Latest PBO mag, lifejackets who needs them ....

Karouise said:
When was the last time you reefed a 27' in a force 5 gusting 6 mid channel? It is a bit bumpy, nothing is in the right place -
!
Click to expand...

With over 140 channel crossings, a round england SH etc etc i think i have done that a few times
Sailing is not just a bit of tacking & gybing it is about how you operate your boat & how you handle it as well
 
maby, re your post #37:
I wasn't in any way trying to dismiss your concerns, which are certainly real enough. My comment was partly tongue-in-cheek, partly a recognition that the reality of risk of all sorts is a very long continuum and our perception of it equally varied, for reasons both rational and wishful.

That said -- and granted a tad tangential -- some antipodeans favour motorcycle crash helmets for sailing in bad conditions...not so much to protect heads from booms (although they must help) but for the same reason many UK bikers wore them before the helmet law: to keep the bloody awful weather out.
 
maby said:
jump, step - whatever you call it, there is a transition from the boat to the pontoon which includes a risk of falling! It just seems to me that a modern lifejacket is so unobtrusive that it makes sense to be wearing one whenever there is a risk of falling in. Falling off a medium sized yacht or motorboat is very different from falling into a swimming pool - you are a lot higher and you have guard rails that will trip you so that it is a head-over-heels tumble rather than a clumsey dive in.
Click to expand...

I have fallen in twice when berthing having caught myself on part of the guard rails as I went ashore (once in the dark in late October and the second in daylight during July or August), from memory I feel that the a lifejacket would have been more of a hinderance than a help.
 
vyv_cox said:
Despite what people think they have seen in the article photos, the message about not jumping is stated in heavy text.
Click to expand...

Yes but the text and associated photos have lines like "Mike Leaps ashore.." and clear intimations that a Leap/Jump?urgent step.. whatever... is needed for such manoeuvres.

The "warning" is more along tip 5 - "don't jump - lasso - as jumping is dangerous enough under power...." - not the same thing

BB
 
Karouise said:
When was the last time you reefed a 27' in a force 5 gusting 6 mid channel? It is a bit bumpy, nothing is in the right place - it all moves! Most of the reef is done at the mast but I do need to move from one end of boom to other to tie in reefs - this is where I thought the jackstay would work but most harnesses attach at the front not the back which I think could be a lot better? And I didnt heave to as not sure that is allowed crossing TSS. Should I have reefed earlier - maybe, but going from reef 1 to 2 in force 5 is about right.

In response to the comment about harness only - I think the same. If I go overboard I have a limited life. It is unlikely I could get back onboard so a quick end is preferable to being towed about for hours!!
Click to expand...

And it's for this very reason that I trawled eBay and the ads here, and picked up all the gear I need to mean I can reef from the cockpit. My boat is also 27', and I can simply top up, blow the halyard clutch, winch in the clew and tack reefing lens, snug the halyard up and be on my way again in about a minute, without ever leaving the cockpit. That's far safer than going up to the mast, life jacket or no life jacket.

I'll rarely wear one in the summer, always wear one in the winter or at night, and usually wear one as soon as a reef goes in. I'll always wear one on my own, and often wear one if I have the kite up shorthanded. I will usually wear one in the dinghy. If I'm wearing one, I expect my crew to...no arguments...and if the crew is inexperienced I'll lead by example and wear one earlier. But it's a judgement call and part of skippering...no different from when to reef and whether to even go sailing in the first place.

WRT wearing one to jump ashore onto a pontoon...unless its winter probably not. I absolutely would not specifically put one on for the specific manoeuvre itself...if it was night/winter/huge tide running and I had it on anyway then fair enough. If I fall in I'd quite like the option of being able to swim out of the way, swim down under water or under a pontoon if needed, or climb out...and not sit there like some big floundering human fender ready to get squished!
 
prv said:
It is when you're in a dinghy going 20 yards to a taverna in Greece, which is the situation I was referring to.

Pete
Click to expand...

I'll grant you that one - I did say not necessarily. It's not falling in in any absolute terms that you need to worry about - it's the circumstances of that falling in.
 
I do get a bit tired of the self appointed 'life jacket police' It is becoming sailing's equivilant to political correctness.

When I chose to wear an LJ is my lookout, depending on my own 'dynamic risk assesment'.

Those in the article obviously made their own 'dynamic risk assesment' which is their lookout.

It's about freedoms and responsibilities and accepting others, maybe differing, freedoms and responsibilities.
 
Slow_boat said:
I do get a bit tired of the self appointed 'life jacket police' It is becoming sailing's equivilant to political correctness.
Click to expand...

Me too. Actually rather than political correctness I see certain parallels with religion - feel free to do what you want, but don't force your beliefs on me :)

Pete
 
l'escargot said:
The answer is to wear one when the risk warrants it.

(snip)
Click to expand...

Cor, we're in agreement! ;)

Before helmets were compulsory on motor bikes I wore one when travelling far or fast, but pottering around town at 30 mph or much less, I preferred to have my hearing available. Funny thing is I never crashed or got knocked off when not wearing the helmet - I simply did not take any risks & I drove very defensively. It's a bit like riding in shorts & t-shirt, you know it's going to hurt if you don't pay attention ALL the time.

Similarly with L/J &/or harness on the boat, if I am on the cabin top or moving to the foredeck for any reason without them, I take great care, I am always holding on with at least 1 hand & always aware of potential wash or rogue waves & haven't had a problem yet. If it's really rough then I don't go without L/J & harness but I am a little less stressed about the need to hold on.

Dinghy in calm water, I don't worry much, but strong tides &/or wind or if transporting heavy stuff that has to be transferred to/from the dink, then I take care to have an L/J or B/A on. Risk = likelyhood x consequence, the consequence may only be getting wet, or it could be drowning, likelyhood depends on conditions. Ice on deck is a good one to make you think! :D
 
Searush said:
Ice on deck is a good one to make you think! :D
Click to expand...

What about a snowman on deck? :)

When we arrived to collect a load of new boats from up in Sweden in February 2001, someone had built a snowman on the foredeck of one of them. All very jolly, but of course it was now solid ice and couldn't be removed. They didn't want to risk gouging the teak deck of this brand new boat, so cut it down to a 2" thick dome of ice 2 or 3 feet across and left it at that. It took most of the week to melt off, which must have been interesting for the foredeck hands as all the boats had hank-on jibs :)

Pete
 
Dramatically different situation here. I have just finished 3 Sat mornings of sail training. The general rule is the LJs are worn by students. However the weather was so benign and hot that after offering LJs I then excused the students from wearing same. After being assured they could swim OK. It is however a natural thing to wear buoyancy vest when the wind comes up partly for warmth (usually not wearing sufficient warm clothes) and for safety. So to me it all depends.... olewill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top