Keep children safe afloat

 Sailing with children should be about family fun, not stress and anxiety. And you and your family will all feel a lot happier if everyone is safe and comfortable. Consider the fact that if children are on deck seeing what’s going on, and you know that they are safe, then they will learn. As they grow older (and bigger!) they will be able to help and get involved – and as second nature, will know how to do things safely. So here are a few things you might find useful if you have children on board your boat –  it is your responsibility to make the right choices about taking children afloat.

Most important is that you have life jackets and buoyancy aids., and know the difference between the two. Quite simply, a lifejacket will turn an unconscious child face-up and support them if they are unable to swim. Don't ever be tempted  to buy a lifejacket that your child will ‘grow into’ – it will only work if fitted correctly. Lifejackets are fitted according to weight, rather than size. Only use those that have crotch straps and built-in safety harnesses. The crotch straps will ensure that your child doesn’t ‘slip’ through the jacket, and will keep it in place on the body during a rescue. Additionally,  choose life ackets that incorporate a ‘D’ ring attachment for lifting or securing on board. A quality lifejacket is intended to support the wearer on their back, with their face clear of the water.
These days, life jackets are much lighter than people might remember them, and as such are comfortable enough to wear all day. They even come in a crib format for babies – so you can get even the smallest on board safely.

Lifejackets and buoyancy aids are sold by their buoyancy rating, measured in Newtons (N) – a metric measurement of force.
To support a 1kg weight you need a force of 9.8 Newtons; 1 Newton is equal to 0.225lb/f. A 150N lifejacket will therefore support someone with an in-water weight of 15.3kg or 33.7lb. 150N devices are suitable for most situations, including offshore, although 100N are also available and only suitable for inshore sailing. Children’s lifejackets are either made of a light, static soft foam (sometimes plus a manual air inflation system) or they'll automatically inflate using a water-activated CO2 gas cylinder. Naturally, if you think that your child is going to bob in and out of an inflatable, or go paddling about the water’s edge, you really need to go for the foam (or foam and air) version. The automatically-inflating jackets are smaller versions of what you, yourself, will be wearing and will be activated to inflate when they come in to contact with water. Note that you must check and replace the gas cylinder as date marked, visually check regularly and systematically service.

Re-arming kits are quite costly so if your child is likely to be jumping in and out of the water for fun, an automatic lifejacket might not be the best option! Having said that, many parents report that once their offspring have experienced the ‘explosive’ nature of an inflatable lifejacket gas cylinder going off , they generally begin to respect its important safety features! In a nutshell – automatic lifejackets generally best suit older children, whilst foam lifejackets are perfect for smaller children and toddlers who may wish to play in the water as well as on it.

Buoyancy aids are exactly as they say – an aid to help keep a child afloat. Buoyancy aids are only suitable for competent swimmers and are designed to be used in sheltered waters where help is close at hand. They should only be used for children who can swim, and preferably when under full adult supervision. Buoyancy aids are often used in canoeing, windsurfing, and fast watersports.

It's wise to adopt a policy that everyone on your boat wears a lifejackets at all times when sailing and up on deck. It is also advisable for children to wear lifejackets or buoyancy aids whenever they're aboard in the marina, and it's a must when transferring between boats – for example when aboard a tender, moving to and from a moored boat. You might also wish to consider your child wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid if they are playing on the pontoons... it is all too easy to slip or trip. Plan ahead and remember – a lifejacket will only work when it's worn!

Safety lines consist of a webbing strip with quick release hooks or clips at either end. The reliability of the line lies particularly in the strength of the hook, which has a child safety feature. The safety line should ideally be attached to your child via the ‘D’ ring on  their lifejacket or safety harness. The other end of the line is then fixed to either ‘D’ rings which are generally secured in the floor of the cockpit, or for older, more competent children, fitted jackstays (secured webbing that runs along the deck next to the coach roof).

As a rule, younger children will only need a long enough safety line to allow them movement around the cockpit. Older children may be moving along the topsides, attached to the jackstays, in which case the length of safety line must be such that they would be kept out of the water should they go overboard. Safety lines can give adults the reassurance that their little ones are going to be staying in the boat whilst allowing them freedom of movement.

Adults may also wish to consider deck netting that attaches from the guard rail to the toe rails for added security on deck. Additionally, a number of parents have found transferring car seats to the boat useful. Strapping little ones into the seats when manoeuvring short-handed can really help keep things more organised and safe. However, you need to consider very carefully how the seat is attached in the cockpit or down below in the main saloon. It may be just as easy to use harnesses and safety lines, or put up lee cloths on the main benches to provide an instant play pen if you are able to supervise.

Whether you are pottering along a river, sailing up and down the coast, or making a sea crossing, make sure that you and your children have the appropriate safety equipment. Remember, if we encourage little ones to act safely on boats, they will grow up thinking that that’s the norm. Sailing is about having fun on the water – so make sure you’re all safe and comfortable!