Bone dome

[zoidberg]

There have been numerous 'head strikes' when skull meets boom or structure at speed. Oft times the result is serious; it is all the more so when the victim is singlehanding.

Yesterday we find Abhilash Tomy, contestant in the Golden Globe Race and struggling just a few miles offshore from probably the most forbidding lee shore on the planet, reporting he has had a 'bang on the head'. He has had his share of hard knocks....

I'm wondering what we might find in other sports and trades that would give substantial skull protection from hard knocks - and still be light and comfortable enough to be in place when needed.

Do the worlds of racing cycling, or ice hockey, or canyoning, or...... have lightweight dedicated headgear that might find favour on our boats? What do bigboat racing 'bowmen' wear?

 

[Mister E]

Check out a Bump Cap.
It is like a baseball cap but with a hard plastic liner.

 

[thinwater]

Check out a Bump Cap.
It is like a baseball cap but with a hard plastic liner.

These are really just for nuisance bumps, like the ones that cause a small cut or bruise on bald-headed guy coming down the companionway. Yes, I wear one on my trimaran, but not on the cat. The liners are about $8 and fit most ball caps and sun hats. Add some extra foam patches, for padding and fit.

Real hits require a watersports helmet (whitewater kayaking, for example) (yes, there is a standard). Zhik H1, for example. Also Forward and Kong.

 

[Neeves]

There have been numerous 'head strikes' when skull meets boom or structure at speed. Oft times the result is serious; it is all the more so when the victim is singlehanding.

Yesterday we find Abhilash Tomy, contestant in the Golden Globe Race and struggling just a few miles offshore from probably the most forbidding lee shore on the planet, reporting he has had a 'bang on the head'. He has had his share of hard knocks....

I'm wondering what we might find in other sports and trades that would give substantial skull protection from hard knocks - and still be light and comfortable enough to be in place when needed.

The worlds of, cycling, ice hockey, or canyoning, or...... have lightweight dedicated headgear that might find favour on our boats? What do bigboat racing 'bowmen' wear?

The often maligned Clipper event have recognised the weakness of the skull and each of 2 watches has a dedicated helmet. Not for everyone but for specific activities, primarily mast work at sea (and as I am handy at mast work and do it on a 'voluntary basis I can attest to the need) and for MOB retrieval if a crew member needs to go overboard to assist in a recovery, So skull vs mast and skull vs hull.

Photo is - Locker with the safety kit (named for the individual), wet weather gear, harnesses, tethers, LJs and helmet for one watch on a Clipper yacht.


I'm not sure the boom is low enough on Clippers to be a menace.....? but the ideas are there.

I also don't know what helmets Clipper chose and whether they are the optimum - but skate boarding, skiing, rock climbing, cycling, kayaking - even foiling yachts commonly use helmets - there are a plethora of industries from which, the individual can, choose. I'm not sure that 'water sports' are the ideal for a yacht, kayakers seldom have the need to look up (as on a mast). Climbing or caving 'seem' more appropriate - or even foiling yachts.

The helmets you see on building sites are not sensible - they have a peak/brim to keep the sun or rain off - they force you to put your head further back to see up the mast - very uncomfortable and tiring. My first rock climbing helmet was such - and I cut the brim off the then bought a (the late) Joe Brown dedicated rock climbing helmet. The Clipper helmet simply covers the skulls - much better

We have a cycle helmet on Josepheline (but then we also carry bicycles where helmets are mandatory and I do like dual use kit).

Jonathan

 

[RJJ]

I have a helmet that is branded for wakeboarding, which I have also used for kitesurfing. It is light, comfy, keeps visibility, and has good skull coverage. It's roughly twice the weight of a bicycle helmet. It goes Yachting.

You would definitely want something from waterssports so that it's designed to get soaked.

Something like this:2023 Crewsaver Kortex Watersports Helmet Black 6317 - Boardsports - Helmets