My protocol is if you are on deck, then your PFD is on you. I have had similar experiences being told I was not "cool" because I was wearing a PFD. A mantra I share with my students, crew, and others skippers is I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years a lifetime ago and experienced many things. One feat I never saw was an unconscious person swim.
Too many items on deck that can cause additional physical injury as someone is involuntarily leaving the boat while out on the water.
Mike. I bet you have some other excellent insights from the world of competitive swimming and sailing and what can be learnt. We should share knowledge!
I think there is also a fence. One one side is the ‘responsible for my own safety’ crowd, and on the other is the ‘responsible’ for your safety crowd. When you are solo, it’s easy to assume responsibility only for yourself and accept what happens. When you’re in a crew or Skipper, it’s a completely different situation, you need to set an example and you are actually responsible for other people.
I really liked your conversation about risk and taking it on by choice, as well as the balance of your article. As liveaboard sailors with a comfy pilothouse, we walk a dangerous line and generally don't wear them. What's your recommendation for a comfortable cool solution? Thanks! J
I really appreciate your feedback on the article, thank you! Comfortable solution - best I've found in spinlock deckvest. Cool solution - that's all down to what the person does when they wear it ;)
Well of course we're always cool....lol...unless Mother Nature kicks our ass. Also searching for the best person epirb, or whatever you would like to call it. I want one that lets MY boat know where I am as well as the rest of the world. Is that technology out there.? So. for example, I could be gone for 3.75 hours prior to discovery by the next shift member, every 4. Anyone come up with a tool that contacts your vessel, assuming that you would be the closest and the most concerned....would love your thoughts. THANKS Nikki. J
I agree, and a few companies have started making inflatable jackets that are comfortable. I often sleep in mine off shore in rough weather since as Skip I am always on call. Maybe an effort through the YouTube community and Young Cruisers Association could raise the visibility and cool factor.
Spinlock DeckVest and TeamO. I think there are others that are following Spinlocks lead to make vests that are comfortable and don't chafe your neck or have crotch straps that are to cumbersome to use.
Well said! A few random thoughts.. As ever with anything sailing hugely complex if you zoom in and out.. I really think there's a strong tendency to jump straight to disaster recovery after bad things happen & IMHO before even thinking about that you should step back and do everything and anything realistically possible to stop the bad thing.. then go buy the LJs. Personally as a liveaboard singlehander I never do, but use a lightweight climbing harness, clip off and go slow. Another side is that little voice in your head that never shuts up "don't need one, it's uncomfortable blah blah", good idea to do what you don't want to do when you prob don't need to then it becomes much less of a big deal. Think it's called neuroplasticity
Love random thoughts! And love the fact that you wear a harness and take it slow. Also agree in the idea of neuroplasticity - it's incredible how we can completely change our viewpoint of something. What is the book... 'power of habit' that says it takes 14 days to build a habit? Interesting idea to consider trying for that long and observing if your opinion on LJs changes.
I like Spinlock as well. Unfortunately, for some reason or another its PFDs are not “signed off” by the USCG which causes dilemmas from time to time at regattas here in The States.
Yes many of the top of the line inflatables are not USCG approved. US carriage only counts inflatable PFDs if they are worn, so vessels over here must carry a full count of traditional PFDs as well. Because if you don't have an inflatable on, it is no longer a PFD under the regs. So once you have a full count of traditional vests, whether or not your crew has personal gear that is not approved becomes a moot point for carriage regulations.
I am curious as to why though the USCG approves say the Mustang HIT Hydrostatic inflatable and not the Spinlock DeckVest VITO which is ISO approved.
In my experiences with the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, the NORs have been changed. At one time, the Race Committee only accepted USCG approved PFDs. It now also includes ISO approved PFDs as well.
The first time I skippered the race the MC during the “parade of sail” at check-in made a somewhat sarcastic comment about us all having our PFDs on and secure
I found this quite ironic since the race “promotes” safety with pre-race and random post-race inspections.
I understand that you do need to understand the rules and comply. But I'd really recommend not getting bogged down into the 'why's of regulations. The answer is normally ... layers of bureaucracy, hesitation to 'tell people what to do', and resistance to liability - all slow change down. The best thing is to at the minimum make sure you are compliant with your own personal standards.
100% agree Nikki, lifejackets essential, end of.
Another reason is our readiness to help others who may not be wearing one in calm conditions when the worst happens.
My protocol is if you are on deck, then your PFD is on you. I have had similar experiences being told I was not "cool" because I was wearing a PFD. A mantra I share with my students, crew, and others skippers is I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years a lifetime ago and experienced many things. One feat I never saw was an unconscious person swim.
Too many items on deck that can cause additional physical injury as someone is involuntarily leaving the boat while out on the water.
Mike. I bet you have some other excellent insights from the world of competitive swimming and sailing and what can be learnt. We should share knowledge!
I look forward to the opportunity to share my limited experiences and knowledge and learn a whole lot more from you and all the others here.
I think there is also a fence. One one side is the ‘responsible for my own safety’ crowd, and on the other is the ‘responsible’ for your safety crowd. When you are solo, it’s easy to assume responsibility only for yourself and accept what happens. When you’re in a crew or Skipper, it’s a completely different situation, you need to set an example and you are actually responsible for other people.
Thanks for this post
Totally agree. I like to enforce life-jacket wearing because frankly, it's a weight off my mind as the skipper.
I really liked your conversation about risk and taking it on by choice, as well as the balance of your article. As liveaboard sailors with a comfy pilothouse, we walk a dangerous line and generally don't wear them. What's your recommendation for a comfortable cool solution? Thanks! J
I really appreciate your feedback on the article, thank you! Comfortable solution - best I've found in spinlock deckvest. Cool solution - that's all down to what the person does when they wear it ;)
Well of course we're always cool....lol...unless Mother Nature kicks our ass. Also searching for the best person epirb, or whatever you would like to call it. I want one that lets MY boat know where I am as well as the rest of the world. Is that technology out there.? So. for example, I could be gone for 3.75 hours prior to discovery by the next shift member, every 4. Anyone come up with a tool that contacts your vessel, assuming that you would be the closest and the most concerned....would love your thoughts. THANKS Nikki. J
I agree, and a few companies have started making inflatable jackets that are comfortable. I often sleep in mine off shore in rough weather since as Skip I am always on call. Maybe an effort through the YouTube community and Young Cruisers Association could raise the visibility and cool factor.
Which jackets are you favourites? Agree - we need the “cool kids” help to up their “cool factor”.
Spinlock DeckVest and TeamO. I think there are others that are following Spinlocks lead to make vests that are comfortable and don't chafe your neck or have crotch straps that are to cumbersome to use.
Well said! A few random thoughts.. As ever with anything sailing hugely complex if you zoom in and out.. I really think there's a strong tendency to jump straight to disaster recovery after bad things happen & IMHO before even thinking about that you should step back and do everything and anything realistically possible to stop the bad thing.. then go buy the LJs. Personally as a liveaboard singlehander I never do, but use a lightweight climbing harness, clip off and go slow. Another side is that little voice in your head that never shuts up "don't need one, it's uncomfortable blah blah", good idea to do what you don't want to do when you prob don't need to then it becomes much less of a big deal. Think it's called neuroplasticity
Opps, can't edit. So you can tell the crew that 😁. Wearing them creates good habits, even if there's little chance of needing one.
Love random thoughts! And love the fact that you wear a harness and take it slow. Also agree in the idea of neuroplasticity - it's incredible how we can completely change our viewpoint of something. What is the book... 'power of habit' that says it takes 14 days to build a habit? Interesting idea to consider trying for that long and observing if your opinion on LJs changes.
I like Spinlock as well. Unfortunately, for some reason or another its PFDs are not “signed off” by the USCG which causes dilemmas from time to time at regattas here in The States.
Yes many of the top of the line inflatables are not USCG approved. US carriage only counts inflatable PFDs if they are worn, so vessels over here must carry a full count of traditional PFDs as well. Because if you don't have an inflatable on, it is no longer a PFD under the regs. So once you have a full count of traditional vests, whether or not your crew has personal gear that is not approved becomes a moot point for carriage regulations.
I am curious as to why though the USCG approves say the Mustang HIT Hydrostatic inflatable and not the Spinlock DeckVest VITO which is ISO approved.
In my experiences with the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, the NORs have been changed. At one time, the Race Committee only accepted USCG approved PFDs. It now also includes ISO approved PFDs as well.
The first time I skippered the race the MC during the “parade of sail” at check-in made a somewhat sarcastic comment about us all having our PFDs on and secure
I found this quite ironic since the race “promotes” safety with pre-race and random post-race inspections.
I understand that you do need to understand the rules and comply. But I'd really recommend not getting bogged down into the 'why's of regulations. The answer is normally ... layers of bureaucracy, hesitation to 'tell people what to do', and resistance to liability - all slow change down. The best thing is to at the minimum make sure you are compliant with your own personal standards.