Above: the highest-spec helmets currently in common use in sailing are the ski rated CE1077b spec worn by this French Flying Phantom team. Light but with smaller vent holes, they offer a relatively high level of impact protection. At the other end of the price scale this A-Cat sailor (left) is wearing the more affordable Water Helmet CE1385 which protects against most bumps and bangs and is popular among the kayaking community
HELMET TYPES
First please note that a helmet will not prevent concussion. You can prevent the skull fracturing, but we have yet to find a way of stopping the brain hitting the inside of the skull in a deceleration/acceleration scenario. Anyone claiming their helmets prevent concussion is lying.
There are several safety specifications that are suitable but there is, as yet, no actual designated CE classification for a sailing helmet. So you need to look at the risks, as it stands to reason that you need the correct helmet for the risks that you are likely to encounter.
Three CE safety marks are applicable here. A CE mark (EN in the UK) is a certifi- cation of health and safety for goods sold in the EEA and is recognised worldwide. It is awarded to a product that conforms to a strict series of tests, under controlled repeat- able conditions that accurately simulate the likely situations encountered. These usually include dropping from a designated height onto a hard surface at different tempera- tures, and impacts with swung weights to simulate blows of up to 250G from various angles. Load sensors are placed within the helmets to record the forces transmitted and the data is compared with known medical data as to the likely injury sustained/pre- vented. There are three main types of helmet we can look at for sailing use: CE1385 Water Helmet Norm – Requires tests for field of vision, head coverage, shock-absorbing capacity, buoy- ancy, helmet retention and durability. The drop test is from 0.33m. This standard is the lowest of the three and is typically used for white water kayaking where relatively low speed but frequent impacts occur. These helmets tend to be flexible when squeezed sideways and are usually the cheapest to buy.
46 SEAHORSE
CE1078 Cycling Helmet Norm – This requires much the same tests, but this time the drop is from 1.5m. As a result these helmets are much more rigid. This type typically has three times the impact protec- tion of the CE1385 helmets and tends to be lighter due to different manufacturing techniques and materials.
CE1077b Ski Helmet Norm – This again has a drop test of 1.5m. However, these helmets must also pass an additional penetration test, as a ski pole through a ventilation hole could spoil your day. So the holes are fewer and smaller than the cycle norm. Again, these helmets are rigid and lighter than the water helmet norm; however, due to the higher test standard they are also the most expensive. But they offer the most protection.
It is interesting to note that a leading brand in water impact protection working with a respected European laboratory has now finalised a testing protocol specifi- cally for sailing helmets. World Sailing is also collating incidents and accidents in sailing to create a database from which to establish new helmet safety recommenda- tions. It is very likely that the ‘optimum’ sailing helmet will combine key elements of the three CE ‘norms’ above.
Fit
Even the very best helmet is pointless if you compromise it by wearing it incorrectly. How many times do you see, particularly kids, going along with a helmet perched on the back of their heads? Fine, as long as you are happy with the personality-chang- ing frontal-lobe brain injury that could result from a blow to the forehead. Get a helmet with an internal retention system that also prevents it from slipping backwards. Some, although not all, will have a wheel or Velcro adjustment at the
back of the head. Properly adjusted, this will anchor the thing in the correct posi- tion. Some helmet manufacturers now also provide replacement internal padding of different thicknesses to ensure a snug but comfortable fit. If a helmet is still uncom- fortable, maybe it’s the wrong helmet for you. Try a different design. If it’s not comfortable you probably won’t wear it. And as it’s yours or your children’s heads, try to resist the urge to go for the cheapest rather than the best. Obviously budget will be a consideration, but in three months’ time you will have forgotten the cost difference and be happy that you have the best you can afford. There may well be a valid reason that the helmet will cost what it does, but it will only become evi- dent when it’s called upon to do its job. Hopefully that will never happen.
And after?
One final thing. If you do have an impact on your helmet, particularly with one of the two higher norm types, it is vitally important to thoroughly check the helmet for any cracks in the foam. These cracks indicate the safety of the helmet is fatally compromised and should be changed (in motorsport a damaged helmet must always be disposed of and never repaired). However, you can do this safe in the knowledge that the cracks are in the helmet and not your skull, that it’s done its job and repaid you its cost a hundredfold. Don’t drop it either, it will react in the same way, regardless of your head being in it or not, and you may have just wasted 80-odd quid.
It’s worth remembering that it’s like the Lottery. The chances of ‘it’ happening to you are very small, but the consequences, if it does happen, can be life changing. Gordon Upton, Forward Sailing UK q
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102
