I would always recommend carry at least one knife per crew member. Wear craxsh helmets if you wish and I guess we will see more of these as is happening in skiing.

 

Quick release hooks there are a few, the RWO type, Magic Marine have a version and also the ball and slot version.

Can't really add to that ...

iGRF have you read the RYA recommendations?

With regards helmets.... which Kali one would you recommend from your store that gets made mandatory?

http://www.edgeactionsports.co.uk/collections/pads-and-helmets" rel="nofollow - http://www.edgeactionsports.co.uk/collections/pads-and-helmets

There are 2 sides to every story.....

As for helmets when sailing don't get me started.

I can see the benefits for a novice sailor but not for an experienced sailor.

As for a helmet when cycling, I always wear mine having done some serious off road stuff in the past (and fallen off) there is definitely a benefit and it sets a good example to my daughter.

They all wear canoeing helmets.

I've known several adult sailors who've worn helmets in various boats, including contenders. There is no issue.

Very few people manage to entrap themselves, and when they do, it is not always the trap hook.

There might be a danger in thinking a QR hook fixes the whole problem. It's no help if the problem is a rope around your neck.

It's the sea, there is always a risk element. Accept that, and manage it to reasonable limits, or stick to computer games.

This is of course in conjuction with the fact that he's sailing with a, how to put this delicately, inexperienced helmsman/owner with superiority issues of other water users.....  

 

So the moto is carry a knife. DIs are trained to carry one and a whistle to attract attention.

so at what break point do you want it to release under load.... 100kg guy coming down off a wave on a 505 in a F6 at 20 knots.... f*ck knows how many newtons that is, but really, he'd want to still be able to wire after it.

We have guys wearing cycling helmets on Solos.  No one laughs, it's their choice.

I;ve got a gecko surf helmet for windsurfing, but I don't wear it dinghy sailing... wish I had the other day when I clocked my noggin' before the start.  However I wont wear it next time.  That's my choice.  However I've started wearing my windsurfing impact vest, not for impact protection, but it's lower profile and being neoprene it offers perfect warmth over rash vest in warm weather.

I've never touch wood had an issue with entrapment. However in modern high performance boats I can see the risks.

Personally I don't wear a BA when outside my home club and I find it harder to move in the water. Would wear one if I sailed a single hander.

Knife is always a good idea but a helmet is personal preference, lots of things could get caught on one. 

Alex

 

Why don't I wear a helmet?

Because I don't hit my head sailing any more often than I do in other day to day activities like working in a crowded workshop or going into old buildings with low doorways etc. I.e a few times in many years and not seriously.

Merlin spi poles were mentioned, in my view, to protect you from those, a helmet would need a full face visor.

If I saw a sailor wearing a helmet, I'd assume it was because he had reason to believe he was particularly vulnerable, e.g. a thin skull or previous injury, taking the mick would not be on the agenda.

People who think a little padded hat is going to protect them from the boom on a 60ft yacht may be treated differently.

Sexy (your wife- according to the RS boys)

Shandy (fill your boots)

Shaggy (as in 'Scoobie Doo'... or a lack of one in your case)

Shady (50 Grey ones...)

Silly (plenty iGRF)

Simply (as is Simply STFU)

It looks like a cigar cutter... put your knob in it.

 

Ah, I've just worked out 'Taxi's' secret weapon...

 

IGRF spots a perceived issue

 

Others point out it might not be the large issue first thought

 

Cue lots of IGRF and others telling each other they are moron's and plain wrong for not agreeing with their position.

 

I am quite happy for IGRF to go sailing on a lake like it is the southern ocean with full PPE. With regards to spinaker poles I was quite able to sail both a 420 and a Merlin Rocket whils avoiding the crews advances with the beating stick. I am also able to avoid being hit on the head by various boat parts through technique and correct boat choice. I have not drowned to date by becoming a good swimmer and keeping boats functional and low in entrapment hazards.

 

Compared to other sports in general I would regards inland or coastal dinghy sailing as low risk and the safety procedures currently in place are adequate for my needs. I may well buy a helmet for my sons when they are old enough to learn how to sail however they are not me and if I have to lead by example then I shall until they reach a good level of competence.

yep- that's how it works.... but all credit to Graeme for starting an interesting thread, beats the hell out of arguing if the RS100 worlds is legit or not.  

And we should probably always question safety aspects as a matter of routine- that's good practice, even if only to serve for posting this link:

http://www.rya.org.uk/INFOADVICE/SAFTEYTIPS/Pages/default.aspx" rel="nofollow - http://www.rya.org.uk/INFOADVICE/SAFTEYTIPS/Pages/default.aspx

in fairness, he has put it out there wearing impact vests and crash helmets on Broxbourne in a Force 1 drifter.... it's up to the rest of us NOT to say he looks like a prize twonk doing it, as that would be irresponsible as it could influence whether our kids would opt to wear similar safety gear.

Will I be wearing a helmet sailing my Solo... no.  

 

I still see young drivers hooning about, high risk behaviour such as sex, drug an alcohol partaking is reasonably static or high in young people and so called extreme sports such as skating/bmx/downhill mountain biking are popular. Seems to me that it is not the young that are risk averse but more the parents.

 

The authorities currently struggle to pre-identify kids at risk due to unfit parents who are about to lose their kids on account of being out of their face on crack so I think it will be a while before they come and shut down sailing clubs for allowing kids access to water which as we all know is a hazard and should be avoided at all costs:)

 

This is the kind of forum that would call for the end to the Vendee Globe as we could not possibly allow grown adults to sail round the world on their own with un-reliable boats and in a race. Can you believe it? I prefer personnal choice albeit limited to hurting yourself and not others.

 

The america's cup is a bit different in that it will go ahead ans most of the teams are financed by wealthy individuals where the sponsor returns are a tax right off. Emirates are the exception to this rule.

From what I have read that is very wise for you ...

However, I don't see the need to make your choices mandatory for the rest.

Dinghy sailing is a relatively safe sport and the last thing we need is a load of nanny state rules governing what we should & should not wear.

The only people who would benefit would be those pedalling the wares ...

Dinghy racing takes place in a carefully managed environment with competent, vigilant safety cover and competitors who are, for the most part, aware of the risks. Buoyancy aids are fabulous devices which, in most cases, prevent a lot more trouble than they cause. I understand why the 18 footers don't use them, but on a small singlehander they make sense. Indeed, they're useful; there's no need to add more effort to the already tiring business of capsizing, and treading water isn't exactly relaxing for long periods.

To say that my generation are scared off by sailing's risks is ridiculous. I don't know anyone who'd say that. 

Common sense and awareness of hazards is by far the best way of making it safe. As a result of these widely distributed traits, there are so few injuries and deaths in sailing that when one occurs it is massive news. Compare with cycling, where every few days someone gets killed. I understand why a very young or very old sailor might wear a helmet, but beyond that there's little reason. And QR hooks are more likely to pop off when they aren't meant to and cause risk that way than to stop a risk in the very few instances of injury by trapeze hook entrapment.

 

None, I'd guess... But if you supply the equipment, then you might get a friendly visit from the constabulary to inform you that you risked being sued in a civil claim  (reference the nutters chasing Gloucester cheese down the hill!).

Being on the wire when the boat comes on top of you it is also simple to get unhooked, as the boat rolls on top the trap wire will become looser, and if you have one hand on the handle, it pretty much unhooks itself with the pull from the bungie. 

That is as long as you have removed the daft retaining clip that most harness manufacturers still seem to insist on fitting.

If you can't work out why a ba is mandated ahead of those other items that is why we need rules as some don't have the experience to protect themselves. 

I assume when you sail outside of racing you don't wear a ba? Yes?

And seeing Granite's post has reminded me how essential a PFD is when the water is cold.  Where we sailed together that was most of the time, and really really really cold in winter.

It keeps you afloat if you can't swim.  It means you don't have to swim when the water's cold, and therefore you stay warm and safe much longer.  It reduces the chance that your head goes under, thus increasing you heat loss massively.

And this is UK - in terms of the human body and safety the water is pretty much always cold.

I wish, therefore that folk would stop peddling the personal freedom b*ll*x, and making faux comparisons with helmets and QR.

In case your wondering we sailed at Peterhead, 35 miles north of Aberdeen.  Special weather all of its own, and not much help from those warm Atlantic currents.

I can see why you don't believe in buoyancy aids if you assess them based on how useful they are when you're sitting in the boat! Have you considered how handy they may be when you're NOT in it?

Reminds me of my daughter when she was wee, messing about with her Oppie at Mounts Bay, kids taking it in turns to steer and tow half a dozen other kids behind. When asked if she had steered, she replied that no, she knew she wasn't allowed to get in the boat as she wasn't wearing her buoyancy aid....

I suspect you are once again reinventing the world to suit your own ideas. 

A crash vest ... Lets see, is that a waistcoat style vest made of closed cell foam, is it quite buoyant? Does it float, does it look just like a buoyancy aid?

I have not had issues with the boat being balanced like that for a long period of time, you can usually pull on the mainsheet to upset the balance, if I don't have the mainsheet then I am glad to be still attached to the boat. 

The thing is with the rig pulling you up you are not trapped under it, if the rig comes down enough to land on top of you your wire will come loose. 

In my mind the harnesses with loads of straps and buckles that catch on everything are are more of an issue than the presence or lack of a QR. 

Cue a timely header, boat rounds up, dunks me in. I'm in a lot of trouble, with this tiller still stuck. Cant swim either way to get its length out of the strap.

That was an interesting one to work out. Worn a rashvest over the top ever since.

Often thought that the knife i was carrying wouldnt have been much help, trying to but through several pieces of BA whilst in the water panicking wouldnt have worked.

Nor would trying to cut through a Carbon Fibre stiff stick extsn. 

Thats more worrying than a bit of rope around an ankle, if you're carrying a knife.

I accept the fact that I am probably one of a select few who had the utter brainlessness to acheive this balls up.

But he could suffer the same fate with his "crash vest"

Giving it a different name doesn't change anything.