yacht drone footage

Yachts from an Aerial View

If there's one universal status symbol of wealth, it would definitely have to be the yacht.  When it comes to living the luxury lifestyle, taking a yacht for a cruise is a must!  While out on the water, these contributors made sure to fire up their drones to capture the decadent yacht-life from an aerial view.  Whether they're cruising upon seas that reflect warm colors of the setting sun, or bumping with music for dance parties, or serving as a spa getaway, the wayfaring water vessels featured in these drone videos make for some serious #yachtporn.  Sail away with these aerial views of yachts voyaging across all bodies of water!  Aerial Photo: " Sailing Yacht A " by AirVuz contributor and pilot Mali Sokol .

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The HMY Britannia

The royal yacht britannia | leith, scotland.

• about 7 years ago

Check out this fantastic drone video of one of the world's most famous yachts, compliments of Play North.  It's the HMY Britannia, which was the official yacht of the English Royal Family from 1953 to 1997.  Famously, the ship transported Queen Elizabeth through the newly-opened St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 to Chicago. Even more famously, in 1981 the Britannia took Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana on their honeymoon.  The ship is now docked at the port of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it's open to visitors.

Lürssen-built yacht opera.

• about 1 year ago

AirVuz contributor and drone pilot Mali Sokol brings us this rare aerial footage of one of the world's largest yachts cruising Croatia's Dalmatian Coast on the Adriatic Sea.  Launched in 2023 and built by the German yachtmaker Lürssen, the Opera has an overall length of 480 ft. (146 m).  One of the dozen largest private yachts afloat as of 2023, it's valued at around US $450 million.  The Opera displaces an incredible 12.5k gross tons, and its six giant Wärtsilä engines permit it to reach speeds of up to 25 knots (29 mph, 46 km/h).     

Superyacht oasis on the amalfi coast, superyacht oasis on italy's amalfi coast (2016).

• mediabymartin
• over 7 years ago

This drone video of a VERY high-end power yacht will get your attention.  Mrinab was able to get a drone over the superyacht OASIS as it was cruising off of Italy's Amalfi coast.  With multiple sundecks, sophisticated communications gear, and a giant collapsable slide, this watercraft strains the definition of the word "boat".  Prepare to be dazzled by the epic views of this stunning white boat as it plies the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is an extension of the Mediterranean.

Superyacht cloudbreak on the dalmatian coast, yacht cloudbreak.

• almost 4 years ago

Check out this fantastic drone video of the ultra-luxury yacht "Cloudbreak" moored on Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, compliments of AirVuz contributor and pilot Mali Sokol.  Built by the German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen, the 75 meter (just under 250 ft.) behemoth is owned by the charter company SuperYachts Monaco.  Its six staterooms can accommodate a dozen guests, who can come and go via helicopter.  With up to 22 crew members, it doesn't come cheap - as of 2020, the weekly rate started at 750k Euros or around USD$900k.  

Yachts in the hamptons of new york, yachts of sag harbor 2023.

• HamptonsDrone

Located in the between the two "forks" of Long Island, New York, a bit over 100 mi. (around 175 km) due east of New York City, the quaint village of Sag Harbor (which is actually split between the towns of East Hampton and South Hampton) has evolved into a prime summer getaway for the rich and famous.  In addition to multi-million dollar homes, that means multi-million dollar yachts, and lots of them.  Check out some of the Sag Habor resident and visiting yacht fleet in this excellent drone video by AirVuz contributor HamptonsDrone.  

The superyacht excellence, $130m super yacht excellence p4p 4k.

• Smith Cinematic Ae...
• about 4 years ago

What does a US $130 million yacht look like?  You can see one by drone in this amazing piece by top AirVuz contributor and drone pilot PO3SMITH.  He managed to use his DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone to film the Excellence cruising through the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts.  Launched in 2019, the superyacht has a length of 80 meters or about 265 ft.  Built by german yachtmaker Abeking & Rasmussen, the can accommodate 14 guests with a crew of 20.  The sleek vessel cruises at around 14 knots and has a top speed of 17 knots.  

Yacht party on croatia's zrce island, zrce beach 2017 official after movie.

• iamjantrnka
• over 6 years ago

Zrce Beach, on the Croatia's northern Adriatic Sea coast, has become a prime spring break destination.  This is a place of DJ’s, yachts, water sports, pool parties, and a few adult beverages later.  Wished you hadn't grown up?  Join the fun and watch it all go down with an exclusive view from above.  Contributor Jantrnkaproductions uses a drone to treat us to a bird's eye view of this Mediterranean party paradise, which is still somewhat less well known than the Dalmatian Coast further south.  

Fpv yacht chasing in sardinia, sealife yacht uncut in sardinia - caprera island.

• salva.tours
• over 1 year ago

The Italian island of Sardinia is known in part for its legendary yachting scene.  In this amazing first person view (FPV) drone video by top AirVuz contributor salva.tours, you will follow a 65 foot power yacht as it cruises the waters around northern Sardinia.  The video was filmed around the island of Caprera, a "satellite" which is located just north of the much larger Sardinia.  The yacht is a Moira Model 65, which is made by the Italian shipyard Cantieri di Sarnico.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list.  

Croatia's yacht week, the yacht week - the love boat edit.

• almost 6 years ago

Eight strangers gathered together to go aboard the Love Boat for Croatia's famous Yacht Week, and contributor jantrnkaproductions documented the experience with his drone.  The yacht crew was made up of individuals from various corners of the planet, and after one week together at sea, they became one big family.  Watch as they live it up on this stunning yacht cruising the Dalmatian Coast, with fine food and wine, gorgeous sea views, and the start of lifetime friendships.  

The superyacht moonrise on the adriatic, the dalmatian coast of croatia in southeastern europe has emerged as one of the world's top yachting playgrounds.  with its historic ports like split and dubrovnik, as well as numerous islands, its waters are frequented by some of the world's richest people and their floating behemoths.  in this drone video by mali sokol, you'll get a bird's eye view of one of the world's largest yachts: the moonrise, cruising near split. the largest ship yet to be launched by dutch yachtmaker feadship.  the ship has a length of 100 meters or 328 ft.., yacht on the french riviera, yacht charter in st. tropez, contributor aurelbaud brought a drone along on a yacht cruise on the french riviera and created this amazing video from the experience.  the video opens with an amazing shot of the legendary port of st. tropez, which was the port from where the yacht mangusta 82 was launched. from there, you will follow along like a bird flying over the stunningly beautiful cote d'azur, the world's first true  vacation beach spot, and the aquatic activities of the rich and famous who frequent here.  , vandutch yacht in miami, out for a spin on the luxury vandutch yacht.

• NonexistentJay

VanDutch is one of the newest names in the exclusive world of power yachts.  The Dutch company manufactures yacht lines in the 40, 48, 56, and 75 foot classes.  Naturally enough, one of its largest markets is the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area of southern Florida.  In this first person view (FPV) drone video by AirVuz contributor Nonexistent Jay, you'll be treated to some FPV footage of a VanDutch craft plying the waters of the Gold Coast.  This video was picked for the FPV Pilots to Watch list in November, 2020.   

Artefact superyacht, yacht artefact.

• about 2 years ago

AirVuz contributor and pilot Mali Sokol brings us this fantastic drone video of a superyacht floating in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Split, Croatia.  It's called the Artefact, and it was launched in 2020 by the German shipyard Nobiskrug.  The US $150 million vessel is about 265 ft. long (80 m) and can accommodate a dozen guests as well as 24 crew members.  Powered by two Caterpillar turbines, the Artefact has a range of 6k nautical miles and incorporates a number of environmentally progessive features.  

More yacht week from croatia, the yacht week - croatia 2018, croatia's yacht week has become one of the most important annual events in the rarefied world of international yachting.  it's actually one of a half dozen or so yacht weeks held around the world.  the croatian version, which is the largest in europe, is basically a seven day floating party along the country's famed dalmatian coast in the adriatic sea.  contributor jantrnkaproductions used a combination of ground camera and drone footage to record the festivities in the summer of 2018., dilbar by fpv: world's largest yacht, worlds largest mega yacht "dilbar" - ds aerial video productions, it's less than 30 seconds but this first person view (fpv) video of one of the world's largest yachts by airvuz contributor ds aerial video productions will blow you away.  he managed to use an fpv-equipped racing drone to film the dilbar, which was built by the german shipyard lürssen and launched in 2015.  this beast is 156 meters long (about 512 ft.), with a 24 meter beam (79 ft.) and a 6 meter draft (about 20 ft.).  displacing almost 16k gross tons, it's believed to be the sixth-largest yacht in the world by volume as of 2020., related drone video collections, drone videos of powerboats.

• Updated: about 1 year ago

Drone Videos of Sailboats

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• Updated: 11 days ago

Drone Videos of Naval Ships

• Updated: 8 months ago

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• almost 7 years ago

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Uncategorized

Yacht drone footage: everything you need to know.

August 15, 2021

minute read

Yacht drone footage - NOVELA yacht charter in Croatia

The drone must be technically correct before the flight, and you must ensure that the weather and other conditions allow for safe flying, that all equipment is securely fastened, and that the drone can take off and land without difficulty. Furthermore, flying the drone must be done in compliance with the Republic of Croatia’s airspace rules and the terms of the Ordinance on unmanned aircraft systems.

Here we list tips and tricks on how you can manage a drone while chartering a yacht in Croatia:

Consult with the appropriate authorities in Croatia

Having a magnificent yacht drone footage in Croatia is easier than you thought and according to Croatia’s national aviation body , flying a drone in Croatia is allowed, but we recommend being informed of and comply with the drone laws. 

First, you need to know where you can operate a drone and where it is forbidden. Some unauthorized places can just turn off the signal of your drone, probably destroying it along the way. That is why you need to consult with the appropriate authorities. 

Here are some rules about flying a drone while chartering a yacht in Croatia:

• The remote pilot must maintain the drone at a safe distance from humans at all times.
• The maximum take-off mass of the drone is less than 25 kg (55 lbs).
• The drone must be labelled with one of the following class identification labels: 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
• The remote pilot must not fly the drone over 120 meters (400ft).
• The drone will not transport any dangerous goods and therefore will not transfer any items.

Let your crew members know about your toy

We all know that drone photos and videos are excellent social media content, but if you want to record them on your yacht, be sure to notify your broker and the captain. They can really assist you with abiding by Croatian drone laws and tips on how to operate a drone while the yacht is moving. 

Furthermore, one of your crew members could undoubtedly be a drone specialist and will assist with monitoring or recording, while your captain selects the finest spots for taking amazing yacht drone footage, that is otherwise unobtainable from human perspectives.

Do not compromise the privacy and security of others

Taking photos or videos can sometimes cause anxiety for other people, especially if they are enjoying their security and privacy on a chartered superyacht. Always ask your captain to take you to magnificent locations where you can take incredible yacht drone footage while being totally alone. Just as you do not want people in the video, they do not want to be in it either – this will be a win-win situation.

Find perfect spots visible only from the sky

Have you ever heard of the Croatian fingerprint island or the heart-shaped island, located in the middle of coastal Croatia? These two are perceivable as such only if you lift the drone into the air, observing them from a bird’s eye perspective on your chartered yacht. There are plenty of other Croatian attractions that are better observed from the sky, so let your captain prepare the list and your social media will explode.

We are bringing you the top 5 locations for yacht drone footage:

• Bavljenac – the fingerprint island
• Telašćica salt lake – on the island of Dugi Otok
• Kontesa shipwreck – the near island of Šolta
• Galešnjak – the heart-shaped island
• Bol – changing-shape beach on the island of Brač.

If you familiarize yourself with these natural wonders, you will conclude that the best option for recording these wonders is from the sky, using a drone. The opportunity to make such unusual and intriguing photos and videos from the skies is an almost unknown phenomenon. Charter a yacht in Croatia and enjoy taking pictures of beautiful landscapes, uninhabited islands, historical cities, and much more…

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• Stunning sailing shots: how to choose and best use a drone

Sailing is an unforgettable experience, but why not enhance your sailing memories with stunning visuals?! Our tips on how to take drone footage on your boat will help you get the perfect shot. Plus, we'll show you how to minimise risks and prevent drone accidents at sea, so you won't lose your valuable data.

Choose a drone for sailing that is waterproof

At first glance, it might seem obvious, but there are dozens of boaters who have destroyed their drone in the waves. So if you're serious about capturing your sailing experiences at sea, a waterproof drone with a built-in camera is essential. As well as being able to shoot your sailing journey worry-free, the drone can be used to take footage of other fun activities, such as snorkelling, kiteboarding or paddleboarding.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Wondering what other activities to combine with sailing? Whether you enjoy water sports, such as snorkelling and kayaking, or prefer to explore islands and towns on foot or by bike — we've put together a list of the best. Try out our  Top 12 fun activities to do on a sailing holiday and make the most of your yachting vacation.

When choosing your drone, you should focus on a few other features such as the weight of the drone , photo resolution , zoom , lens  aperture  and  image stabilization . The formats in which the drone takes photos or shoots video are also important — the more of them the device supports, the better.

It is also advisable to choose a device that can  land on the surface  of the water. Also, consider the so-called home point (HP) — a fixed point for the drone to return to if it loses connection to the remote (something quite difficult to find at sea). In regattas, for example, this tends to be the judges' boat or the nearest piece of land. Having a home point also allows you to safely film from a greater distance. Keep in mind that mid-range drones have a signal range of about 5 km (individual models vary) but, even so, it's always best to keep your drone within sight.

A great choice for sailors is a device where you can set a dynamic home point  — it continuously updates the position of the home point according to the position of the remote.

Another key aspect is flight time and battery level , especially in open sea. If the battery level indicates less than 30%, you should bring the drone close to the HP (home point) so that it can get an improved signal and land better. If you're planning to land it on a moving boat, you should start flying the drone back when the battery is at 50%. If intend to do a lot of flying, it definitely pays to have spare batteries to hand.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Don't have your drone yet?  You  can find drones with a camera in online stores, such as on Amazon, or search for your local  specialist shop . Believe us, you'll have a lot of fun with it when sailing and capture some great shots. Just remember that if the drone has a built-in camera, it is necessary in the EU to register the device and the pilot.

Filming with a drone when sailing

The biggest challenge when filming with a drone is to get good quality, detailed shots without crashing into anything on the boat. Professional videographers recommend filming from a height above the highest mast of the floating boat, about 10 to 20 metres up. If you'd like to get some really action-packed footage, take advantage of manoeuvres such as when turning during a race. As well as the action of the crew, you may even be able to capture boats battling it out.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Would you rather be steering the boat than filming it with a drone? Get your  skipper's licence with us  .

More useful sailing tips:

It's easier with two people.

Every shot requires cooperation and although you may not need a whole film crew with a director, cameraman and sound engineer when filming your voyage, it's still worth having a helper. They can help you track the drone in the air, hold the drone as it takes off and lands, and generally assess the situation to determine when the drone is "fired up" enough to take off safely.

Your assistant can also help you in situations where the drone might hit the mast, shrouds (the steel cables holding the mast up) and other lines on board. You won't be able to see these on the screen or glasses connected to the drone. And, as you'll be focused on guiding it, you will need someone to give you perspective, even if your drone has to capability to automatically avoid obstacles.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Often when sailing, especially with a small boat, the only way to land a drone is to catch it in your hand. This can be quite an adrenaline rush. The "catcher" should wear a cap to prevent the risk of facial injuries and some more substantial gloves .

Tips on shooting videos with a drone

Although today's audiovisual technologies make it easy to take high quality photos and videos, it pays to know some basic guidelines to make your yachting holiday footage even better. Whether you're an experienced sailor or looking for the perfect sailing destination for beginners , we've got some tips on how to film your dream holiday:

• Think about your shots. You want to create an interesting video for family or friends, but you don't want to spend hours going over the rough footage.
• Before you launch your drone into the air, take a look around for the most interesting locations to film. Also, make sure the weather is clear. There's only so much wind your drone can handle and you don't want it to get blown away.
• Consider the resolution of the video. Will HD resolution be enough or do you want to project the video in Full HD (1920x1080) or 4K ? Do you have a computer with enough capacity to handle the raw footage or would you like to shoot the video on your smartphone?
• Find a helper to help you launch and land your drone, and generally help you with shot selection. It's also worth having a pair of gloves ready in case either of you have to catch the drone.
• Don't forget to monitor your battery level, set a low battery warning or set it to "Return to home" or "Hover".
• A drone makes a good servant, but a terrible master. Make sure that you are in control.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Already have a drone  as part of your sailing kit? Check out what else  to bring with you in our guide — Sailing essentials: don't forget to pack these things .

From the deck of which boat will you capture stunning scenery?

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• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

How to fly a drone like a pro and land it safely back onboard your yacht

• July 25, 2019

There’s a fine art to using a drone at sea – Terysa Vanderloo explains how to avoid crashing yours into the ocean

Drones can provide spectacular overhead shots while under way. Photo: Andy Schell: 59 North Sailing

With the advent of small, affordable and user-friendly drones , many cruising sailors have adopted them as a way of achieving really impressive and professional-looking photographs and video.

I speak from experience when I say this is far easier said than done, and flying a drone while under sail is a challenging task. However, there are proven techniques and tricks for flying a drone while under way – without it ending up in the drink. I spoke to three drone-piloting experts for their advice.

Andy Schell and his wife Mia run 59° North Sailing, which offers adventure sailing charters on their Swan 48 and Swan 59. They’re also fantastic photographers. Andy uses the DJI Phantom 4 Pro , which he believes is the best drone for flying from a boat because of the legs it has on its underside, which provide the perfect handles for catching the drone – without the very real fear of getting fingers caught in the propellers.

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

An on board reporter flying a Phantom 4 from the stern of a Volvo Ocean Race yacht. Photo: Jesus Renedo

My partner Nick and I have the smaller, compact version, the DJI Mavic Pro , which has no legs for landing: I can attest to the nerve-wracking experience of catching it from a moving boat and agree wholeheartedly that the Phantom would be a better option for flying while under way. The advantage of the Mavic is that it’s far smaller and folds up to an even more compact shape – we live on a 38ft monohull, and so stowage space is at a premium.

Brian Trautman, best known as the skipper of SV Delos on the popular YouTube sailing channel, has been flying drones since 2014. Since then, he and his crew have flown many drones in different conditions.

Brian has both the Phantom and Mavic on board Delos and also recommends the Phantom while flying from the boat as it is far easier to catch, as well as being more powerful, which helps in windy conditions. Their Mavic is used primarily for land-based excursions.

Brian Trautman (centre) prepares to fly a DJI Phantom 4 Pro

Therefore, which drone you choose may come down to whether or not you have the space to store a chunkier model like the DJI Phantom, and whether or not you want a drone that is portable. It’s worth noting that there’s a cost difference between the two: the Phantom is cheaper than the Mavic.

Another model that might be of interest is the DJI Spark , which is even smaller and more compact than the Mavic – not much bigger or heavier than a sunglasses case. Nick and I have successfully flown a Spark from a catamaran in light winds before, although it’s no good for windier days and also doesn’t have 4k capabilities.

I also spoke to Richard Edwards, a professional videographer who was one of the onboard reporters responsible for some of the incredible footage during the last Volvo Ocean Race . He suggests a simple yet ingenious solution to catching a drone such as the Mavic or Spark, which is to glue a light plastic mini tripod to its underside.

Read YBW’s guide to the best drones for sailing

Once you’ve purchased your drone, the next step is to get used to flying it. Clearly, practising from land is a wise starting point, so you can get used to how it handles as well as hone your skills for catching it.

Brian starts off by flying the drone in circles around trees or houses. “If you can do a complete 360° flying manually around a stationary object while still keeping a constant distance and the object in frame then that is something to be very proud of,” he advises. “Once you’ve mastered this, then it’s time to try the same thing on a boat – which is much harder.”

After you’ve mastered the basics, Andy suggests flying the drone on a breezy day in manual mode with the collision sensors and ‘return to home’ function turned off, since that’s how you’ll have to do it on the boat. He suggests: “Practice launching and catching it by hand – someone on the controls, another person on the launch and catch, ideally wearing sunglasses and thin gloves as safety protection.”

Raymarine’s Axiom UAV app can automate launch, in-flight navigation and return-to-boat for DJI drones

The next logical step is to practice flying the drone from the boat while at anchor to get used to the space you’ll be working with. However, at some point, it will be time to put your skills to the test and fly the drone from the boat while under way.

Andy says: “You need two people: a pilot and a catcher. We launch off the stern quarter, opposite the radar pole; that way, all the pilot has to do is fly straight up. The drone will want to hover in place and the boat will just sail away from it safely. Flying it downwind is far easier on battery life. Upwind, the drone can handle about 20 knots, but it’s harder to land on a heel and the battery won’t last as long.”

Richard also flies from the stern. “To launch, have a person hold it above head height off the back of the boat – it’s irrelevant if it’s downwind or upwind. Power up and immediately ascend to keep clear of rigging, and the boat speed should naturally mean it flies away.”

Flying a drone from a catamaran is generally easier as there is more space to launch and catch it and the boat itself is more stable. The trampolines may provide more room than the stern of the boat, but the disadvantage here is that there is still a danger of the drone colliding with the rigging. Again, choose a launch spot where there is clearance and the boat will be moving away from the drone once it’s in the air.

Article continues below…

Tested: 5 of the best drones for filming your yacht

Drones have really advanced over the past few years, with anyone now able to try their hand at piloting a…

Safe landings

When it comes time to bring the drone back to the boat and catch it, Richard advises already having a plan in place before taking off (this is also where you find out if you turned off the ‘return to home’ function). “Never land anywhere but at the stern of the boat and come in from behind, never from the side or overhead, otherwise you’ll be disorientated and hit the boat.”

Andy and Mia also catch from the stern. Andy says: “It’s easier to land than you think. “We start coming home at 60% battery. You’ve got to fly it in backwards, because the forward vision sensors will stop it from getting close enough to catch. “Keep the boat sailing straight and bring the drone in. If you need to re-do it, just let go of the controls. The drone will stop and hover, and the boat will safely sail away from it. Then bring it in for another try.”

On a catamaran, the trampolines may look tempting as a catching area, however it’s worth considering Andy and Richard’s advice: the safest option is the stern as the drone will be able to approach from behind, it will be clear of all rigging, and the boat is always moving away from the drone, meaning multiple attempts to catch it can more easily be made.

Drones can capture photos and video that were once possible only from a helicopter. Photo: Andy Schell / 59 North Sailing

Brian emphasises how difficult it can be to judge distances between the drone and the boat when both are moving. In fact, Brian usually flies the drone from the dinghy, which deals neatly with the danger of collision with the boat. “Most of the times I’ve crashed the drone have been trying to land while under way. I usually try to avoid this at all costs and prefer to fly from the dinghy. It’s much easier to land without worrying about the rigging.”

For cruising couples who are sailing short-handed this could be a challenge, although Brian and Karin, his wife, have managed it many times when it has just been the two of them on board. “Start simple and focus on simple movements,” Richard advises. “Most of all, have fun, but don’t underestimate the importance of safety and planning.”

Although it’s natural to worry about losing the drone overboard, Andy advises: “You won’t get the amazing shots if you don’t push the limits, so you’ve got to be prepared to lose the drone. If you absolutely cannot afford to lose it, then don’t fly it at sea!”

Drone specs

4k vs 1080?

This refers to the resolution of the image; 4k is actually 3840 x 2160 pixels and 1080 is 1920 x 1080 pixels. 4k is swiftly becoming the industry standard, however if all you want your photos and videos for is your own personal use or to post on social media, 1080 is perfectly fine.

Gimbal or stabilisation software?

Many drones these days will boast either a gimbal or electronic stabilisation. This is especially important for cruisers wanting to take video, however stabilisation will also help produce sharp photographs.

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Video: World’s Largest Charter Yacht ECLIPSE Filmed By Drone

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By Oliver Pearson   26 May 2016

Available for highly exclusive charter vacations, the 163m/533ft motor yacht ECLIPSE was filmed by an aerial drone as she was sat at anchor in the French Riviera earlier this month.

A famously private vessel, ECLIPSE has always been the preserve of a select few, with only a handful of images suggesting the kind of magic the British designer Terence Disdale has worked on her interior.

Built by the innovative German shipyard Blohm + Voss back in 2010, she was unsurprisingly named ‘Best Displacement Motor Yacht Of 3,000GT and Above’ as well as being the joint winner of the prestigious ‘Motor Yacht of the Year’ award at the World Superyacht Awards 2011.

With so much eminence and mystery surrounding her, it’s little wonder that she has generated an almost unprecedented curiosity amongst both industry players and charterers.

It was therefore to great excitement that the ‘French Riviera Water Toys’ company uploaded extensive drone footage of her as she joined the proceedings in Cannes earlier this month.

Indeed, the shrewd viewer will be able to discern the figures of both the 126m/414ft motor yacht OCTOPUS as well as the 84m/274ft superyacht SAVANNAH just a short distance away.

With so much to take in, the video of superyacht ECLIPSE is an all but inexhaustible resource

Offering a full panorama of motor yacht ECLIPSE as she dazzles in the Mediterranean sun, the footage begins by offering a profile of her starboard side before moving towards the fore and returning down her port side.

From here, the drone travels a little closer to the stern where the more eagle-eyed viewers will be able to catch a glimpse of her beach club.

In this way, not only are we treated to detailed views of her harmonious exterior lines, but also of her two helipads, tender garages, swim platform, and the various outdoor spaces spread across her various decks.

Obviously, with so much to take in, the video is an all but inexhaustible resource.

In order to find out more regarding ECLIPSE, and her availability, please speak with your preferred charter broker .

Alternatively, take a look at all Blohm + Voss yachts available for charter. Credit for the video: French Riviera Water Toys .

More Yacht Information

163m Blohm + Voss 2010 / 2015

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Video: Drone footage of Motor Yacht A

This eye-catching film could be a clip from the new James Bond adventure Spectre but though it isn’t, like the British spy’s martinis, it is something to shake and stir.

This drone film has is, in fact, captured Motor Yacht A , one of the most arresting boats on the planet. Designed by Philippe Starck and built by Blohm and Voss , the yacht was captured at anchor off Portofino on the Italian Riviera , an hour’s drive east of Genoa.

Even visitors and residents of this picturesque fishing village, where evidence of the trappings of luxury is commonplace, would have to admit that A at anchor was a dramatic and special sight.

The boat was commissioned in 2004 by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, who is rumoured to be the owner of one of  the world's largest superyachts Sailing Yacht A  and made his considerable fortune in the chemical and energy industries.

There is no mistaking the original look of the superyacht, the trademark of Starck, who made his name challenging tradition during a long career that has seen him design many things from street furniture to hotels. The Frenchman has a love of the sea and also designed Venus , the superyacht owned by Steve Jobs, the late founder of Apple computers.

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The 5 Best Drones for Sailing and Boating in 2023

Some of the links in this post are  affiliate links . This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.

If you’re looking for the best drones for sailing , you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re exploring hidden beaches, secluded bays, top marinas , awesome anchorage places, or want to film your boat while sailing, you’ll need to carry a drone on board to capture the greatest moments of your sailing experience.

Sailing enthusiasts usually want to capture every moment they can while they are sailing and drones make the process easier than ever before. After a long sailing day, drone footage is the best way to relive your awesome experiences on the water.

What is the best drone for boating? That’s a great question! There are many drones on the market and it’s hard to decide. Let’s take a look at the best drones for sailing, boating, and any marine use.

The 5 Best Drones for Sailing

Drones are quickly becoming extremely popular, and if you take boating as a hobby or passion, you may be wondering what drones are the best for boating.

Now, almost anyone can buy a drone, but not everyone knows what to look for. I’ll be giving you some tips and pointers on what to look for when buying a drone and which drones are the best drones for sailing.

All drone models are extremely stable, powerful, have a great camera, and have a decent flight time.

Let’s discover the best drones for sailing and boating activities, and which ones are best for various situations.

Here are 5 of the best drones for boating and marine use.

DJI Mavic 2 PRO - Best Overall Drone for Sailing & Boating

DJI Mavic 2 PRO is exactly what drone lovers have been waiting for: performance and picture quality in a compact package.

The Mavic 2 PRO is one of the most recent DJI drones, and it is packed with state-of-art technology, a fantastic camera, and, most significantly, it includes tracking and follow-me features. This is without a doubt the best drone for boaters.

The Mavic 2 camera drone is equipped with a Hasselblad L1D-20c camera with a 20MP 1″ CMOS Sensor, which allows you to shoot breathtaking aerial photos in astonishing color detail (resulting in outstanding quality and detail captured at a resolution of 20 megapixels). The camera includes a built-in stabilization technology in order to improve the quality of photos and videos. Thanks to the bigger sensor and 28mm equivalent prime lens, the ISO can be increased to 12800, which is significantly higher than other drones.

It’s an extremely powerful drone and it provides a maximum speed of 44 mph and a flying duration of up to 31 minutes. Also, it has a max. transmission distance of 10 km.

Did you know that the DJI Mavic 2 PRO has a wind resistance level of 5? That makes the drone of the best drones for sailing and boating activities. This is one of the best drones for windy conditions, being an ideal choice for boating and sailing.

ActiveTrack 2.0, HDR Photos, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, and a low-noise construction are among the smart features included in the drone. The drone also offers features such as QuickShots (Rocket, Dronie, Circle, Helix, Asteroid, Boomerang, DollyZoom), POI, Waypoint, TapFly.

The drone can be purchased with the standard controller or smart controller (it is a bit more expensive but worth it). The smart remote controller can operate for up to 135 minutes on a single charge (on a full charge). Using the smart controller, you don’t have to worry if your phone has enough battery. The controller screen is also very bright and easy to see even in sunlight.

The drone has an internal storage of 8GB but accepts SD cards, allowing you to add up to 128GB additional storage.

If you’re a sailor and looking to take your hobby to the next level by capturing aerial footage, look no further. This is, in our opinion, the best drone you can get for sailing.

• Foldable design
• Easy to fly
• Amazing Image Sensor (20 MP)
• Great Quality of Images
• Great Color & Dynamic Range
• More Obstacle Avoidance Sensors
• Shoots slow-motion video up to 1080/120p and 4K/30p
• Better in Low Light
• Wind Resistance: Level 5

DJI Mavic Air 2 - Best Drone for Windy Conditions

By far, the best drone when it comes to boating is the DJI Mavic Air 2. This drone has several benefits that make it the ideal choice for someone searching for their first drone or just updating their current model. Let’s look at why this is one of the best drones for boating.

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is a small, portable drone specially designed for boating. It has a 4K Camera that can capture high-resolution photos and a great video capture resolution during the day or at night with built-in LEDs.  It includes a tracking and follow-me feature.

The Mavic Air 2 is a significant upgrade over its predecessor with a better range, a considerably longer battery life, all for the same starting price as its predecessor. It offers a good value for novice pilots and seasoned sailors alike. Anybody who has ever flown a drone knows that it can be tricky to learn. You have to master no-fly zones and keep an eye on your battery life.

The 1/2-inch CMOS sensor on the drone produces 48MP images, while the 3-axis gimbal enables 4K/60fps video. A high-performance Quad Bayer image sensor is the key to producing amazing HDR footage.

The Mavic Air 2 is designed for first-time pilots with its simple flight controls but offers enough features for more experienced users to enjoy using it every day. The Air 2 is praised for its portability, controllability, video quality, and overall image quality.

Moreover, due to its wind resistance (level of 5), Mavic Air 2 can fly in windy conditions, making it an excellent drone for boating and sailing activities. Weighing only 20.01 oz (570 g) and having a level 5 wind resistance, DJI Maic Air 2 is probably the best drone for windy conditions.

The Mavic Air 2 has simple shooting controls that make aerial photography easier than ever. While flying freely, Spotlight 2.0 keeps the camera focused on a target. Subjects are kept in focus with ActiveTrack 3.0. POI 3.0 follows moving things such as people and cars. OcuSync 2.0 has a video transmission distance of up to 6.2 miles / 10 kilometers and can give a livestream in 1080p FHD definition directly from the drone’s camera. The drone is lighter than the PRO version, weighing only 1.25 pounds (0.57 kg).

The point perspective camera offers smooth motion for exploring the sea and you while sailing, and the gimbal technology uses a 3-axis stabilization system to keep your photos/videos steady.

With an excellent battery life of up to 34 minutes (~9 km) and a maximum flying speed of 42.3 mph in Sport mode, you can stay in the air long enough to obtain the ideal images and footages.

The drone combo pack also contains a four-way charger connector, which can take four batteries and charge each one. You don’t have to change every battery because it does the job for you. It’s useful if you’re charging all of your batteries overnight.

We recommend you choose the Fly More bundle because it includes all of the things you’ll need to keep you flying in the field for a longer period of time.

Moreover, you don’t need a cell service in order to operate DJI Mavic Air 2. This is an ideal drone for boating and sailing.

iOS 10.0 (or above) or Android 6.0 or higher is required for the DJI Fly app.

• Good Value for Money
• Very Light (20.01 oz / 1.25 lbs/570 grams)
• Up to 34 minutes Battery Life
• 48 MP Camera
• Shoots slow-motion video up to 1080/240p and 4K/60p & hyper-lapses up to 8K

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom - Best Fishing Drone

For boaters who want to take their storytelling to the next level The Mavic 2 Zoom features a camera drone which is all about dynamic views, thanks to a 1/2.3-inch 12MP sensor with up to 4x zoom, including a 2x optical zoom (24–48 mm, compared to DJI MAvic 2 PRO which features an effective focal length of 28 mm).

If you want the greatest quality images and have a large budget, the Pro is the way to go; but, if you don’t have a large budget, DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is still quite excellent.

It features a flying time of up to 31 minutes, a top speed of 44 mph, and a 3-axis gimbal for stable photos. Due to its intelligent flight battery, the battery status is monitored in real-time.  It also provides a level 5 wind resistance, making it an excellent drone for sailing.

Mavic 2 Pro VS Mavic 2 Zoom : The Mavic 2 Zoom is the only drone that supports the Super Resolution function. When shooting in 24 mm equivalent 5, the camera will take and patch nine shots with its telephoto lens, resulting in a 48-megapixel super-resolution image. Compared to the Mavic 2 ZOOM version, DJI Mavic 2 PRO offers HDR and 10-bit DLog-M, while the ZOOM version does not offer these features. Also, the resolution of 4000×3000 pixels is lower in the Zoom version, compared to the Pro version: 5472×3648 pixels. Both drones provide ActiveTrack (Follow Me feature).

Are you trying to find the best fishing drones? As you know, Drone fishing serves two purposes: surveying possible fishing spots (essentially surveillance to discover the best spot) and dropping the bait.

If you enjoy both flying drones and fishing, Mavic 2 Zoom is one of the best fishing drones because it comes with some of the best features: good wind resistance, a 9km transmission range, 4K camera, excellent obstacle avoidance sensors, Return to Home and Follow Me modes. Moreover, Mavic 2 Zoom is a little fishing drone that you can simply transport, being able to use the zoom to identify the ideal fishing areas.

The Mavic 2 Zoom drone features an internal storage capacity of 8GB and SD card support up to 128 GB.

ActiveTrack 2, QuickShots (Rocket, Dronie, Circle, Helix, Asteroid, Boomerang, DollyZoom), POI, Waypoint, and TapFly are among the outstanding autonomous modes available on the Mavic 2 Zoom drone.

If you opt for the smart controller bundle, you should know that the main feature of the controller screen is the 5.5 inch ultra-bright display which means that in bright sunlight, this screen is much more usable than any mobile phone. This is one of the great advantages for any boater.

As for the internet connection, this is only necessary when you set it up for the first time, but you don’t need it after that.

Furthermore, they provide you a full-coverate and hassle-free. You can replace the drone for collision and water damage.

• Excellent Zoom Range (24-48 mm)
• Continuous Auto-Focus
• 4K with Zoom
• Obstacle Avoidance on All Sides
• Easy to Use & Foldable design

DJI Mavic 3 - Longest Flight Times Drone & Best Performing Drone

The Mavic 3 is now a game-changer for water sports. Have you ever gone surfing and wanted to record your session on the waves? Or maybe you’ve used drones to document your sailing trips before. But now, there are other drones that do a much better job at recording your water-based activities.

The drone has a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera with a 12.8-stop dynamic range that preserves more details in highlights and shadows, elevating your work to a professional level.

Have you ever asked yourself which drone has the longest flight time? If yes, then you should know that DJI Mavic 3 has the longest flight time. With a spectacular flying length of 46 minutes (the drone with the best flight time ), the Mavic 3 drone allows you to take as many photos as you desire while just using one battery. The drone has a maximum transmission range of 15 kilometers and a live feed at 1080p/60fps.

Its camera has sophisticated Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing. This allows you to fly confidently and safely no matter where you are. Live feeds are also smooth and steady using the O3 Plus Transmission technology. If you’ve ever wondered how far a drone can fly (from the controller), DJI Mavic 3 includes a transmission technology that allows for a 15-kilometer transmission range.

It also offers a Smart Return to Home function. The Mavic 3 camera drone can return to its home point through an optimal, quick, and safe route thanks to a new Advanced RTH technology. Whether it’s due to a low battery or the pilot, returning the drone to you is now easier than ever.

Even if it is more expensive than the other drone models in the article, it certainly offers excellent features, setting a higher standard for aerial photography.

In comparison to the normal Mavic 3 bundle, the DJI Mavic 3 Fly More Combo comes with 2 x extra Intelligent Flight Batteries, 1 x Battery Charging Hub, one Convertible Carrying Bag, and one ND Filters Set (ND4/8/16/32).

• Extended Flight Time, up to 46 Minutes
• Its camera can record up to 5.1K/50fps or 4K/120fps videos
• Upgraded Transmission System (15 km range & 1080p/60fps live feed)
• Faster Focusing due to Vision Detection Auto Focus (VDAF) Technology
• Foldable design & Easy to Fly

Phantom 4 PRO V2.0 - Best Drone to Fly From Boats

The new DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is currently one of the best drones for marine use, with awesome features such as TapFly, ActiveTrack, Gesture Mode, and Draw Mode. Due to its flexible design, it is extremely easy to transport.

Did you know that the DJI Phantom 4 Pro has a maximum speed of 45 mph (Sport mode) and a maximum flight distance of 11 miles? That makes the drone of the best drones to take with you on your sailing trips.

The drone camera has a 3-axis motorized gimbal as well as a 1-inch 20MP CMOS sensor with a mechanical shutter that minimizes rolling shutter distortion, making it one of the best sailing drones. It offers a video capture resolution of 4K UHD 2160p.

It boasts an 8 km transmission range, a maximum flying speed of 72 kph, 1080p livestreaming, and automated frequency switching thanks to OcuSync 2.0.

Compared to Mavic 2 & Mavic 2 PRO, Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is larger and heavier but it’s definitely the simplest model to fly from boats due to its large legs (you can easily hand-launch and hand-catch the drone). That’s why Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is the best drone for boating.

The wind speed resistance of this drone is 22.37 mph (36 km/h). That means 36.08 feet (10 m) per second.

The drone is compatible with the DJI GO 4 App, which requires iOS 10.0.2 or above, as well as Android 5.0 or higher.

• The simplest model to fly from boats due to its large legs
• Easy to travel with due to its small size
• 30 minutes flight time
• Incredible 20MP Camera
• Tap-to Fly and Tap-to Follow Modes
• Powerful Flight Performance (45mph max. speed)

• Best Budget Drone for Sailing

For sailors who like to travel, a drone is an essential tool. If you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on high-end photography equipment, we recommend you to take a look on the best budget drone for boating.

DJI Mini 2 Fly More

This incredibly ultralight, compact and foldable drone weighs only 249 g, being the best drone for lower budgets. It is the perfect drone for your sailing or boating activity as it can withstand the wind of level 5, the filming being stable even when you are flying along the coastline.

Mini 2 provides amazing image quality thanks to its 12MP camera, 4K/30fps video and a 3-axis motorized gimbal. It has an OcuSync 2.0 video transmission and allows up to 10 km transmission for HD video transmission (720p).

DJI Mini 2 drone has a powerful performance, with a maximum flight time of 31 minutes, enough time to capture the best photos and videos. It offers 4x digital zoom and with just a few touches (Quickshots feature), you will get the professional videos you deserve. Some of the best features are Follow Me and Auto Return, both of which perform perfectly.

In addition, the drone can fly the following pre-planned flights: Helix, Dronie, Circle, and Rocket.

If the drone is close to your phone, the DJI Fly app will detect and connect to it, synchronizing chosen photographs and videos at a rate of 20 MB/s.

In terms of storage, the drone has no internal storage, thus you’ll need to purchase a MicroSD card. It has a storage capacity of up to 256GB (MicroSD card).

• Excellent Features, Fantastic Photos, and Videos
• Wind resistance: Level 5
• Ultralight, Powerful and Easy to use
• 31 minutes of Flying Duration
• 4x Digital Zoom & 4k Ultra-Clear Video
• HD Video Transmission

What Should I Look For When Buying The Best Drone for Boating?

Buying a drone can be complicated, especially if you’re new to the scene of drones. There are lots of features that drones have that make it confusing to know how to pick one.

Choosing the best drone for sailing and boating can be a tough choice. Before you purchase one, though, you need to do your homework. What are the core features of a drone and which ones do you need?

Flying Time

We all know that a great flying time (and range too) is extremely important for your drone to make your life easier.

The best drone for sailing and boating activities should have a minimum flight duration of 30 minutes. Since the flight time of a drone depends on the battery and the technology of consumption optimization, cheap drones can only fly 5 minutes, unlike high-performance drones that have a flight time of about 30 minutes. 

The price of a drone is directly proportional to the maximum flight time. Therefore, we advise you to pay attention to this aspect in order to avoid landing the drone on the ground in a few minutes, in order to change its batteries.

While most DJI drone models have a flight time of approximately 30 minutes, the DJI Mavic 3 is the drone with the longest flight time, up to 46 minutes.

If you run out of a drone battery, after replacing a new battery, we advise you to let the drone rest for 5-10 minutes. This way, you will avoid overheating the engines.

Transmission Range

The farther your drone can fly from the transmitter, the more relaxed you will be.

If a cheap drone can have a range of only 30 meters, the models in this article can travel between 9 km and 15 km (depending on the model) without losing contact with the transmitter.

If you are wondering why this aspect is so important, you should know that when you have a better transmission range, the drone can reach more distant places, obtaining the most beautiful photos and videos.

The DJI Built-in OcuSync 2.0 function allows the drones to automatically switch between two frequencies, extending the drone’s maximum transmission distance up to 10 kilometers for further versatility. This transmission system is available for DJI Mavic 3, DJI Mavic 2 PRO, DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, DJI Mavic Air 2, and Phantom 4 Pro V2.0. The DJI Mavic 3 drone provides an O3 Plus Transmission system with offers you a 15-kilometer transmission range.

The speed of the drone is important when sailing and you want to use the Follow Me feature.

Any boater wants the drone to be able to keep up with the boat. The faster the drone can fly, the more special videos you can get.

Furthermore, you want to prevent losing the drone transmission, so the speed is critical.

The average top speed of drones is between 40 and 60 mph (63-96 km / h), but some can fly up to 70 mph, while cheaper drones can reach a maximum speed of 20 mph.

Camera Quality

Since the purpose of a drone is to take successful photos and awesome videos, the camera’s quality is one of the things to consider when buying a drone.

The camera is among the most expensive parts to make and this influences the price. Usually, the more expensive a drone is, the more it will be related to the quality of the camera.

Factors that influence photo quality are shutter speed, frame rate, aperture, and image stabilization. All of these factors will affect the quality of your photos. More megapixels also allow for greater details in the images, so if excellent images are important to you, consider this as well.

Wind Resistance

The drone’s wind resistance level is measured between 0 and 12, and describes the highest wind speed that the drone can withstand in flight.

Therefore, the better the drone, the better the stability in windy weather conditions. A level 5 wind resistance drone will be able to be maneuvered much easier in windy conditions compared to a level 3 drone.

Thus, the level of wind resistance of drones corresponds to a scale, classifying wind speed into 12 categories. Known as the Beaufort scale , the level represents an empirical measure that links wind speed to weather conditions.

Level 5 is a good level of wind resistance for drones, giving you the possibility for your drone to fly safely up to wind speeds of 10.7 m/s (24mph).  All drones in this article have level 5 of wind resistance. This means that they are suitable for windy conditions.

Drones aren’t easy to fly and it takes time to learn how even the most basic of drones work. The best drone is one that’s easy to fly, offers good value for money and has great features. That’s why there are certain features that are non-negotiable.

There are tons of different types of drones and each has varying types of features. When buying a new drone it is important to know what features you should be looking for to get the most out of your purchase.

• Return to Home . This is a must-have feature. This is a highly helpful safety feature that helps in returning your drone to a safe, accessible landing site. Most DJI drones allows you to command the drone to return to the Home Point (RTH) when needed, when drone’s battery level depletes to a specified level (Low-Battery RTH) or when it happens to lose signal (Failsafe RTH).
• Follow Me . Many drone models include a Follow Me feature that allows the drone to follow you or another item and record a continuous video of the tracked object without you having to operate the drone manually the entire time.
• 3-Axis Gimbal . This mechanism that keeps your camera stable while allowing it to pivot with the machine’s motions is one ofo the things to consider when buying a drone. The various motions that a drone may do are characterized by the 3 axes (pitch, roll, and yaw). A three-axis gimbal can assist your drone’s camera in remaining stable even when in flight.

Why Would You Want a Drone for Sailing?

There are several excellent reasons to carry a drone boating with you. With the evolution of technology, drones have become more compact, high-performance, accessible, and easy to use.

Thus, more and more sailors and boaters have started to use sailing drones as a way to take awesome photos and professional videos. This is also because most drones are equipped with smart features such as “Return to Home” or “Follow Me”.

Here are the reasons to buy a drone for sailing.

Awesome Photos when Sailing

If you are a sailor, it is pretty obvious how a drone can fit into your hobby. In fact, one of the best uses for a drone in relation to sailing is the aerial photography aspect of it (or motion pictures). If you want to get better shots of you foiling downwind, kitesurfing, or whatever type of sailing you enjoy most, an aerial view can help.

Professional Videos

If you’ve spent any amount of time on the water, you already know how amazing the scenery is. Whether you’re cruising through an estuary or out on the ocean, the blue hues and vastness of the natural world is breathtaking. But what if you could capture that beauty in a whole new way? Thanks to these great drones for sailing, more than likely you can!

High-performance filming, these higher-end drones record in higher FPS, giving you the opportunity to get awesome videos.

Whether you want to get aerial footage with your boat while sailing or simply make a video with the people on the boat while having fun, these drones are the best choice.

Great Memories

Sailing is a thrilling experience. When you’re out on the water, you feel free and your adrenaline rush is off the charts.

All of us love sailing as it is an excellent way to get out to sea and feel the wind. There is nothing better than the freedom it gives you being on top of a sailboat. We can count on that with this sport, you have to have a true passion for it. It will be worth your while in the end though.

You should try getting yourself a drone if you want to get the best possible results. A drone is a perfect way to create great sailing memories that will last forever. Besides the fact that drones can capture the whole boat in the image, the aerial images and captivating videos will excite you every time you watch them.

Sailing provides some of the best memories in your life.

Racing and Regattas

So you’re about to enter your first sailing regatta or perhaps you’ve already participated in a few. However, you’re wondering if it would benefit you to have a drone at the event.

If you have ever tried to film yourself sailing at a regatta, then you’re probably aware that it can be quite hard. You need to find a way to mount your camera on the boat, but there’s nothing accessible.

No wonder many sailors use this drone in regattas, as they have higher and faster speeds. Many boaters also enjoy drone racing.

How to Fly a Drone from a Boat

Many people do not know that you can fly a drone from a boat. Drone sailing is one of the coolest ways to relax and have fun with friends.

How to fly and rig a drone from a boat is probably the biggest curiosity of any boater. Although there are several ways you can set up your drone for boating and sailing, here is the safest process.

1. Check the weather conditions

It is advisable not to fly in rain or wind conditions above the wind resistance level of the drone. It is best to use one of the best wind apps to check the wind predictions. It is recommended to fly the drone only if the wind speed is below 15 knots (less than 20 mph) and the chance of precipitation is below 10%.

2. Make a Pre-Flight Checklist

You should always have a pre-flight checklist in order to be checked before you fly. This helps you make sure everything is fine with the drone and you can fly safely. Here’s what your pre-flight checklist should contain:

• Check the physical condition of the drone, more precisely look for cracks in the propeller;
• Check the regulations for the area where you want to fly. You don’t want to find yourself in a no-fly zone;
• Check the condition of the batteries, as they are recommended to be 100% charged;
• Check that the controller and the drone are properly connected;
• Calibrate the compass before every flight;
• Check your camera settings and make sure there is a memory card in the drone if you intend to shoot images or movies;
• While flying, keep an eye on the drone’s settings.

3. Taking off and Landing your Drone on a Boat

The most important aspects of a drone flight are takeoff and landing.

Before taking off, make sure you are in an open area to fly the drone without worries.

When you are ready to take off your drone, you can follow the safety list:

• Before you start your drone, come to a complete stop on the boat. This permits the inertial measurement unit’s (IMU) electrical sensors to settle;
• Turn off the visual positioning system (VPS) over water because the movement of water can cause the drone to act improperly: sonic and optical sensors may have difficulty locking in on something fluid;
• Because the boat will have moved from the take-off position after a few minutes of flight, you must set the home point to Dynamic mode so that the remote control is always the return-to-home point.
• Start the drone;
• Check the battery level again and confirm the drone settings;
• If you fly your drone from your boat, the best method is you launch by hand because most boats are made of a lot of metal, which causes compass errors; Lifting the drone off the metal surfaces can eliminate the possible compass errors.
• If you fly your drone from land, slowly push the throttle up (the left stick) to begin the propellers spinning. Then pause. You can repeat this many times until you’re satisfied with the throttle’s sensitivity.
• Increase acceleration to raise the drone to eye-level altitude for about 10 seconds;
• Listed for abnormal sounds. Thus, in case of noticing a problem, you will be able to land the drone to fix the problem;
• If all goes well, the drone’s altitude begins to rise.

When you are ready to land the drone, you can use smart features like Return to Home and the drone does everything for a safe landing. Once landed, make sure the propellers have stopped moving.

If you want to hand-catch the drone you should know that catching a drone by hand is extremely risky. That’s why it’s recommended to wear a tight-fitting leather garden glove while preparing to hand-catch the drone. Gloves will not completely protect your hand from the propellers, but they will help.

Be aware of the direction and speed of the water current and the wind as the landing process will depend on the drift of your boat.

When landing in the hands of the catcher or on the boat, the drone’s engines will stop for a few seconds harder than on land, because the boat is in constant motion and the drone will not “recognize” that it is on land.

After the engines have stopped, turn off the drone (turn off the battery power) before moving the drone or removing the propellers.

Drone boating is a fun and exciting new sport that is gaining momentum around the world. As a drone boater, you understand how fun and exciting it is to be able to take your drone flying.

So, what is the best drone for boating? Knowing which one is best for your own specific purpose will enable you to make an informed decision.

A drone for sailing is a tool that every sailor should have. Not only drones make great pictures, but they can help you if you get in trouble at sea.

We hope we gave you a solid starting point for choosing the best drone for sailing.

F.A.Q. about the Best Drones for Sailing and Boating

Which drone has the longest flight time.

DJI Mavic 3 is one of the best drones with the longest flight time: 46 minutes.

How far can I fly a drone?

A high-end consumer drone, such as the DJI Mavic 3, has a range of up to 9.3 miles (15km). Also, Mavic 2 PRO, Mavic Air 2, Mavic 2 Zoom drones have a transmission range of 10 km.

What is the longest lasting drone battery?

The DJI Mavic 3 has the longest battery life of any drone on the market. The Mavic 3 is rated for up to 46 minutes of flying duration on a full battery charge, giving you extra time to capture the best shots, videos, or simply fly around to explore the surroundings.

Can I land a drone on a boat?

You can land a drone on your boat. As a landing pad, you can use a wet towel if you intend to land your drone on a boat deck. It will perfectly stick to the deck and legs of the drone.

Can I fly my drone from a boat?

You can fly your drone from a boat. DJI drones are the best models to fly from boats even if you have to launch and catch the drone manually (hand-launch and hand-catch).

What is the best drone for windy conditions?

DJI Maic Air 2 is probably the best drone for windy conditions because it is very light (20.01 oz / 1.25 lbs / 570 g) and has a level 5 wind resistance.

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Best drones for sailing: Take your boating videos to the next level

• Phil Sampson

We pick out 8 of the best drones for sailing, from budget-friendly options right the way through to advanced 4K models

It’s no understatement to say that drones have changed the moving image landscape in a more dramatic way than any other product since the video camera was invented more than 100 years ago.

Why? Because a drone removes the limitations of fixed, or largely fixed, viewpoints at a stroke by giving its operator the freedom of the skies from which to film. Well, almost…

The caveat here is that anyone wishing to pilot a drone must first register and take a theory test to gain a Flyer ID for themselves, and then apply for an Operator ID for their drone. It’s all set down in the Civil Aviation Authority’s Drone Code .

The Drone Code also covers topics such as safety, where you can and cannot fly, and privacy protection. As such, it is the bible for wannabe droners.

Once the registration and ID hurdles have been overcome, there are then the not inconsiderable questions of what are you looking to achieve with a drone, and what sort of drone do you need to achieve it?

We’ve all seen those awe-inspiring TV and movie images produced by drone-mounted cameras soaring over ridges, speeding through gullies, circling 360-degrees around moving vehicles and so on.

These will have been shot by skilled professionals using professional equipment and while it’s eminently possible for the rest of us to create spectacular drone footage, do be aware that any successful shoot will demand considerable planning and preparation beforehand and editing skills afterwards.

And if you’re looking to film from a boat, you may also want to ask questions about landing the drone safely back onboard after a flight…

In terms of equipment, suitable drones for sailing fall into a number of categories – which for our purposes we’ve summed up as budget, intermediate and advanced:

Budget drones for sailing

Drone X Pro

Typical of the mass of entry-level drones available on eBay is the Drone X Pro, a three-speed foldable drone which gives around 10 minutes of flying time for a 100 minute charge.

Its control distance is limited to approximately 150 metres, which although it doesn’t sound much is the equivalent to the length of one-and-a-half football pitches. The Drone X Pro shoots in 4K ultra high definition and boasts a range of features including 360-degree rolling, one key take-off and landing, and one key Auto Return.

Smartphones clip onto the drone’s handset to provide a straightforward controller with real-time screen viewing.

Price: £18.99

Buy it now on eBay

Snaptain GPS

We’re hoping this drone’s name is not an amalgamation of ‘snap’ and ‘captain’, and on the presumption it won’t make boaters lose their cool we’ve added it to our best drones for sailing list because the Snaptain GPS delivers a host of features at a budget price.

Included in the spec are a wide angle 1080P HD camera, a mechanically stabilised gimbal and voice control, which is affected by speaking command words (eg: forward, back) into your connected smartphone.

GPS enables functions such as Follow Me and Auto Return and there’s an Optical Flow mode to help keep the drone’s lateral and forward movement stable relative to what’s below it. As such, Optical Flow provides a useful stability tool should the GPS signal be lost.

Price: £35.99

Intermediate drones for sailing

Proflight X18

Moving up a level in sophistication we come to the Proflight X18. Providing up to 25 minutes of fly time, this drone has a 4K UHD camera, so the footage it delivers should be super-clear.

There are also controls for camera zoom and tilt, plus a gesture mode which allows the user to control the drone by way of hand and arm movements aimed at their smartphone app, which dutifully relays the commands to the drone.

The Proflight X18 has a range of 1,000 metres, although its WiFi is limited to around 600 metres. An extra bonus is that this drone is supplied with a spare set of propellors.

Price: £129.97

Buy it now on DronesDirect.co.uk

Parrot Bebop

Simplicity in motion sums up the funkily named Parrot Bebop as this drone features an intelligent flight system which automatically keeps the Parrot aloft and under the user’s control at all times by way of its associated app.

The integrated onboard camera takes 14 mega pixel 180-degree fish eye photos and shoots 1080p high definition video, which can be monitored from the ground by way of a live feed direct to the pilot’s phone.

The Parrot Bebop can manage up to 12 minutes on a single charge, so investing in a spare battery might well be an option to consider here.

Price: £263.99

Buy it now on Amazon (UK)

Holy Stone HS720E

One of the key advantages of the Holy Stone HS720E is that it’s supplied with two intelligent batteries. Each of these provides up to 23 minutes of flight time, meaning more time in the air and less charging.

The unit’s brushless motors are powerful and quiet in operation and have been designed to make flying smooth, stable and fast. Air optical flow and air pressure altitude controls are both included, meaning the drone can hover stably.

The integral GPS system locks onto the position of the drone before take-off, which in turn enables the auto-return to home function, thereby minimising the chances of the drone being lost.

Price: £254.99

Advanced drones for sailing

Yuneec Typhoon Q500

Raising the bar another notch is the Yuneec Typhoon Q500, our choice for a sub-£1,000 advanced drone for sailing. Inside the box is the aircraft itself, its 4K UHD 30 frames per second camera, Yuneec’s ST10+ FPV (First Person View) ground station, a Yuneec SteadyGrip, a Lithium Polymer battery and a range of accessories.

One of the many advantages of the Yuneec Typhoon Q500 is that its ST10+ ground station has an integrated 5.5″ LCD viewing screen, meaning that no other equipment (e.g. smartphone) is required for flight.

The system comes with a range of features and modes, including Follow Me and Watch Me (where the camera remains pointed at the pilot) and Dynamic Return Home, which automatically lands the drone within 4-8 metres of the ground station.

Price: £699.99

DJI Mavic 2

With an established range of gimbal-equipped cameras under its belt, DJI is an experienced player in the stabilised image field. The DJI Mavic 2 sees the company’s expertise applied to the world of drones, where it is undoubtedly making a fine job of matters.

The Mavic 2 Zoom featured here is classed as a professional level piece of kit and as such offers high resolution still images and video shot through its camera’s 24-48 mm optical zoom lens, with a further x2 magnification available digitally.

Fast, accurate focus is another stand out feature of this drone and its Dolly Zoom mode automatically adjusts focus when flying to provide what DJI describe as an intense warping visual effect.

Price: £1,059

DJI Air 2S Worry-Free Fly More Combo

As the name on the box infers, this DJI offering is an all-in-one product intended to dispel any fear of flying and freeing its owner to concentrate on making great movies – the bundle even includes a service plan covering various types of common drone damage.

Anyone still worried about the risks can comfort themselves with the fact that the DJI Air 2S also has AirSense, a flight location system which provides audio and visual alerts of other aircraft in the vicinity through the DJI Fly app.

Two video options of 4K and an even higher resolution of 5.4K come as part of the package, which also features a 5.5″ smart controller with its own 1080p HD display.

Other items supplied in the combo are three intelligent flight batteries, a charging hub, a set of neutral density filters to aid shooting in bright conditions, and a shoulder bag.

Price: £1,229

Russian and Chinese warships repel simulated drone and air attacks in joint operations

Posted: September 17, 2024 | Last updated: September 17, 2024

Russian and Chinese warships carried out joint exercises to repel a simulated drone and air attack in the Sea of Japan. Footage from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on September 16 reportedly shows the Russian and Chinese warships carrying out drills and opening fire on mock enemy targets. The Russian MoD said in a statement: 'In the Sea of Japan, warships of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the Navy of the People's Liberation Army of China, acting as part of a joint task force, carried out complex tasks involving live-fire missile and artillery drills as part of the 'Ocean-2024' strategic command and staff exercises (SCSE). 'On the Russian side, more than 15 warships participated in this phase of the exercise, including the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, the Guards Order of Nakhimov missile cruiser Varyag, the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleev, the corvettes Sovershenny, Rezky, and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, as well as two diesel submarines. 'Over 10 aircraft and helicopters from the Pacific Fleet's naval aviation and the Russian Aerospace Forces supported the naval operations. 'From the Chinese side, the destroyers Xining and Wuxi, along with the frigate Lin Yi, participated. 'During the practical operations of the joint Russian-Chinese naval group, the threat of an attack by unmanned boats and FPV drones from a simulated enemy was neutralized. 'To achieve this, Ka-29 assault helicopters, Grachonok-class anti-sabotage boats, and shipboard electronic warfare units were deployed. 'The task force's mine countermeasure protection was provided by modern Anatoly Shlemov and Yakov Balyaev naval minehunters. 'The Tu-142 and Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft from naval aviation provided long-range anti-submarine protection, while Ka-27PL deck helicopters practised submarine detection using towed sonar systems. 'Depth charges were deployed against a simulated enemy submarine, dropped by anti-submarine aircraft, alongside the use of RBU-6000 rocket depth charges. 'As part of the exercise, the joint task force repelled an air raid by the simulated enemy. 'Shipboard artillery and the Kinzhal air defence missile system on the Admiral Panteleev were employed to target aerial threats. 'During a simulated naval battle with an enemy task group, the crew of the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate successfully launched a cruise missile from the Uran missile system. 'The warships also conducted artillery fire against sea targets, simulating an enemy ship group. 'In addition, the joint task force practised tactical manoeuvring and communication drills. 'The actions of the Russian and Chinese crews at sea were observed by 24 representatives from 10 countries from aboard the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate. 'According to the training plan of the Russian Armed Forces, naval units are participating in the strategic command-staff exercise 'Ocean-2024', which will continue until September 16. 'The exercise is being held in a bilateral format under the overall command of Admiral Alexander Moiseev, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, and is one of the key operational and combat training activities of the Russian Armed Forces in 2024. 'The manoeuvres, taking place in the waters of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic Seas, involve more than 400 warships, submarines, and support vessels, over 120 aircraft and helicopters from naval aviation and the Aerospace Forces, around 7,000 pieces of military and special equipment, and over 90,000 personnel. 'The main objectives of the 'Ocean-2024' exercise are to assess the readiness of the command staff of Russian Navy units to manage diverse force groupings within their areas of responsibility, solve unconventional operational tasks, comprehensively utilise precision weapons, advanced and modern weaponry, and military equipment during the practical phase of the exercise, as well as to enhance cooperation with partner nations' navies in joint maritime operations.' Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in what the Kremlin is still calling a 'special military operation'. The conflict is still ongoing with public support from Europe and the United States fading and businesses reopening their ties with Russia. Deserters have fled both countries for safer climbs in Europe and Asia.

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