what buoyancy aid to get

[mollykins]

As you may know, I have a sailing dinghy and since last year I've made some new friends, some of which would like to go sailing with me. BUT a couple of them are considerably smaller than any of the people who I took last year.

This where the problem begins. I am just over 65kg and my B.A. is for 60-70kg which fits me fine. But my dad's is 70+kg.

Having said that, one of my friends is about the same weight as me, and TBH I don't think my dads fits either of us properly even though it's only a few kg over. BTW this is the friend who'll probably go sailing with me the most.

Plus I have one or two friends who are just under 50kg but most fit into the 50-60kg range (I would think)

Would getting a 50-60kg be the best option? (would this still be ok for my ~47kg friend?)

I want my friends to be safe and I only ever take people out who can swim but I only want to have to buy one more.

[Prudie]

surely the cadets have one you can borrow - and expert advice to give you too?

[ummmm]

How is this thread going to get 100+ answers if you people keep coming up with the answers???

[TonyV]

Suezy and post - will go over someones head foreshore - or is that the buoyancy aid?

[supersuezy24]

Hiya postdog x
love the two dogs in your avatar.
Wall says hello postdog Haha

[dotty.]

I'm waiting for a reply and I anticipate one shorlty as it is teatime in East Anglia I think

[supersuezy24]

Lol tonyv :)

[Prudie]

because none of them will be right ummmm

[Maydup]

Just in from work and see you all with bumps on you head. Be careful with that wall, its never going to move no matter how hard you bash at it.

Molly - Don't you do any theory at cadets? Like what size buoyancy aids to get. If I had that question I'd have asked you.

[DTCwordfan]

I thought that you could stand up on the rivers of East Anglia and the Broads if you fell out of the boat. The same principle applies to the Dogger Bank as well I understand

[mollykins]

The wherry hotel, yeah we're on about the same shop.

I know that one of my friends would be perfect in a 40-50 but she's very nearly 50kg and it's safer to make sure you tightly do up one that's slightly too big than have one too small and it's restrictive. And I think everyone else should fit into the 50-60 or 70+ one . . .

[mollykins]

DT, you can in places :P

My auntie got me a crew saver float for the top of my mast incase we capsize, so that the top doesn't get stuck in the mud.

[DTCwordfan]

I rest my case, my lord.

[mollykins]

I've only capsized once, and that was when my auntie and her fiance came, and they've got more years sailing experience than i can imagine.

[DTCwordfan]

try it in Lake Windermere when you are crew on a Fireball, the "floating plank," and on the trapeze. The skipper has been selected for the Olympics sailing team and he dleiberately jibes....you take a nice little icy-cold dip and he is able to keep the boat from being capsized.

[DTCwordfan]

It was November as well - the bustard went in as well....as we came out of the jibe, I up-ended it.

[dotty.]

well redhelen we have more in common than you would think, i have capsized with a number of RAF personel and one was even a flight lieutenant type

[DTCwordfan]

I wish she (or you) had come and helped me out, helen!