Sailing helmets: Mind over matter

Clubs, classes and top sailors are increasingly turning to helmets. In the New Zealand publication YBQ, Kathy Young talks to the experts about what’s driving the shift, what they actually protect, and how to choose the right one.

More Kiwi sailors are recognizing that head protection isn’t just for the high-performance elite – but with no dedicated standards for sailing helmets and a bewildering mix of designs adapted from other sports, how do you decide what will actually keep you safe on the water?

We all see that boats are getting faster, but even traditional dinghies sailing in moderate conditions carry inherent risks, for instance during mark roundings, capsizes and unexpected equipment failures.

Findings from a recent Auckland University of Technology survey, run in conjunction with Yachting New Zealand, indicate that 21.1 per cent of people had received at least one diagnosed or unreported concussion from a sailing-related activity over their lifetime. – Full report