Which PFD?
My children were aged six, eight and 11 at the time of our cruise and I wasn’t sure what kind of personal flotation device they should wear. Until now we’d only sailed in the harbour. There’s an important distinction between buoyancy aids – which can be worn in sheltered water, but don’t have sufficient buoyancy to protect a person unable to help themselves – and inherent buoyancy jackets, which have greater flotation and neck support to keep the head out of the water.
Traditionally, inherent buoyancy jackets have been recommended for children as they provide instant buoyancy on entry to the water.
My kids had inherent buoyancy jackets (by Helly Hansen, Marinepool and Decathlon) which they wear when kayaking or dinghy sailing. Having seen them capsize many times in them, I was happy the jackets keep them upright and afloat. However, I wanted the kids to be tethered on, and the problem with their inherent buoyancy jackets is that they
