Spinlock Powering Vendée Globe Sailors Around the World
12 Nov 2024
...And they're off!
The Vendée Globe sailors sail solo around the globe without assistance or stopping. The race presents a gruelling test of endurance, skill, and self-reliance as competitors face extreme weather, massive waves, and vast distances over months at sea. For these sailors, safety isn’t just a consideration - it’s a top priority.
Spinlock, known for its innovative marine safety gear, has become a trusted name among Vendée Globe competitors, providing lifejackets, harnesses, safety lines, rope holding, and other essential equipment, tailored to the demands of ocean racing.
The race traverses some of the most treacherous waters on Earth, including the Southern Ocean, where waves can exceed 60 feet and winds can surpass 70 knots. Spinlock lifejackets are designed to address these extreme challenges, equipping sailors with reliable, high-performance products that support their safety in all conditions.
Essential Spinlock Gear for Vendée Globe Sailors
1. Deckvest VITO Lifejacket
Advanced Safety Features: Spinlock’s Deckvest VITO, widely used by Vendée Globe sailors, includes cutting-edge features like a unique Harness Release System (HRS) an integrated spray hood and LUME Lights. The Deckvest VITO was developed with input from top ocean racing teams, designed to be lightweight yet packed with critical safety features.
Built for Comfort and Endurance: This lifejacket is not only effective but also comfortable for long-term wear, which is essential for Vendée Globe sailors who may wear their lifejackets continuously in harsh conditions.
2. Spinlock 100% Waterproof 2 Litre Safety Pack
Quick Access to Safety Essentials: Spinlock 100% Waterproof 2 Litre Safety Pack was developed in collaboration with professional sailors to provide accessible storage for essential safety tools like PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons), flares, and lights.
3. Safety Lines
Spinlock’s safety lines feature custom clips that allow quick attachment and release, even with one hand, cold hands or in difficult weather. Additionally, the lines are ‘dry-coated’ to repel water, which helps them stay lighter and more comfortable over time—an essential feature for sailors facing prolonged exposure to ocean conditions.
4. Deck Pro Harness
Some sailors prefer to wear a Deck Harness with no lifejacket when sailing solo around the world. Very lightweight and simple to wear, in cases where falling overboard could mean life-threatening separation from the boat, some solo sailors believe that remaining securely tethered with a harness is safer than relying on an inflatable lifejacket. If they were to fall overboard, being attached to the boat by the harness may simplify re-boarding or self-rescue, avoiding the difficulty of inflating or relying on a lifejacket for flotation.
Meeting the Unique Demands of Ocean Racing
Spinlock has honed its products to address the specific challenges of round-the-world racing. Lifejackets and safety packs are not only built for reliability but also with the ergonomic needs of professional sailors in mind, wearing them for long periods of time. Lightweight construction, freedom of movement, and quick deployment features ensure that sailors are protected without compromising performance.
As the Vendée Globe continues to push the limits of endurance racing, Spinlock remains committed to advancing safety technology, so sailors can continue to explore and conquer the seas.
