Auto LJ's and BIG waves

[Seajet]

Talking of snatch loads ( which I'm not too worried about frankly, as mentioned jackstays are hard to set up on my boat and I'm happy with very strongly backed eyes beside the mast ) I remember when I had to photograph a military parachute set-up after a very sad accident.

The 'chute harness straps had stitched sections with increasing strength stitching, so that under shock load ( this was an ejection seat 'chute ) the weaker sections would give, leading up to the very strong part, so that there was a little less strain on the ejectee's body.

Seems a good idea, no doubt more expensive to provide.

 

[Conachair]

Talking of snatch loads ( which I'm not too worried about frankly, as mentioned jackstays are hard to set up on my boat and I'm happy with very strongly backed eyes beside the mast ) I remember when I had to photograph a military parachute set-up after a very sad accident.

The 'chute harness straps had stitched sections with increasing strength stitching, so that under shock load ( this was an ejection seat 'chute ) the weaker sections would give, leading up to the very strong part, so that there was a little less strain on the ejectee's body.

Seems a good idea, no doubt more expensive to provide.

Similar exists already in the fall arrest world -

though they are designed for falls, hard to predict their usefullness onboard. I think the emphasis should be put on keeping the lanyard as short as possible at all times, if you do get caught by a wave coming onboard then don't go too far.

As with so many aspects of safety at sea, the number of incidents are so small that it's difficult to get any kind of definitive handle on "the best way which works"