Our friends at Voomquest set out to achieve something never before done at a local level, livestreaming a powerboat race on Facebook. This initiative was specifically for one Grand Prix held at the Grand Harbour in Valletta, aiming to bridge the gap between the race and fans who couldn’t attend while also engaging their international audience.

For the other three Grand Prix events, held in Rodi, Brindisi, and Cervia as part of the Italian stretch of the circuit, a livestream was deemed unnecessary. Instead, the focus shifted to producing daily highlight videos, along with a comprehensive recap video capturing the essence of each Grand Prix as a whole.

Given our expertise in livestreaming, we were well aware of the challenges ahead. However, an unexpected twist came in the form of less-than-ideal weather on race day, with light rain repeatedly disrupting both the Voomquest team and our ability to maintain an uninterrupted stream. Equipped with rain-resistant gear and protective covers, we ensured that nothing was left to chance, meticulously planning every detail to overcome the obstacles.

Filming abroad, however, presented an entirely different set of challenges. Traveling light was essential, requiring us to strip our gear down to the bare necessities. Our final kit included a tripod, a gimbal, two cameras, two lenses, and plenty of batteries, just enough to capture high-quality footage while remaining agile.

One camera was set up near the pit garages to conduct a series of interviews between races and to capture the race starts from a distance. Another camera, equipped with a 70-200mm lens, was positioned near the finish line to record the exact moment the boats crossed. To ensure accuracy in case of a photo finish, this camera was set to a higher frame rate, allowing race officials to review footage if needed. In addition to ground-level coverage, we deployed a drone to capture breathtaking aerial shots, providing a bird’s-eye view of the races. Notably, all cameras, including the drone, transmitted a wireless feed to a central operations hub. The footage was managed through an ATEM Mini Extreme ISO and then routed into OBS for seamless live production and broadcasting. 

For the international stretch, as previously mentioned, packing light was essential. We selected two versatile lenses: a 24-70mm for its adaptability and a 70-200mm for its longer reach. The 24-70mm-equipped camera was positioned on a boat at the start/finish line, capturing dynamic on-water action, while the 70-200mm-equipped camera was stationed on shore, providing a closer view of the race from a stable vantage point. 

To ensure same-day edits, an editing station was set up back at HQ, where the day’s footage was promptly delivered, organized, and edited. The goal was to have the final edit uploaded within an hour of the race’s conclusion. Each edit began with general shots of the pit, captured on previous days specifically for the introduction, followed by race highlights tailored to the key moments of the day.

The client was extremely pleased with the final delivery of the project. For us, this was yet another enriching experience, one that further honed our expertise in handling projects of this scale and complexity.