Jake and others,

We're (well, several other drunks from the dark fleet) working on cheap (relatively) systems to obtain volumes of footage to edit into something that might actually be viewable by the non-sailing crowds. Using bullet cams (about $150) and old video recorders, we got around the transmission stuff, but take on about 2.5 kilos extra weight.

Should be experimenting more at Hiram's Haul if I can make the camcorder more waterproof (they have a Sony Watchman that would work - but I'm not going to drop $800 on this just yet).

And yes, 2 hours of the back of my crew's head (or the jib telltales) isn't what I would call "Must see TV". But a few minutes of close calls, crash tacks, flips, and other stuff might make a video highlight format work. And I've opted not to take a microphone, because we all know how prolific Team Aqua Assault's use of "colorful metaphores" can be... 30 minutes of censor beeps would probably drive viewers away...

Obviously, it is looking like closely fought bouy races would provide more action (or at least more items on the viewer) and more opportunities to place fixed cameras (bouys, RC boat, etc.) cheaply.

If we can get the weight down, fixed and helmet cams would work best, but we're taking baby steps along the lines of the America's Cup coverage.

With Alex's GPS tracker in the old W-1000 on the TB boat, and a few helmet cams, we could do something (much smaller scale, of course) akin to the AC with the computer graphics and on-board action, but again - it would only end up about 30 minutes of useable footage for that race....

Your thoughts?