Trapeze harnesses

aren´t those inflatable jackets forbidden? there should be a difference for skiff sailors, dinghy and keelboats.

Originally posted by Matt Jackson What's so special about a Skiff?

Larger areas to get trapped under without air which are literally solid and things generally happen a lot quicker. Take for example Fiona's case where she was trapped under the sail and almost drowned, with a large fully battened sail the method of "punching upwards" and working yourself to the nearest edge doesn't work just because of the rigidness and weight in the sail. I don't think it's a case of whether people think it's cool to wear a bouancy aid or not, they would prefer to do whatever is the safest option they consider for the boat they sail. Whenever we go over, we try and flip ourselves over to the daggerboard or have to position where we fall and then watch for the wings coming over on us. Capsizing to windward is especially nasty because the sail does come over on top of you and you have to be quick to get out of the way from an outward position on the wing. Still, I'd choose to wear a bouancy aid but I always make sure I can take it off really quickly. I'd only wear one with a front zip because they are easy to slip out of when you need to.

I still wear a buoyancy aid because of the regulations at my home club, however i wear my rooster one, as loose as possible - its very small anyway, plus with it being loose u can slip out of em easy in the water. Its very easy on a skiff to get caught as my pic demonstrates there isnt much room underneath the hull and the sails are very hard to get out from i have personal experience of that lol. though so far i have had no real life threatning situations - i tend to be flying from the wings towards the sea/front of the boat!