The Five Times You Should Always Wear Your Life Jacket

This is an important decision.  Whether as a skipper or an individual member of a crew.  Some skippers make it easy and insist on a life jacket form the moment you step on board.  That said, the majority don't and this is where some simple guidelines can help.  

My approach is taken from a wide variety of sailing courses, expeditions and programmes run under the auspicies of the Joint Services Adventure Sail Training Organisation in the United Kingdom.  Whilst I am very much against a hard and fast rule approach, after all, rules are for fools and the guidance of wise men; I aslo believe it prudence: 

"there are old pilot and bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots."

What is required is a framework that can be adapted easily.  It is reasonable to expect a different approach in drifting conditions in the warm caribbean seas close to land, than say in a cold Baltic Sea in winter.  There must also be room for differences in physical fitness.

I believe that Joint Service's advice, which I now use as my own, is a framework capable of dealing with these variances and have served me well.

When you feel you want to.  Obvious, but important.  No one should feel that it is inappropriate to wear their life jacket.  

When instructed to be the Skipper.  This can be extended to others such as Mates' and Watchleaders' on larger craft; but ultimately the decision to wear life jackets lies with the skipper.

In Poor Visibility.  The danger to small craft intensifies in low visibility conditions and so does the available time to react.  It is prudent to think ahead and wear life jackets in these conditions.

At Night.  As with poor visibility, the night brings it's own specific challenges and wearing life Jackets and 'clipping on' are essential for safe sailing.

In Poor Weather Conditions.  The definitions will vary on many factors, size of craft, experience of skipper and crew.  Some say once you have reefed as a 'rule of thumb'.  I like the, if your thinking about it... it's time, approach.

Don't get me wrong, this is not an exhaustive list, I always insist of life jackets in the tender in all but the warmest and sheltered waters, when going aloft as a secondary harness to the bosun's chair.

But if you remember these 5 times, you will quickly be able to overlay prevailing conditions, apply common sense, and sail a safe passage.  Bon voyage!



Chris

Christopher J Lait PGDipM FInstLM MIoD | Principal | Drake Academy Ltd 

DD: +44 (0)207 117 6375 | M: +44 (0)7971 293550 | T: @drake_ac_b2b | #sailtolead
www.drakeacademy.co.uk

Chris founded a sailing company to bring a distinctive brand of luxury crewed sailing to the holiday market.  disappointed with run of the mill experiences and surly unimaginative skippers, Drake Academy Sailing seeks to blend local culture, fun and sailing together in a memorable way with dedicated and experienced staff.  For more information contact travel@drakeacademy.co.uk or visit the website at www.drakeacademy.co.uk/travel

Chris served 24 years in the British Army and has been sailing, teaching and leading expeditions for nearly 20 of them.  Now an academic in the leadership field, Chris passes on his sailing a leadership experience to businesses at corporate sailing events, leadership events run by a company he founded when he left the Armed Forces and through speaking.

You can contact chris@drakeacademy.co.uk or voa the website at www.drakeacademy.co.uk/corporate