Comments Lifejackets – a consistent message?


Paul Glatzel, Powerboat Trainer, Principal of Powerboat Training UK and author of the RYA Powerboat Handbook and Advanced Powerboat Handbook raises some interesting points about lifejackets.


worn’ makes the point about wearing a lifejacket very well and very poignantly. Over the past ten or so years


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the wearing of lifejackets has dramatically changed and in the UK anecdotal evidence and RNLI statistics show a real rise in the number of those afloat, both young and old(er), wearing lifejackets. As instructors, our job is to give our students an understanding of the life saving equipment on board a vessel, how it is worn or deployed and to ensure that the students go away from a course appreciating the benefits of each piece of equipment. Within a course, regular handling and use of equipment develops that understanding and ensures the student is likely to be able to use the equipment properly when boating on their own after we leave them. The RYA stance on lifejackets is somewhat different to that of the RNLI. The RYA position of ‘wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid unless you are sure you do not need to’ is designed for boating public to be better educated to use judgement rather than to try and apply a blanket guidance that may not be appropriate in all circumstances. With this in mind, I find it


truly astonishing how many RYA cruising schools and the instructors running courses within the cruising scheme run their craft (school boats and client’s own boats) without a lifejacket being worn whilst the craft is underway with students/instructors on deck. Aside from the obvious safety benefits of wearing a lifejacket there seems to me little chance that the students will wear a lifejacket once boating on their own after a course, as they will


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here can be little debate that the RNLI’s advertising slogan for lifejackets ‘Useless unless


not have learnt within a course how easy it is to wear a lifejacket for prolonged periods, and how comfortable the majority of lifejackets are to wear nowadays. Interestingly my, anecdotal


observations are solely applicable to the motor cruising scheme (along the south coast of the UK) and I don’t remember seeing a sail training vessel without lifejackets but I commonly see motor cruising schools teaching without a lifejacket in sight. Whilst I accept it can be argued that on the flybridge of a vessel or in the rear cockpit area there may be a minimal risk of falling overboard, I have seen students on the rear swim platform tending lines when coming alongside while clearly under training. The RYA Recognition Guidance


Notes give latitude to cruising centres to determine an acceptable use/wear policy for lifejackets and I can understand the rationale for this as there will be certain craft in certain locations where it may be an appropriate decision. From the perspective of someone with a duty of care to the students (whether as Instructor, Chief Instructor or Principal) I believe that you should


ask the question: precisely what is the problem with wearing a lifejacket or instigating a policy that requires they are worn when on deck? If there was an incident where a student or instructor went overboard and no lifejacket was being worn, then it could potentially be a very difficult position to defend. RYA Training is about educating and hopefully helping to form good habits with potential boaters early in their boating career. For the most part those undertaking training are relatively new to boating and therefore do not yet have the depth of experience necessary to make their own informed decision about whether they should or should not be wearing a lifejacket. An instructor,


on the other hand, is well positioned to be setting a good example and helping a potential boater to adopt a habit that just may save their life or someone else’s. If some RYA schools and


instructors don’t fully embrace the benefits of wearing a lifejacket, then what chance do we have of persuading the wider boating public to increase their use of them? We all have a responsibility, in my opinion, to adopt and promote ‘good practice’ and be seen to send a ‘message’.


Does your opinion or use of lifejackets change once you step on board a motor cruiser? Send your thoughts to wavelength@rya.org.uk.


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