Dinghy Sailing Jackets

In competitive sailing, especially small-boat dinghy regattas, participants are usually required to wear some sort of personal flotation or buoyancy aid. Since sailors often move around the boat, bend at the waist, change sides quickly, and dash below to retrieve sails, a non-bulky life jacket is vital. Buckles can potentially tangle or snag on rigging so a simple jacket with clean lines is important. The European 50N buoyancy aid is common overseas and favored by the small boat crowd in the US. We evaluated five European sailing jackets and compared them to a readily available US Coast Guard-approved jacket.

The first thing testers noted, was how snugly the dinghy sailing jackets fit. Some were challenging to put on, but once adjusted, they felt like a second skin. Swimming in these jackets was easy due to the reduced bulk compared to a US. Coast Guard-approved Type III jacket. While the chance of going for a swim when dinghy sailing is high, mobility is often key for self-rescuing. In the event assistance is needed, response time is short during organized regattas. Testers in this category appreciated the slightly less flotation in favor of a smaller, but snug fitting life jacket.

Baltic Dinghy Pro, Spinlock Zero, Gill Compressor and Pro Racer

The Baltic Dinghy Pro ($67.27) and the Spinlock Zero ($125.00) were the easiest to put on but were the least snug initially. With some additional adjustment, the Zero fit better, but testers stated these two jackets bunched up behind the neck when seated, which dinghy sailors do a lot. Both of the Gill models (photo inset from left - Compressor, $140.00 and Pro Racer, $80.00) were harder to pull on over the head, but were comfortably snug once adjusted. Testers favored the Pro Racer over the Compressor since it stayed in place better when in the water and testers felt the range of motion was also better in the Pro Racer.

Zhik

The Zhik buoyancy aid ($119.00) was the staff favorite in the dinghy sailing category because of its overall fit and comfort. It was easy to put on and fit well without riding up when in the water. The Zhik was also the least bulky of the jackets and was easy to swim in, making it the “Staff Pick” of this category. This is perhaps because it had more room in the shoulders than some of the other jackets.

Stohlquist Kitty

A close runner up to the Zhik was the US Coast Guard-approved Stohlquist Kitty ($99.99), available at West Marine. It rated well due to its overall comfort. It had multiple adjustments, which allowed for a snug fit, yet it offered a wide range of motion. The neoprene in the shoulders provided comfort and stretch, and the jacket didn’t ride up in the back or neck region. Although this was a women’s model, a comparable men’s variety from Stohlquist is available.

 

 

 

Pictured above: Baltic Dinghy Pro