New lifejacket reforms in NSW

Media release from NSW maritime says that from November 1, all sailboards in ocean must carry or wear a type 1 or 2 PFD at all times.

Can't see myself finding a pfd 2 waist harness in my local shop. Got any sam?

please don't quote me but i think it only applies if you are further than 400m from shore

12 Month Advisory Period.

Does that mean we get 12 months before these stupid rules are going to be actually enforced?

looks like the kiteboarders are on the ball they got

While it looks like windsurfing has been renamed back to sailboarding...

I thought the victorian's got an exception if your wearing a wetsuit.

So on flat water, say at Kyeemagh, you need to at least "carry" a lifejacket.



Any ideas if that applies to in the waves or is there some standard definition of open water?

This might make it hard for example to legally have the NSW wave comps without everyone in life jackets...

Hmmm - I think that PDF is pretty badly written. In the FAQ section on the website there are some more details, most importantly:

and the big table here: www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html suggests that you only need a life jacket more than 400m from shore on a sailboard.

Well they've certainly succeeded in making it confusing :)

very sad story of something that happened near by to where I used to live.

hiphongkong.livejournal.com/11260.html

if you can drown, just slipping off the side of a boat.......

or both. Helmet keeps you warm too, when the weather is like it is this winter.

Zippy,
the NP one you talk about along with the wakeboarding ones are type 3. Windsurfers are expected to wear a type 1 or 2.

My guess is they were more vocal about it. Is there not some organisation in NSW to represent windsurfers?

As for type 1
You can get a manually inflated type 1, sort of like a little sausage you were over your shoulders. No impact projection, or bouyancy until its activiated very light would actually be my choice if I was going to go a along way from shore.

I heard this come out with the media release and knew that there was a potential for wavesailing comps to be impacted. Thanks to those who have some reading. The NSW WA comps occur in the surf zone and not more than 200-300m offshore plus we have rescue craft so we may be ok - I will do some more invesigating.

Tim Williams
NSW WA President

I think you are referring to the current requirement for sailboards. The new rules look like all sailboards in open ocean must carry a suitable lifejacket which must be worn when required.

Is anybody aware of incidents or deaths which may have prompted this change?

It's all thanks to Joe Tripodi.
www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html

They have a had a similar law in Italy for a very long time. In places like Lake Garda this is enforced very heavy handed to the point where police will impound your equipment until you pay the $150+ fine.

The German windsurf magazine Surf has been lobbying to get an exception for windsurfers for a very long time. The argument is that cases where a buoyancy aid will put the sailor in danger (eg being trapped under the sail and hocked in after a catapult) are more common than situations such as someone becoming unconsious.

Can't seem to find any references on the web though.

You'd better let Chairman know about this!

It comes down to worst case scenarios...and risk, which is a subjective thing. For flatwater sailing, the red smileys below are where I'd consider myself in real danger...one thing in common is the worst case scenarios all occur without a life jacket.

Trapped under sail

With life jacket: It's possible to get out... quick release ProLimit harness, takes less than a second. I don't consider this a big risk, so dont worry about it.

Without life jacket: bit easier to get out

Unable to swim fast enough to catch board

With life jacket: more likely to happen, however if it does you should be able to get back to shore under your own steam. If you cannot then you've at least bought enough time to raise an alarm, e.g. via phone/EPIRB/passing boat. Very embarrasing, and a last resort, but you're still alive

Without life jacket: less likely to happen, but I think it's still a very real risk. E.g. sail and board sepearate due to failed UV joint in crash. The wind could easily take the board flying. If you are out sailing further than you can swim, there's a fair chance you will drown unless you can get help in time I'm a reasonable swimmer, but in chop with 30knts...i really wouldn't want to have to try and swim 1-2km.

Knocked unconscious

With life jacket: maybe somebody will see you floating, maybe you will come round before you drown, maybe you will float on your back. Not a good situation, but there's a chance you might not die today. I wear a helmet for this reason...so with life jacket and helmet, I don't consider it a big enough risk to worry about

Without life jacket: game over in about 5 seconds unless you're wearing a helmet

Dislocated sholder or ankle

With life jacket: unlikely to drown, you've got time to raise the alarm

Without life jacket: quite possible you will down

you have obviously never been drilled at 50kms/h+ while still hocked in. I can tell I have and by the time you really what happened and the fact that you are underneath the sail wearing a lifewest wouldn't make things fun to say the least.


So you always carry a phone/ EPIRB with you while sailing... seriously?


As far as I am aware the only type of life jacket that keeps you head above water in case if unconsciousness is the inflatable type with a neck brace. All other type don't prevent you from turning on your stomach and essentially drown. I am not saying you would be better of without but I think it's a false sense of security thinking any type of life jacket will safe you.