Sailing Umavideo

It Took 5 Years to Create This Revolutionary Lifejacket— Sailing Uma [Step 194]

November 7, 2019 · 17 min · 175K views · Southampton

What this video covers

Timo life jackets feature a rear-towing attachment point designed to keep a person face-up in the water, addressing a common safety flaw in conventional front-tethered life jackets.6:04 The manufacturer, based in the United Kingdom, produces these jackets using laser-cut fabric panels and bladder components manufactured on the Isle of Wight.3:45 The design process involves iterative testing with anatomically weighted dummies to compare water-entry performance between front-tethered and rear-towing configurations.7:18 The company recommends annual professional servicing for the inflatable bladders, though they are developing a global network of authorized service centers.0:52

Following a visit to the factory, the crew of the 45-ft catamaran Uma departs Southampton to sail into the Solent toward Portsmouth.8:59 Navigating the Solent requires careful timing with tidal currents, which can reach five knots and create hazardous conditions when opposed by wind.11:30 The crew monitors local traffic, including high-speed ferries, while maneuvering through shallow channels into a tight marina berth.13:24 Frequent practice with side-tying and slip-docking in variable conditions improves their boat-handling skills.15:53

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