quite stressful."
And what about waterproof drones? "The drone I made also exists sealed but we're not going to hide our faces, what sailor would turn around to recover a drone falling into the sea? Nevertheless, if the experience is good on this Atlantic Brest, I will invest in a waterproof drone." ronan laughs.
