Personal Safety Equipment
Lifejackets are the single most important piece of safety equipment. They come in different buoyancy ratings: 150N lifejackets are standard for coastal sailing and will turn an unconscious person face-up in the water. A 275N lifejacket is designed for offshore use with heavy clothing.
Safety harnesses attach you to the boat via a lifeline clipped to jackstays (webbing straps or wire running along the deck). The rule is simple: clip on before you need to. In rough weather, at night, or when alone on deck, always wear a harness.
Kill cords (engine cut-off lanyards) must be attached to the helmsman when motoring. If the helmsman falls overboard, the cord pulls out and stops the engine immediately, preventing the propeller from causing injury.
Key Points
- 150N lifejackets — standard for coastal sailing, turns unconscious person face-up
- 275N lifejackets — offshore use with heavy foul-weather clothing
- Safety harness — clips to jackstays; wear before conditions worsen
- Kill cord — engine cut-off lanyard attached to helmsman
Tip: Always test your lifejacket inflation mechanism before a passage. Check the gas bottle is full and the auto-inflate bobbin is in date.