Do you let your kids go on inflatables in the sea?

[SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter]

I have second-hand trauma from watching this:

The fact that dad was literally RIGHT THERE with them and they were just playing in the shallows and then, Whoosh, gone. It's crazy.

Only in the shallows of the beach on a very calm day with me right there next to them to ensure they don’t go out. On their own or with me not close by then absolutely not

I saw a lifeguard in Mallorca giving a family a bollocking for having inflatable rings in the sea recently. It was a fairly windy day and the sea was a bit choppy (although calmer close to shore) so I could understand his frustration.

No way. I grew up by the seaside and know full well what the dangers are. A calm sea can turn in minutes

OK- well I have seen it lots of times. On junior and youth national circuits, so I guess the committee boats knew what they were doing. I've also seen courses adjusted very significantly mid-race. As I say, I have no personal knowledge, I'm just the roadie. 💁

Nope. Absolutely no way I would allow a lilo/rubber ring/etc in the sea. Im not especially keen on them in pools either.

Well, as you know, rule 33 allows the next mark and subsequent marks to be moved so it's possible to alter a course if the circumstances are right.

Abandoning the race to a shift, I'd be amazed if you can find an example of that unless there's some safety issue with the new direction. Typically abandonment would be due to strength, not just a course becoming a bit reachy.

But in either case, we're not talking about a fast unforecast ~180 out of the blue.

If onshore winds typically became offshore winds in the way described above an awful lot of watersports would be incredibly dangerous, not just inflatables.

And there are a very large number of ROs who don't know what they're doing, but that's another issue. 😁

Good on the lifeguard I cant even begin to imagine how horrific it must be to retrieve a child's body from the sea. And how frustrating it must be to repeatedly see parents put their children and the lifeguards life at risk like that. Its great to see on here most are saying no but you see it often on beaches so clearly lots of parents don't see an issue with it and would probably find it hilarious if the lifeguard had to go in to get their kids

I've watched enough episodes of Saving Lives at sea to know how dangerous the sea is - and how people can get into trouble with tides, offshore winds, currents and inflatables.

This isn't safe, it can take a matter of seconds.

Eeeek! That is a pretty big secret to keep from her to be fair!! I hope she's forgiven him tomorrow though! 😂

I'm guessing Anderby creek?

Google suggests two deaths there last month. 😬

Absutely not there have been numerous people who have been swept out to sea on strong tides over the years. I've always lived by the sea until recently here and abroad and there have been many such deaths. Tides are very unpredictable.

Tides are very unpredictable.

The UK Hydrographic Office might be surprised to hear that.

Inflatables in the pool only, never, ever in the sea. I’ve been scuba diving for 25 years and am also a cross channel swimmer. I wouldn’t use an inflatable in the sea, let alone wave my kids off on one - and I massively judge parents who do.

That’s why I’m right there holding on to it. On a calm sunny day abroad in shallow, still waters. Never on a windy day, never in the Uk and never past shallow waters. My children are strong swimmers but are still not allowed to be on inflatables without me right there holding them.

Never and if the lifeguards are flying the orange wind sock (for no inflatables) that includes stand up paddle boards.

I've been to a few places where the beach was a sheltered bay or lagoon with no currents, and I would allow inflatables with supervision. Most beaches, especially on the open ocean, absolutely not.

No. As someone who drifted out to sea alone in a tiny blow up dinghy when I was 5 and on holiday abroad, absolutely not.

Inflatables are only for the pool.

@Milliethekid - Yes!

Uh-oh! How did you get back?!