Custom lifejacket for VOR sailors
26 Jun 2017
Spinlock has designed a custom lifejacket for the VOR
Spinlock is to be an official supplier to the Volvo Ocean Race, after designing a custom lifejacket for the 2017-18 edition.
The link-up is part of a technical partnership scheme that has seen the race work with the sailing and marine industry to develop new and innovative products capable of withstanding some of the toughest conditions on the planet.
This edition of the race will see the fleet cover three times more Southern Ocean miles than recent editions with Spinlock’s new VOR edition lifejacket worn by all sailors in the fleet.
“It’s exciting to be able to push the boundaries with a product like this, in collaboration with the Volvo Ocean Race,” said Myles Uren, product manager at Spinlock.
“The speed, the risks and the loads on the boats in the Volvo Ocean Race have increased massively over the years, yet it’s the same crew that are racing them – so it’s our job to take our products and innovate in order to try and help them out as much as possible.”
One of the biggest challenges for the designers was to create a lifejacket durable enough to withstand the Southern Ocean slamming, but lightweight and comfortable enough to encourage the sailors to actually wear it, around the clock, for eight months.
“Until now, lifejackets have often been designed for the recreational sailor, resulting in often cumbersome and limiting design factors, so it’s fantastic to see Spinlock’s enthusiasm to research and design a tailor-made product meeting the specific needs of the competitive offshore sailor,” explained Abby Ehler, logistics manager at the VOR boatyard.
Along with the lifejackets, each Volvo Ocean 65 will also be equipped with Spinlock lifejacket harnesses, safety lines, carry equipment packs and PLB/MOB devices.