Tribord, Decathlon's brand for wind-powered sports, has developed a new self-inflating lifejacket, the LJ180N. Through a multitude of details devised by the designers, it offers a guarantee of proper operation to keep the castaway's head above water.
A vest developed in partnership with the SNSM
Rather than trying to design a lifejacket from scratch, Tribord drew on the expertise of the SNSM to come up with the key points. Indeed, this organization had just defined its specifications for equipping its lifeguards.
Tested for offshore sailing
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, i.e. with a watch jacket, overalls and boots.
More than 150 Newtons
The standard requires a vest with a minimum buoyancy of 150 Newtons. Tribord has therefore opted for a buoyancy of 180 Newtons to suit all situations and body sizes.
Bladder asymmetry
To ensure a smooth turnaround, the Tribord lifejacket has a ram-shaped bladder that forms a volume offset from the body axis. As a result, when a castaway is unstable on his or her stomach, the vest naturally turns to face the sky. Depending on whether or not the boots are filled with water, you turn on your side or pivot by your sinking feet.
A vest, but not only...
Tribord knows that the most important safety measure is to stay attached to your boat. That's why harnesses and lanyards are so important. In fine weather, it's common not to put on your lifejacket. But the harness is still important. That's why the Tribord vest is modular. On one side is the harness, on the other the inflatable bladder, all linked by an easy-to-connect zip. With just one accessory, you can continue to wear your harness even if you lighten your vest.
As a drop of water
A vest is only as effective as the person wearing it. The aim was therefore to create a product that interfered as little as possible with movement. The "water droplet" shape, which can be slipped on over the head, was chosen for its ability to clear the shoulders and keep the arms out of the way. This is particularly important when climbing up a ladder after falling into the water.
An adjustable strap on the back also holds the collar back and prevents it from weighing down the neck. It's simple and works well.
Details
The bright orange color of the bladder was chosen after tests of yellow and neon green colors showed them to be less suitable: yellow is less visible in sunlight, and green is less legible at night. The position of the reflective strips was also studied to ensure 360° visibility. The same applies to the flashlight, which is positioned at the highest point of the bladder, but in such a way as not to dazzle the castaway.
Additional equipment
The vest is designed to accommodate an AIS or PLB beacon: loops have been designed for this purpose. Finally, an eyelet on the back of the collar is there to install an anti-mist hood. A space has been left in the collar to store it inside the vest.
Numbered folding
Once the vest has been inflated, whether during exercise or not, it needs to be folded. Tribord's teams have designed this phase by proposing tutorial videos accessible via a QR code on the vest. But above all, by following numbers that guide the user. Clever!
Available at ?220
The Tribord vest is available from DECATHLON for 220 euros.
