Life jackets and crotch straps
On the pontoon and on the Hansa, everyone must wear a life jacket with the crotch strap fastened. Here is why it matters.
At Sailability Tokyo, everyone who steps onto the pontoon or boards the Hansa must wear a life jacket and fasten the crotch strap. This applies to all ages and all levels of experience.
Why the crotch strap matters
Without a crotch strap, the life jacket can ride up over your head if you fall into the water. Your body can sink while the jacket floats away, or the jacket can come off.
Then your head may go under the surface, and you may not be able to breathe.
With the strap fastened, the life jacket stays on your body. Its buoyancy holds you up, and your mouth and nose stay above the water.
How to wear it
- Choose a life jacket that fits your body
- Close the front zipper or buckles all the way
- Pass the strap at the back between your legs and clip it to the front buckle
- Lift the jacket by the shoulders to check that it does not rise far from your body
Our staff will help you. Please ask if you are unsure.
What to wear
We ask people wearing skirts to fasten the crotch strap too. A skirt makes the strap hard to fasten and can spread out in the water, so we do not recommend skirts.
Please wear pants that can get wet and shoes that stay on.
Thank you for understanding
For safety, we cannot take anyone who cannot wear a life jacket, whose jacket does not fit, or who cannot fasten the crotch strap.
If you are joining a sailing experience, please also see Sailing Experience.