Laser 161752 Tynemouth |
![]() |
Laser 28 - Excellent example of this great design Hamble le rice |
![]() |
Laser 140101 Tynemouth |
![]() |
List classes of boat for sale |
A fresh think about PFDs |
Post Reply ![]() |
Page 123 10> |
Author | ||
kneewrecker ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 09 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1586 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posted: 29 Sep 14 at 11:27pm |
|
So I've been thinking about this lately, is time to challenge the Group Think on this again>
PFDs- what's your view? (For the benefit of the poll, please restrict this to Adult only sailing / competitors)
|
||
![]() |
||
iGRF ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
They'd be better off making them advisory along with helmets.
|
||
![]() |
||
getafix ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 28 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2143 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
put simply yes, a club that tells it's members PFDs are "optional" leaves itself open to every ambulance chaser going should the worst happen and someone get seriously hurt or worse...
|
||
![]() |
||
Brass ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 24 Mar 08 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1151 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Isn't Group-Think where a cohesive group makes decisions contrary to scientific or objective evidence? Before you 'challenge the Group-Think', maybe you should 'confront the science', and 'consider the politics'. There's abundant research demonstrating 'lifejackets save lives'. I realise that some of the research is question-begging, and some sponsored by organisations with a clear bias or preconception, but at least some of it rigorous, and I would challenge you to find any research demonstrating that wearing of lifejackets or other PFD has no significant effect. I don't think you can 'buck the science'. Face facts, you already live in a nanny-state: even the Scots weren't able to break free. HSE legally obliges the wearing of lifejackets by employees working near water. The Irish have legislation requiring wearing of lifejackets as have Australian States, and I believe America. I don't think you can 'buck the politics' either. It's important for sailing not to be seen as opposing 'reasonable and necessary requirements', in other words, on safety matters, sailing should strive to keep 'ahead of the curve', not oppose it.
|
||
![]() |
||
Xpletive ![]() Far too distracted from work ![]() Joined: 28 Jan 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 320 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
Well that's dealt with the yotties. What about buoyancy aids?
|
||
![]() |
||
Rupert ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
No, they shouldn't. Now, clubs should have the right to have in their rules that they are, but on a light wind day (thinking back to river sailing days), I see windsurfers, SUP riders, rowers, drunks on powerboats and a plethora of other water users, all far more likely to get wet than me in a stable dinghy, yet I'm the one wearing the BA.
Some sort of personal choice (and to go with it, personal responsibility, so, my choice, my concequences) would be nice. Now, once there is more risk of a capsize than of falling off a SUP, with bumped heads on booms then involving safety boats and other people who might be put at risk because of my actions, then organizers should have the right to say "wear BAs". |
||
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
|
||
![]() |
||
Noah ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 29 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 611 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
I don't really know whether they should be mandated or not. It depends on the situation. Personally, I feel naked without one - a bit like not wearing a seat belt in the car. The puddle club I joined after 2 decades out of sailing doesn't mandate during the summer series (April-October), but it's an average of 1.5m deep and less than 2 mins end-to-end in a powerboat. (Notably, the leaseholder was persuaded many years ago to allow engines on safety grounds!) Winter series races are sailed under code 'Y', meaning PFD is mandatory.
The two coastal clubs that I've been a member of since both mandate their use. |
||
Nick
D-Zero 316 |
||
![]() |
||
iGRF ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
They remain a hindrance in my book, if you are at all adept in the water, then buoyancy 'aids' hinder and tire. They make it more difficult to extract yourself, either from under anything or to climb out of the water onto a rescue craft or back into your own boat and they definitely hinder swimming speed and distance.
We (and I was particularly vocal in the battle) fought very hard not to have them enforced on us as windsurfers, (yet you will often see kids wearing them at team fifteen level), The argument we made also at the time was that So it should be about personal choice, no one wants to stop folk who are cagey about their in water competency, but nor should the competent be hampered, I really think not encouraging the use of helmets amongst newcomers is a greater failing personally the number of nasty bangs I've endured and I use one. Edited by iGRF - 30 Sep 14 at 9:11am |
||
![]() |
||
rb_stretch ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
My own personal experience of helmuts is that you lose a certain something (awareness, balance etc) and you bump your head far more. Thinking back I never bumped my head with a harness, but did everytime with a helmut. Agree on BAs. Again, it is probably because I was a windsurfer first and when you are in big waves, massive rips (far more severe stuff than dinghy sailors put up with), the last thing you want is a BA in the way. |
||
![]() |
||
L123456 ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 30 Apr 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 500 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
What is the greatest risk to a dinghy sailor?
Entrapment I'd say ... does a BA help or hinder in entrapment cases?
|
||
![]() |
Post Reply ![]() |
Page 123 10> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions ![]() You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |