YM Nov issue, p45 "Always wear a life jacket."

[drawkins]

do some people think they will be looked down on if seen wearing a life jacket.
In Ireland a lifejacket seems to be generally accepted and people rather look down on others not complying.amazing really, that and the smoking ban

 

[Greenwichman]

When not to wear a lifejacket ..... ?

.....when you are Sam Davies in her famous round-the-world bikini shot?

 

[fireball]

do some people think they will be looked down on if seen wearing a life jacket.

Not at all - I just don't want to be dictated too on what I should wear and when.
Been here before - but the safety mesg seems to be 'wear a lifejacket and you'll save your life' .... strange, but there really aren't that many yachtsmen drowning compared to the number out. After 26 years of helming my own vessel the only times I've fallen in is when I've expected it (dinghy racing - hence buoyancy aid) and when I'm on the big boat I'm careful about my footing and handholds - with or without a LJ. Accidents will happen though - but I'm happy that in the circumstances when I'm not wearing a LJ if I do end up over the side I will be able to swim ...

 

[Koeketiene]

do some people think they will be looked down on if seen wearing a life jacket.

Not at all, but I tend to be weary of them.
The same way I tend to keep clear of cars with a Learner sticker.
You're never sure what they're going to do next.

 

[ksutton]

Not at all, but I tend to be weary of them.
The same way I tend to keep clear of cars with a Learner sticker.
You're never sure what they're going to do next.

I think your thoughts on this could be a bit pompous, maybe we should stay out of your way.

I am an ex offshore lifeboat crewman, have sailed for 42 years, am able to swim and float for hours. My only crew on passages is my wife, she enjoys it immensely, we live aboard for 4 months per year and sail considerable distances. One day a couple of years ago she decided that we should always wear life jackets, if we didn't she said she would be unhappy crewing again.

What would do, apart from classing me as an armature.

 

[Woodlouse]

I am pretty sure that today's foremost sailors mostly wear life jackets in flat calms.

Hmm... Don't know about that.

View attachment 1431

 

[CLP]

I might be wrong but I thought the Irish rule about LJ's applied only to dinghies and boats under 7m??

 

[sea]

Cold water shock.

It is sadly a proven fact that cold water shock can kill instantly - a gasp reflex from your body hitting cold water can fill your lungs with water and its lights out.

It is also proven that the waters in the UK and Ireland are cold enough to cause this reflex. So those who wear LJ's as a matter of course are in my opinion totally correct to do so.

As for stupid comments about stearing clear of crew wearing life jackets on a calm day - well like i said thats just stupid.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

It is sadly a proven fact that cold water shock can kill instantly - a gasp reflex from your body hitting cold water can fill your lungs with water and its lights out

Something that clipping on will protect you from *far* better than an LJ which can't prevent your head from going under in that first instant.

 

[Koeketiene]

It is sadly a proven fact that cold water shock can kill instantly - a gasp reflex from your body hitting cold water can fill your lungs with water and its lights out.

It is also proven that the waters in the UK and Ireland are cold enough to cause this reflex. So those who wear LJ's as a matter of course are in my opinion totally correct to do so.

Cold water shock & the gasp reflex

True, very true.
If you go over the side, it's a fallacy to believe the your LJ will inflate the instant you hit the water. It doesn't - it takes 2-3 seconds. Enough time to go under.
Gasp reflex - you're done.

The only difference the LJ will have made is that your corpse will be easier to recover.

Also, when the sea water's at it's coldest (Feb-Apr) hypothermia can kill in as little as 4 minutes.
Practised MOB (with a real person, not a bucket & fender) lately? Managed to recover the victim in under 4 minutes?

LJs won't prevent accidents nor are they a cure for stupidity. Stay on the boat! And if you must wear anything, wear a harness and clip on.

 

[Twister_Ken]

"Also, when the sea water's at it's coldest (Feb-Apr) hypothermia can kill in as little as 4 minutes."

In the Arctic, are you?

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/coastal_communities/hypothermia

 

[doug748]

I never get the shock and gaspers when I dive in? Why is this? Never get the hypothermia either, mind you may have been close this summer.

 

[Koeketiene]

Water's often colder than you think.

According to this the average water temperature in winter is 6 DEG C. Ergo, a fair amount of time it's colder than that.

 

[Woodlouse]

I never get the shock and gaspers when I dive in? Why is this? Never get the hypothermia either, mind you may have been close this summer.

Probably the difference between expecting the shock and not. As for hypothermia, I guess you get out before you get too cold. Would be silly not to.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

Probably the difference between expecting the shock and not.

But even if you fall in you're still expecting the shock, you still know you're going to hit the water.

Plus if you go in accidently your clothing will slow the rate the cold water gets to you to some extent, if you go in for fun you're in swimmers and the waters on your skin instantly.

I think the RYA talk a lot of **** about swimming and lots of people love to create drama. I've actually had people shout at me to get out when swimming in May. One time I laughed and said it wasn't even cold once you got used to it and he said "That's a symptom of hypothermia, you need to get out!"

 

[KellysEye]

>Something that clipping on will protect you from *far* better than an LJ which can't prevent your head your head from going under in that first instant.

Entirely agree. We view lifejackets as something to put on if getting into a liferaft. However most tethers have one long and one short tether, the long tether is too long and thus dangerous. The Ocean Racing Council spec is what you need.

 

[Moodyjim]

However, as some previous posters have remarked, if your lifejacket and harness are combined and of a new style that isn't too onerous to wear (which is most modern LJs) then all sides of the argument are resolved. Put the bloody thing on unless in flat calm or perhaps docking and clip on when going on deck when you or the skipper judge it to be necessary and at all times in the dark or S/H. If you don't judge it necessary then your essential freedoms have been retained.

 

[NUTMEG]

Saved our lives

Last November the missus and I managed to tip our tender over on the Deben. Cold shock and hyperthermia. Water temp about 5'c. Could not get back aboard neither could we right tender. Swam on our backs to shore, took ages and we are convinced at least I would have died (weak swimmer) without our lj's.

Yes I know all the arguments against,have read lots of threads like this, but really struggle to understand them.

 

[sea]

Last November the missus and I managed to tip our tender over on the Deben. Cold shock and hyperthermia. Water temp about 5'c. Could not get back aboard neither could we right tender. Swam on our backs to shore, took ages and we are convinced at least I would have died (weak swimmer) without our lj's.

Yes I know all the arguments against,have read lots of threads like this, but really struggle to understand them.

Glad to hear that there was no major harm done - i agree about understanding threads like this.

I think the answer is in the name LIFE jacket...

 

[fireball]

Last November the missus and I managed to tip our tender over on the Deben. Cold shock and hyperthermia. Water temp about 5'c. Could not get back aboard neither could we right tender. Swam on our backs to shore, took ages and we are convinced at least I would have died (weak swimmer) without our lj's.

Yes I know all the arguments against,have read lots of threads like this, but really struggle to understand them.

I'm glad you were wearing your LJ then .... but just because you're a weak swimmer does that mean I have to wear mine too? I'm a strong swimmer ... I bet I could've got to shore a darn sight quicker than you if I wasn't wearing a LJ ...