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Prior to our first Fastnet attempt the whole crew took a survival course , using our newly purchased lifejackets in the swimming pool testl. To our horror, even with tight crotch straps they lifted high over our heads - and nearly drowned us. Suitably worried we approached Glynn Foulkes of Aladdins Cave who obtained one of every type of lifejacket available and we tested them all - eventually choosing the Baltic as feeling the safest.

Over the next 2 years these otherwise excellent velcro fastened jacketsfailed to cope with the hard knocks of a rough offshore campaign After a while they began coming undone when we sat out through the guardrails - especially at night .Baltic then came up with a zipped design which retained the excellent buoyant design position when deployed , yet stood up to all the abuse that we put them through in this years racing and cruising campaign . The fleece neck material even made them a pleasure to wear.

Moral : get into the water with your lifejacket BEFORE you go offshore and need them for real.