PFD's and Safety:

[Trip Houk]

It came to my attention: Sunday on Utah Lake, a sailboat passanger may have drowned because he wasn't wearing a life jacket. (see related story) http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?sid=219305&nid=5 My general rule of thumb is to wear a life Jacket whenever the site or conditions seem to warrant but yesterday's aparent drowning gives me pause, especially since the weather and water were warm. Most windsurfers seem to regard their board as their primary flotation and I have beenopposed to PFD's being mandated by boating regulations as much as anyone. Let's face it, life jackets are uncool. Like reflectors on a mountain bike, they say "geek factor"
But even in light wind conditions, a sailor could be knocked unconsious or become seperated from their gear. Whoops, there goes my flotation...Utah is famous for rapidly changing weather conditions. What may look like a easy light wind session can quickly become a survival situation with a breakdown. A few years ago, I broke a mast at Sulfer. I was quickly blown out of the sailing area and was chilled within a short time. Had it not been for Dimo gratefully showing up to tow me to shore, things could have gotten ugly.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating that everyone wear pfd's and helmets but I'm encouraging sailors to evaluate the elements of personal risk. Evaluate your own skill level: Are you a strong swimmer? Is your gear new or well maintained? Have you inspected your lines for wear? Are the attachment points of your gear "bomb-proof"? Do you know the weather prediction for your local area over the time you'll be sailing. Do you know the best practices in the event of a breakdown? Do you look out for the safety of other sailors?
To those of us who have been sailing awhile the safety issues may seem self evident. But enen for experienced sailors, the issue of risk should be reviewed regularly. As a community, with recent exception, we've been relatively lucky. Be Safe