Delivering live coverage of 2,000 metres of racing at Dorney Lake requires a significant behind-the-scenes operation. This year’s National Schools’ Regatta will be supported by a large outside broadcast (OB) infrastructure designed to follow every stroke from start pontoon to finish line, delivered in partnership with Onside Productions — specialists in live broadcast and sports production.

More than 12 kilometres of fibre optic cable will run around the perimeter of the lake, connecting camera positions along the course to the central OB truck. Five cameras will be placed at 500-metre intervals along the bank, with dedicated super-slow-motion rigs at the start and finish. Two broadcast drones will provide aerial coverage of the venue, offering overhead angles that show lane spacing and boat positioning throughout each race. A further two roaming cameras will operate at the pontoons and in the boat park, covering crew preparation and post-race interviews.

Live telemetry graphics will bring real-time split times to the screen as racing unfolds, while a network of directional microphones will capture the sounds of the water and the crews. The full operation will be run by a team of more than 15 broadcast professionals, including tracking operators, drone pilots, a live sports director, and graphics engineers.

Accurate, real-time race graphics and timing data will be provided by Time-Team, the regatta systems and timing specialists, through a longstanding partnership with the event.  Time-Team will once again be on site at Dorney, ensuring that split times and results are displayed reliably throughout the three days of competition.

Coverage will be streamed live on YouTube across the three days of competition.

The National Schools’ Regatta would like to thank the partners whose support makes this live streaming possible: Elston Consulting and Henry Cobbe.

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