Sailing Uma · video

What this video covers

The crew of Uma performs a series of drone flight and retrieval tests while sailing in 15 knots of wind off the coast of Longyearbyen, Svalbard.8:50 To improve aerial photography techniques, the crew compares the flight stability and handling of a DJI Phantom 4 against a smaller Mavic Air 2.13:24 The Phantom 4 exhibits inconsistent, "clunky" behavior in gusty conditions, while the Mavic Air 2 maintains a stable, GPS-locked position that simplifies manual retrieval.13:58 The crew experiments with different retrieval locations on the boat, finding that catching the drone from the stern is more stable than the mid-ship area, as the stern experiences less vertical motion during gusts.12:25 They conclude that the newer, AI-assisted drones offer superior control and confidence for hand-catching compared to older, more analog models.18:58 Before the sail, the crew replaces metal mainsail slugs with plastic ones to prevent jamming in the mast track during reefing.2:06

More from Sailing Uma

Our boat won’t look the same after this | Step 495Aug 2026The ONE Thing We Disagreed on This Entire Refit | Step 494Aug 2026We Owe You The Full StoryJul 2026We spent $10,000 on something Pretty | Step 493Jul 2026

From Sailing Uma — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.