Sneaky Pete
Well-Known Member
Started paddle boarding and about to try some windsurfing. With safety in mind as always what is the buoyancy aid of choice for those into windsurfing. I am just south of 100kg so I assume about 70N jacket.
It's a windsurfing question.
- Thread starter Sneaky Pete
- Start date
wully1
Well-Known Member
I’ve never worn a life jacket in the near 40 years I’ve been windsurfing... no need for additional buoyancy if you are wearing a wetsuit - try swimming under water in one and see.
Ive heard the “What if you knock yourself out ?” Argument and it is certainly within the bounds of possibility to render yourself unconscious windsurfing but it’s near impossible to climb on a board wearing a life jacket..
Trendy windsurfers do wear Impact Vests which have some buoyancy in them and they might give your ribs some protection when you land on your board. Talk to John at Sailrepair.co.uk
Ive heard the “What if you knock yourself out ?” Argument and it is certainly within the bounds of possibility to render yourself unconscious windsurfing but it’s near impossible to climb on a board wearing a life jacket..
Trendy windsurfers do wear Impact Vests which have some buoyancy in them and they might give your ribs some protection when you land on your board. Talk to John at Sailrepair.co.uk
Sneaky Pete
Well-Known Member
He lives next door. It was only for being able to stay afloat safely if I become too nackered or unable to lift myself onto the board.
Adrian62
Well-Known Member
When I used to windsurf I usually wore a buoyancy aid .It was snug fitting one like water skiers use . It was never a problem getting on the board and a great assistance when doing water starts .
prv
Well-Known Member
I’m not really sure what answer you’re looking for here. There are probably hundreds of models of watersports buoyancy aid on the market - pick one you like and buy it?
Pete
Pete
wully1
Well-Known Member
next time you are out on the water try getting under water with your wetsuit on... that will tell you if you need any more buoyancy.
FairweatherDave
Well-Known Member
Agree with Wully, no need at all. Your board is your bouyancy (holding onto it) when you are in the water (along with your wetsuit). If you get to the stage of learning to water start you may decide you want one, but pretty unlikely. Your harness at that stage also gives a bit of bouyancy.
greeny
Well-Known Member
Like others said, I never wore one in 35 yrs of windsurfing. Found them too cumbersome. Buoyancy of the wetsuit more than adequate for normal circumstances. I guess if you get knocked unconscious then there's a case for wearing one. I never did.
Thinking about it, when windsurfing abroad without a wetsuit, I never wore one either. The harness gives a bit of buoyancy but not much depending on the type. We all did daft things when we were younger.
Thinking about it, when windsurfing abroad without a wetsuit, I never wore one either. The harness gives a bit of buoyancy but not much depending on the type. We all did daft things when we were younger.
rwoofer
Well-Known Member
Another person who has never worn a bouyancy aid windsurfing.
Sneaky Pete
Well-Known Member
Thanks for opinions. Agree the wetsuit does float when worn. Time will tell.
Sealong
Well-Known Member
I have windsurfed for 36 years and I too have never worn a buoyancy aid. It would be far too restrictive to movement of the upper body, which is crucial in windsurfing. I often get asked if I do along with do I carry a phone with me or an EPIRB ? (how about a few sandwiches and flask of coffee ? I think they misunderstand windsurfing) As others have said: your board and to an extent you wetsuit are your buoyancy aids.
Good luck Pete, I was hooked the day I first stepped onto a windsurf board on a flat Hove Lagoon in June 1984 and I have never looked back.
Good luck Pete, I was hooked the day I first stepped onto a windsurf board on a flat Hove Lagoon in June 1984 and I have never looked back.
lw395
Well-Known Member
I do a lot of dinghy sailing. Mostly racing.
I wear a 50N buoyancy aid for that, it's required.
Modern dinghy sailing BA's are not really cumbersome or restrictive.
Modern wetsuits are thin and not all that buoyant.
I tend to wear my BA when on a kayak. When you're in the water, it puts your head that bit higher, makes getting back on a lot easier I think. Which makes life less tiring if you're falling in a lot.
Also if things go wrong and you need to help someone else or whatever, some extra buoyancy is suddenly a damn good idea.
But for windsurfing, you need to consider the harness.
Maybe get a bit of coaching and try the school kit?
I wear a 50N buoyancy aid for that, it's required.
Modern dinghy sailing BA's are not really cumbersome or restrictive.
Modern wetsuits are thin and not all that buoyant.
I tend to wear my BA when on a kayak. When you're in the water, it puts your head that bit higher, makes getting back on a lot easier I think. Which makes life less tiring if you're falling in a lot.
Also if things go wrong and you need to help someone else or whatever, some extra buoyancy is suddenly a damn good idea.
But for windsurfing, you need to consider the harness.
Maybe get a bit of coaching and try the school kit?