I was jut looking at the Zhik bouyancy aid and noticed that it's CE approved but not USCG approved... Can someone explain to me the difference?
Hello,
From time to time when I'm tacking in the upwind legs (with lots of vang), the mainsheet along the boom would sometime get caught on the top of the lifejacket on my back when I duck under the boom to tack. This is a very embarrassing thing which always leads to a capsize. It can be quite scary too if I don't get the main off straight away. I always turn around the opposite way so that it doesn't wrap around my neck! The lifejacket I use is a quality Henri Lloyd.
Does this happen to anyone else? I am 6"2 and I do try to duck as far down as possible each time, I guess I sometimes forget this little extra attention. What can I do to avoid this? The only thing I can think of is to put a rashie (waterproof top) over the lifejacket (that would create a smoother curve over the jacket foam) but I already have one on (under the life jacket) which is enough for the hot summers here in Sydney! If nothing I guess I just have to keep reminding myself to duck duck duck as far as possible! I wouldn't ease the vang each time I tack for sure, especially when it's blowing!
Cheers
The problem that you identified is one of the reasons that I went from my Lotus super adjustable high-tech PFD back to a simple, one zipper Extrasport Challenger (which I read that they don't make anymore). The shoulder buckles would catch the mainsheet, and I just could not live with it anymore.
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