Dinghy sailing - niche buoyancy aid question!

[Cakeandslippers]

Hi all, I've been sailing for coming up 3 years now but still can't find a buoyancy aid which suits me. I am quite big chested which means they are all very tight over my boobs and sit quite high, and if I ever need rescuing, I can't be pulled up properly as it's too loose around my shoulders and waist. If I size down, they won't do up over my boobs.

I've tried a few styles and I loved one I tried on which did up at the front with 4 buckles, no zip. I was able to adjust the bottom straps really tight and have the top at the looser end and I got a great fit. It's not a sailing specific one and I'm worried though that it comes down quite low in the waist and might impede movement / rub as I move. I sail a laser / ilca so need to be able to really get down low at times.

Any advice / experience gratefully welcomed. Almost all the women in my club are thinner with small chests, they sympathise but obviously don't have direct experience of this particular issue!

I don't sail but I was looking at buoyancy aids for something else recently and am sure I found one designed for women...I'll see if I can find it

This will sound weird, but if you’re able to try on the one that you liked, are you able to try replicating some of the movements that you’d typically do on the Laser (I sail them too)? I mean try the movements out before you buy it? So sitting in a crouched position, twisting turning body, trying to replicate movements you’d do for tacking/gybing, trying to hike etc? It’s a pain wearing gear that doesn’t quite fit right, but you obvs need it to fit well so you can move well!!

I’ll put my thinking cap on though :)

The one I'm looking for is eluding me at the moment but when you say you've tried different styles, do you just mean buoyancy aids or life jackets too?

Because the crewsaver life jackets might fit better?

Thanks yes I did this in the shop a bit but it was a really cold day and I was wearing bulky layers compared with what I'd wear on the water so it was hard to tell ,- it definitely wasn't a no but it also wasn't a yes....I do have quite a short body which doesn't help. I think I probably need to go back with different clothes on and try again.

Thanks, I've seen some women's specific ones online but we don't live in a water sports area (we are very much inland) so limited options in the shops to try on and they all look quite similar to men's ones online. It's so hard to know what to expect from a women's one.

I haven't tried life jackets no because it doesn't look like you could be hauled out by one if needed (it's rare but I sometimes need this, if I sail a full rig and go in a couple of times I struggle to right the boat myself) - do you know if that's right?

I’m not sure if it works for dingy sailing but I have one like this for kayaking https://www.kayaksandpaddles.co.uk/buoyancy-aids/astral-blue-jacket?p=1204529&v=16326 not actually for ladies but was recommended to me for simmilar reasons. It’s not flattering but the wide bit fits under the bust so does not add bulk and allows as much reach as possible

Yak curve women’s cut. I’ve been between a 16 and 22 and booby and it’s always been fine.

Ah poo it looks like they don’t make it anymore.

I’ve just seen a palm meander that has a woman’s cut and looks like it would be OK for sailing in.

I haven't sailed since I was a kid so this might be a dumb idea, but would a full body safety harness under a life jacket work? Like the ones you use for office window cleaning. Then you've got a handle on the back so someone can scruff you, with buoyancy over the top. That's effectively how avalanche airbags work, with a strap between the legs.

Palm looked good, Forward WIP, Gil too. I’m a 52kg, 5ft 4, deflated boob, wizened old sea hag, so luckily can fit most things. I saw some online which have the straps that loop under the legs but I’d hate those when I’m sailing: I think they be a pain in the butt (literally!) if too tight or too loose. Definitely try and get back to shop with some clothing that’s fairly similar in thickness then see what it feels like. Can someone go with you to try and tug the garment up to see how it might feel? I think you’d also need it to feel ok for when you’re righting a capsize (but that would be impossible to try out, unless you’re in the water!). I always found front fastening bulky buckles were a bit of pain (but obvs needed to cinch stuff in).

You sail a Laser with a full rig? God, I used to fight it around the course until I got my radial. Fine in lighter winds but a real sod in the higher winds (still, a great workout)! Happy sailing x

Thanks for the ideas ladies - I'll get looking again. And yes I need to go back and try the other one on without a big woolly cardigan! I do wonder though if all those buckles might be a faff, especially when climbing back in after I inevitably fall out!

@TicTac80 I alternate between full rig and radial - I'm over 90kg so a radial gets a bit boring in light winds - I do sometimes struggle to right the boat with the full rig though, especially if the wind has come up while I've been out. I'm not short of practice at least!

Can you get to the Dinghy show at Alexandra palace later this month?

https://www.rya.org.uk/dinghy-show/