The umbrella trick
14 February 2023
Launch of the first Pershing GTX116
25 February 2023
Designed and validated in collaboration with French sea rescuers
from Bateaux magazine
This lifejacket has been developed and validated in collaboration with French lifeguards.
Tribord and SNSM have been working together since 2020 on all phases of development, from the initial specifications to the prototypes and their validation at sea.
This lifejacket has been validated in the laboratory, on the water, and in day and night rescue situations.
A standard lifejacket
The standard that governs lifejackets requires the castaway to turn around, even if he or she is inanimate and falls headfirst into the water. But this standard is defined with a castaway dressed in just one bathing suit. However, we know that once you’re wearing a full foulies suit and boots, air pockets form and prevent this rollover. Tribord and the SNSM have therefore decided to manufacture a vest that will also work if the sailor is fully equipped.
The standard also requires a 150 Newton buoyancy vest. However, testimonials show that if the wearer has a lot of equipment, he or she needs more buoyancy. Tribord has therefore opted for a buoyancy of 180 Newtons to cater for all situations and body sizes.
The Tribord vest features an asymmetrical bladder to ensure a smooth turnaround. As a result, buoyancy is unstable when you’re on your belly, and you naturally turn to face the sky.
The vest turns you over after inflating. Depending on whether or not the boots are filled with water, you either turn on your side, or pivot by your sinking feet.
Full article on LJ180N, we tested the new Tribord lifejacket (bateaux.com)
