Whilst I really enjoyed watching the Americas Cup over the last few days it's pretty clear that in most conditions (OK not last tuesday) Moths would smoke 'em, and whilst its only an observation its still kinda nice.
Watching everyone get such a pounding it did occur to me that it seemed eminently sensible to wear helmets, and that got me thinking as to whether we should too? OK, we don't have so far to fall when it goes wrong, but with closing speed that can easily be 50 mile per hour then it does seem sensible doesn't it?
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
11 comments:
Couldn't agree more!!
Coming into another Winter on Port Phillip Bay there is a couple of us in Melbourne that are about to do the same
Was thinking about BMX body armor, have yet to whack my head except in non foiling conditions.
http://www.xsportsprotective.com/bmx-upper-body-armor.html
I have been wearing a ProTec brand helmet bought from a kite board shop. Very comfortable to wear and reasuring.
+1
Have bumped the head once on the boom while being jettisoned.
Will probably get a mouth guard too, have bumped my teeth more than the head.
I watched about 10 minutes of the AC40s and almost fell asleep. They take longer to tack than a VOR70 does to make a pitstop for a rebuild. The problem with rafts is I suspect that they're a lot more exciting to sail than they are to watch (at least I would hope so) - give me Moths or 18 footers any day.
I see Volvo are now publishing updates from the sailors who are on the boat carrying their boat. Very authentic.
I liked the AC but found it best to turn the sound off and do my own commentary. In this way at least my kids knew what was going on.
Wearing a helmet when skiing has raised my confidence no end when taking on silly stuff. Perhaps I should wear it when mothing - it'd be great if there was the same effect on my sailing as on off-piste jaunts! Not sure about the issues of awareness - we probably (need to) use our hearing more than we think.
In 1979 I had a car crash and fractured my skull. On doctors advice, I sailed for 6 months wearing a skateboard crash helmet, both crewing a Fireball and helming my Moth. I had no real problems with it at all. Since then, I have knocked myself out sailing a B14. If I hadn't been with a crew, who knows what would have happened. Maybe helmets need to be considered.
"Shall I put the kite up skip?"
"Yeah, go ahead - knock yourself out."
I've been developing a kite foil and becoming more and more addicted to the Moth foils. Since we've hit +25knts the helmet has become a sensible option. I use a ProTec brand like Phil and its relatively easy to get used to + you can remove the ear protectors and you have the same sensation in your ears regarding the wind.
I've been developing a kite foil and becoming more and more addicted to the Moth foils. Since we've hit +25knts the helmet has become a sensible option. I use a ProTec brand like Phil and its relatively easy to get used to + you can remove the ear protectors and you have the same sensation in your ears regarding the wind.
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