Dinghy Sailing Buoyancy Aids FAQs
Buoyancy aid or life jacket for dinghy sailing?
Buoyancy aid, every time. A 50N buoyancy aid is designed for someone who can swim, will capsize regularly and needs to move freely to right the boat and climb back in. A life jacket is built to turn an unconscious person face up and is far too bulky to sail a dinghy in. Clubs and the RYA expect dinghy sailors in a 50N buoyancy aid, and most race instructions require one.
Overhead or front zip buoyancy aid?
Overhead if you trapeze or hike hard, front zip if you want convenience. An overhead buoyancy aid has nothing on the front to snag a trapeze hook or a mainsheet, and it sits closer to your body because there is no zip gap. The trade off is that it is harder to get on and off over wet kit. A front zip is quicker in the dinghy park and easier for juniors to manage alone. Both float you the same.
How should a buoyancy aid fit?
Snug enough that someone pulling up on the shoulders cannot lift it past your chin. Do the waist strap up first and pull it tight, then the side adjusters. The body should finish above your hips so it clears your hiking strap and does not catch the boom when you tack. Try it on over the thickest layers you sail in. If you are between sizes, go down, since a loose buoyancy aid rides up in the water.
How do I size a buoyancy aid for a child?
By weight, not age. Every buoyancy aid is rated for a weight range, and a child below the minimum weight will not have enough buoyancy to float properly. Check the chest measurement too, and do not buy one to grow into: it will ride up over their face in the water. Junior sizes usually cover a child from around 25kg to the point they fit an adult small. See our kids dinghy sailing clothing.
How long does a buoyancy aid last?
Five to seven years of regular use, less if it lives in a damp bag. The foam slowly compresses and loses buoyancy, and the webbing and buckles fade and go brittle in the sun. Replace it when the foam feels thin, the buckles crack, or it no longer holds you comfortably on your back in the water. Rinse it in fresh water after sailing and hang it to dry, which adds years to it.
