Image credit: TeamO Marine/Alex Turnbull Photography
This year sailors from 17 nations have entered, with yachts ranging from the mighty 42.56m (140ft) ClubSwan 125 Skorpios, down to smaller entries such as the 9.9m (33ft) J99 Calypso Odysessy. Calypso Odysessy is a new entry from local legends Thomas and Sebastian Ripard, together with their crew Daniel Calascione, Sam Pizzuto, Kris Borg Nicholas and TeamO’s own Lauren Mead!
Image credit: TeamO Marine/Alex Turnbull Photography
The Middle Sea Race is classified as a Category 2 race under the World Sailing rating system. The 606nm course can take anywhere from a few days to a week to complete, depending on the size of the yacht, although the outright course record stands at 47 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds – set in 2007 by George David’s Rambler. The overall winners of the past two editions of the race have been the Maltese family sailing team of Aaron, Maya and Christoph Podesta on Elusive 2 and the boat is returning in 2021 to defend their title!
Image credit: Rolex/Kurt ArrigoThe course starts in Malta, in Valetta, where yachts race out of the Grand Harbour to race in an anti-clockwise loop around Sicily, Pantelleria and Lampedusa before sailing back to the finish line off Tigne Point in Malta.
On leaving Malta, the fleet heads North to Capo Passero, the Eastern seaboard of Sicily and on towards the Strait of Messina. The active volcano, Mount Etna, is often visible on the port side. The Strait is one of the most technically demanding parts of the course, with crews keen to encounter both favourable current and wind to enable a straight-forward passage.
From Messina, the yachts head North to the second active volcano on the course, Stromboli, one of the Aeolian Islands, all of which must be left to port. At the islet of Strombolicchio, the fleet turns West along the Northern coast of Sicily towards the Egadi Islands.
Leaving the Egadi Islands (except Marettimo) to port, crews head South towards the island of Lampedusa leaving Pantelleria to port. At Lampedusa, the course heads North-east to the South Comino Channel (between Comino and Malta) and the final leg to the finish line at the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour.
Image credit: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
We asked the local sailing experts at RLR Yachting – Malta’s premium chandlery and boat supplies store – for their insider knowledge of the Middle Sea Race course and any tips that sailors coming to Malta for the first time should know.
“Preparation is key as the Middle Sea Race can throw any number of conditions at you” says Tom Ripard, RLR Yachting’s in-house rigging expert. “Often the first 24 hours of the race can be reasonably light as the fleet heads over to Sicily and up the east coast…Although equally there have been plenty of races which have seen the fleet racing out of Grand Harbour straight in to 25knots and a battle up the coast of Sicily!
A tip for the crew is to get in to your watch routine as quickly as possible after the start and to grab as much sleep early on as you can as later in the race it’s easy to get completely exhausted.
For navigators: in this first leg of the race look out around the Catania headland for a transition phase as there is often a land breeze that can come in to play as the first dusk draws in. A shut down as you get in to the Messina Straits is common, and conditions along the north coast of Sicily can also often be fickle and light.”
It is here that competitors strike off towards Stromboli and many sailors say that this part of the race is the most beautiful sailing they have ever done thanks in part to the sight of the volcano, often at dawn on day 2 of the race by this point for smaller boats.
Image credit: Rolex Middle Sea Race
We recommend Peter Gustaffson’s report on the 2019 race on his boat Blur for a coverage of this part of the course.
Once past Stromboli, Tom continues: “As you reach the north-west corner of Sicily, around Cabo San Vito, you can find that there is a real divide between boats that decide to hug the coast or those that head offshore. In 2019 when racing with Thomas Kneen’s JPK1180 Sunrise, we saw the fleet turned on it’s head here, with those that went further offshore staying in better pressure, and those that were inshore stationary, helplessly watching those just a few hundred meters away glide away in wind that they just could not reach.”
After turning the corner the fleet heads towards Pantelleria. There is approximately 275-300nms of the Middle Sea Race left at this point, but this second half of the race can often see conditions build quickly. After turning past Favignana in the 2019 edition of the race Blur’s team reported “After we passed Pantalleria the wind increased to 20-25 knots… we managed to push the boat hard, but the waves were very steep and we ended up either flying over and slamming hard into the next one… or just going through them. everyone was wet and got soaked every time we hit a big wave and in general it was pretty miserable. We talked about how much better life must have been in the 45-footers, but apparently they were miserable as well… And a 60’ ORMA trimaran was abandoned after nearly sinking, so I guess it was the same for everyone!”
Image credit: Rolex/Kurt ArrigoFrom Lampedusa it is a straight 90nm back to the finish line in Malta. Conditions here can vary widely but Ripard mentions it is worth keeping an eye on local current here as this can often be stronger than people expect and should be taken in to consideration when making tactical decisions. Gustaffson’s very good PDF presentation run through of the 2019 race analysis also emphasises the need to constantly stay on top of fleet positioning, both in the opening phases and the later stages of the race as there are many opportunities for a reshuffle of the leader board for boats that are alert to opportunities.
Good luck to all of the sailors competing in the race!
The Sailing Instructions state that all sailors must carry their own lifejacket which must have a sprayhood, light and whistle. We currently have stock of the 170N Offshore BackTow Lifejacket or the 275N Ocean BackTow Lifejacket that would be suitable for this race and we can ship to you in the UK or direct to Malta for collection there. TeamO lifejacket tethers are also available – we highly recommend the Triple Hook Safety Tether. Sailors must all have their own personal AIS unit fitted inside their lifejacket as well. TeamO is an authorised seller of the Ocean Signal MOB1 AIS – the smallest and lightest AIS unit available on the market which fits easily inside the TeamO lifejacket cover. For any help choosing kit for you and your sailing team please get in touch by emailing us at info@teamomarine.com or send us a message on the TeamO Facebook page.
From today we are adding the following items to our catalogue:
EPIRB stands for "Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon". The EPIRB works by alerting search and rescue services in the event of an emergency. The emergency alert is sent as a coded message via satellite and have a very high range so are ideal for sailing vessels. An EPIRB is registered to a yacht so that if it is activated the Coastguard receives key vessel information as well as location details that will be needed in a rescue situation.
TeamO has opted to stock the OceanSignal RescueMe EPIRB because of it's impressed 10 year battery life. We also have been recommending OceanSignal AIS units to our customers since 2018 and find OceanSignal's technology to be reliable and good value for money. Find out more about the RescueMe EPIRB here.
Recovering a man overboard can be an extremely hazardous operation for both the crew and the casualty, regardless of vessel size. The Jon Buoy MOB range is designed to aid in this operation, by increasing vital visibility and drawing attention to the MOB and will also offer protection to the casualty leading to reduced casualty time before recovery, for a more positive rescue outcome.
The IC-M25Euro is a slim, lightweight radio with high performance. It is ideal for leisure customers who are looking for a reliable VHF handheld transceiver. TeamO Marine has opted for this radio because we've owned this model ourselves for several years and rate it highly! It's easy to use, buttons are logically positioned so that you cannot accidentally transmit whilst the radio is tucked in to a pocket or stuffed in to a buoyancy aid. We also lost our charger once, and after a quick email to ICOM a replacment charger was purchased dispatched to us in record time, so we rate their customer service!
Find out more about TeamO Marine's expanded safety equipment catalogue in our webshop now.
]]>Supported by 5000 members across the UK, Cutlass shall take part in a planned calendar of events and regattas in the 2021 season, including Cowes Week.
TeamO Marine have supplied the crew of Cutlass with a full set of 170N Offshore Lifejackets with TeamO’s award-winning integrated BackTow Deckharness. This ISO-approved lifejacket is specifically designed for sailors racing and sailing in offshore conditions far from land and have all of the high performance safety features required by sailors in those conditions, whilst still being a comfortable lifejacket to wear over long periods of time.
TeamO Marine’s Design Director and Co-founder, Oscar Mead, was present at the launch of Cutlass at Fort Blockhouse in Gosport last week to present the lifejackets to the sailors of the Royal Navy Sailing Association. “I am thrilled to be supporting the RNSA network, both with these Offshore Lifejackets, but also with an exclusive discount for all RNSA members so that we can support more people getting out on the water and in to sailing in 2021” said Oscar.
The RNSA naming ceremony was masterminded by RNSA CEO Philip Warwick, and Fr Tom Pyke, RNSA's chaplain lead prayers for the safety of the team at sea, and Membership Secretary, Deborah Whalley, did the honours with the champagne to officially name the new yacht. Philip thanked TeamO for their fantastic support and said that “he was excited by this this new partnership and hoped that it would really help RNSA’s work to get sailors sailing”.
Founded in 1935 and now in its 86th year, the RNSA is a Service Sports Association and registered charity that delivers the sport of sailing across the disciplines of yachting, dinghies and windsurfing for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and their associated reserve forces. For more information visit their website at www.rnsa.org.uk.
Southampton-based TeamO Marine Safety Products Ltd are the design and manufacturing business who first introduced their patented BackTow lifejacket to the sailing world in 2013. The BackTow lifejacket is the only lifejacket deckharness which can turn a ManOverboard sailor in to a safe face-up position if they go overboard from a vessel whilst clipped on with a safety tether. Normal lifejacket deckharnesses with a fixed clip-on point will tow the sailor face-down next to the vessel if they fall or are washed overboard whilst tethered.
]]>From team captain Matt Mason: "Getting to know our safety kit is crucial to surviving in extreme environments. Trusting and knowing it works is an important part of training. Here we are testing our @teamomarine life jackets and @mrtsos immersion suits. With just over a month till our epic row from New York to London starts...let's do this!"
TeamO is proud to be supporting the Ocean Revival Row - a team of serving British Royal Marines who have undertaken a huge challenge to highlight the plastic crisis in our oceans. Find out more about this monumental 3,700nm row which starts in less than a month.
]]>Today we are pleased to let you know that we have switched our packaging tape to a new water-activated paper tape. This means there is no plastic involved at all in any of our shipping packaging. TeamO's cardboard cartons which you receive your lifejackets in can now go straight in to recycling without the need to strip plastic tape off first. Water-activated paper tape means no plastic-based glue on the underside of the paper.
TeamO boxes are already packed using EcoFill eco packing beans. These are made of starch and are 100% biodegradable. To dispose of them you can put them in to your bio-bags for composting or straight on the compost heap. They also dissolve quickly in water so you can also chuck, them in the sink or bath, add water and watch them safely disappear down the drain.
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It’s on Thursday 25 February, starting at 11am, and is the first in MIN’s Women in Marine series. Register to attend this exclusive online seminar.
MIN’ll be spending an hour chatting with Mead about how she and her brother Oscar took an idea, developed the technology and then built a successful business. The conversation will delve into how TeamO’s patented its products and how the company’s sourced, and worked with, investors in its ten year journey.
TeamO Marine designs and manufacturers award-winning safety products for sailors. Best known for the BackTow lifejacket, this patented design is the only lifejacket with a moveable harness point. The Meads hit upon the idea after an emergency call-out to a competitor in a race Lauren Mead was crewing. That fatal incident was the inspiration for the business. Now a TeamO lifejacket will keep a sailor face up if they fall overboard while clipped on to their vessel.
Register today be part of this exclusive online event, the inaugural session in MIN’s Women in Marine series. The first forty MIN readers who register will receive a free MIN mug. Register to attend this exclusive online seminar.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of Mead.
Free attendance at Women in Marine is made possible by the kind sponsorship of Barton Marine.
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Each day we come in and make the best quality lifejackets that you can rely on if the worst should happen. The responsibility of that sentence is something we constantly think about. If the worst should happen, the standards we put in place every day will help ensure safety and possibly even survival of someone who ends up in the water in our lifejacket. That is a lot to take on board.
There can be no 'made at 4pm on a Friday' attitudes when it comes to safety products. It has to perform. It has to be made right. To do this we only use the best performance materials, that are ISO certified from audited suppliers.
We cut carefully (with a laser for pinpoint accuracy). We employ the best sewers and makers we can find. Gill and Lou have been with us for nearly two years and their experience is second to none. If you need someone to sew a small, fiddly, complicated shape, these two are your first port of call. Cat joins us when she can and helps us to fulfill your orders (but she also has her own cool sailing plans going on which we're excited to watch developing)
We are also working with a third party manufacturing supplier who does some of the non-technical sewing stages because we can't keep up with demand if we start from scratch in-house anymore.
Oscar is our Head of Design. It was his original idea for a lifejacket that could turn the wearer face-up if they went overboard whilst clipped on that eventually turned in to our award-winning BackTow Lifejacket Deckharness that so many sailors trust and choose for their crew today. Oscar and our ISO test partners cover the quality control side of things too.
We check, sample, test and retest continuously. Oscar literally knows how many stitches there are in every lifejacket, how much weight a buckle is designed to take and he is constantly seeking new ways to improve and develop our range. Sometimes that means just getting on a boat and going sailing in your own product.
Lauren covers the sales and marketing side of things. In the beginning no one had heard of a BackTow lifejacket before and so we set out to educate the market about why being BackTowed was important (short answer: face up = breathing = good. face down = drowning = bad). From time to time we have other people drafted in to help when we have projects on .
We are a small team, but a passionate one. We can't make as many lifejackets every week as some of our competitors, but we are the only ones who can make a BackTow Lifejacket. We think that's important. We plan to keep doing what we're doing, turning up every day to make top notch lifejackets you can rely on, and designing the next big thing (and you should see Oscar's design notebook. There are some wild innovation ideas waiting to burst off those pages.)
We're always happy to talk about lifejackets, and even happier to talk about what you're planning to do whilst wearing our lifejackets - our customers end up in some pretty cool places around the world. Please keep tagging us in your social media posts when you're out on the water, or tell your dock neighbour about BackTow and why they should consider it.
Last month we launched the Coastal BackTow Lifejacket. This is a new model that combines our patented BackTow harness in to a smaller lifejacket without a sprayhood or a light that is specifically designed for sailors who are doing shorter offshore sailing trips (ie, maybe one overnight passage in coastal waters compared to a longer time offshore when you might be crossing an ocean) This allows Coastal sailors to access BackTow technology at a lower price. The Coastal is ISO approved for use in offshore conditions, and customers can choose to purchase the sprayhood and light separately and install these themselves if they wish to upgrade to the full Offshore package later on without having to buy an entire new lifejacket.
TeamO this week launches our brand new Coastal Lifejacket with integrated BackTow Deckharness
Get our unique patented BackTow system for £159!
This is an essential piece of safety equipment for sailors who are planning coastal sailing, overnight trips & cruising passages
The Coastal is ISO approved and combines our unique patented BackTow Technology into the integrated deckharness - this means that you clip on with your safety tether from the lifejacket to the lifelines on deck. If you were to fall overboard the TeamO lifejacket will automatically inflate (if you are wearing the Automatic inflation lifejacket model. Users of the Manual inflation lifejacket models must manually pull the inflation toggle on their jacket) The BackTow handle will then be available on top of the lifejacket lung. The user can pull the BackTow handle to release their clip-on point from the waistbelt. This will move the clip-on point from the front to the back of the lifejacket, and will rotate the wearer from a face-down position in the water to a safe face-up position.
The ManOverBoard (MOB) will remain with the boat, safely tethered on, being towed face-up through the water by the BackTow system. The BackTow system protects the user from being washed away from the boat where recovery from the water is extremely difficult. The structural 'A' frame of the BackTow strop is also an ISO-approved lifting point. A halyard can be clipped to the strop and used to winch the user back on board with reduced chance of injury during this process.
Features of the Coastal Lifejacket Deckharness:
Following feedback from customers that they wanted a smaller, lighter, more affordable version of the BackTow lifejacket deckharness, TeamO created the Coastal lifejacket model. The Coastal combines all of the things you need for an overnight sail or passage sailing.
A sprayhood and SOLAS approved light can be purchased separately and fitted in to the Coastal lifejacket cover if you wish to add these items.
There are two inflation options for the Coastal lifejacket: Automatic or Manual. The Automatic lifejacket features the UML Mark 5i inflation system. Rearming kits for this system can be purchased from TeamO Marine or are widely available in most chandleries around the world. Alternatively you may prefer the Manual inflation option. For this lifejacket the user must manually pull an inflation toggle available on the front of the lifejacket to trigger the inflation. Both the Automatic and Manual version of the Coastal are fitted with a 38g C02 cylinder cartridge which can be purchased from TeamO Marine or any good chandlery.
The Coastal Lifejacket is available in black with orange or pink trim or blue with yellow trim. The range features our new technical honeycomb weave fabrics throughout which offer a more durable, tougher exterior for longer product life.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATION:
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If you have recently bought a TeamO lifejacket please complete the registration form below to extend our standard 3 year Manufacturer's Warranty to 5 years. Without registration the standard 3 year warranty period will be applied.
We highly recommend that all customers register their lifejacket. By registering your lifejacket TeamO can then send you automatic annual reminders when it is time to service your lifejacket, as well as advising you on where your nearest service centre is, and if there are any product updates that are relevant to your lifejacket.
As ever, if there are any questions we're always happy to chat. Please call us between 9am-5pm on (+44) 02380 334745 or email us at info@teamomarine.com]]>Even one unnecessary death was unacceptable to us, so we set out to prove them wrong. We focused on solving the problem, and we did. The BackTow lifejacket is still the only lifejacket that can keep you face-up in the water if you go overboard clipped on. It went on to win several design awards and is now stocked all over the place, worn by sailors all over the world. Our customer clearly saw the value of innovation, even if our competitors had not.
Being the new kids on the block you tend to gravitate toward other outside-the-box thinkers. Today we're proud to be launching our first collaboration with another company who are shaking up their own corner of the sailing world. savvy navvy is the ultimate sailing navigation tool. Created by sailors for sailors, it brings all of the essential information you need for passage planning in to one app and presents it in a beautifully simple, easy to use way.
Designed by a former Google engineer who saw an opportunity to revolutionize the navigation app market, savvy navvy has won rave reviews from both press and users. Customers sign up to an annual subscription to access the service. TeamO customers can get a 20% discount off by going to the savvy navvy website and using the discount code TeamO20.
Safety at sea products should be intuitive, innovative and designed for real life situations. We rate savvy navvy. We hope you enjoy using the app too.
Congratulations to Tom Kneen and the crew of Sunrise Racing who are the IRC winners of the Royal Western Yacht Club's inaugural Lonely Rock Race! As Safety Sponsor of the event, TeamO was there are the start line to supply racers with surprise goodie bags.
In the goodie bag racers were given Gin & Tonics to toast reaching the Fastnet Rock, which is an iconic landmark in the British offshore racing scene, and dry socks (because every offshore sailor knows that warm, dry feet are the way to have a happy race) For good measure we threw in some sunblock and Haribo supplies for the dash to the finish too.
As the race got underway, the organisers at the Royal Western Yacht Club noticed a looming problem that was growing in the Irish Sea:
The decision was made - the fleet changed course to head for another lonely rock: Wolf Rock, 8nms off the course of Land's End. Leaving the lighthouse to Port they would then race back to the finish in Plymouth before Storm Ellen hit.
The final boat finished at midnight last night and racers were met with TeamO beers at the finish line to celebrate their safe return and with BackTow lifejackets for the winners.
Seeing young racers heading offshore is really inspiring to us, so TeamO also decided to sponsor a trophy and a prize for the youngest sailor. This was won by George on the JPK1180 Dawn Treader, so congratulations George!
We love a creative project, so when it came to sourcing the trophy for the Lonely Rock Race we decided to keep it in-house. Oscar repurposed the metal base from an ex-display stand and the laser cut acrylic parts were off-cuts from another project - #Zerowasteforthewin
Well done to all of the sailing teams who took part, and to the Royal Western Yacht Club for successfully running an offshore race during this turbulent 2020 sailing season.
Next time we will go visit the original, legendary, the ultimate challenge in the British offshore sailing league: the Fastnet Rock!
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- New BackTow Armed safety tab on the waist belt which allows you to see at a glance that your lifejacket is prepped and ready to sail.
- Tough, durable honeycomb fabric for abrasion resistance and longevity.
- Soft loop attachment point of the crotch straps on the back (no more buckles digging in your back)
Shipping update!
We have had feedback from some customers in Europe that our shipping rate was too high. We checked it out and we totally agree. From today orders to European delivery addresses will be charged a flat rate of £18, saving you £12 on shipping.
US and Rest of World addresses have a flat shipping rate of £30. We send all orders tracked and will share the courier details with you when your order is dispatched so that you can track your delivery in real time.
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We're always happy to talk, so there are contact details are at the bottom of this page if you still have any questions after reading the guide.
How it works: The UML ProSensor Elite firing head works using a water activated system. A compressed paper capsule is contained within the firing head. When water washes in to the bottom of the grey unit the paper pellet becomes wet, dissolves and releases a spring which fires the CO2 cylinder and inflates your lifejacket.
The firing head is designed so that water must travel upwards inside the unit to dissolve the paper pellet. It is then also protected by the lifejacket cover. This means that spray and rain will not cause accidental inflation.
There are two colour tabs on the front of the unit to show the activation status as shown in the image above. When both the firing head and the CO2 cylinder show as green marks the lifejacket is armed and ready for use. Both of the tabs need to show green before you go sailing. If one of the tab marks shows red this indicates that the jacket is not armed and needs to be checked.
If the top tab shows red check this means that the CO2 cylinder needs checking. It may have been punctured and need replacing, or it may mean it is not screwed firmly enough in to the grey unit. You can unscrew the CO2 cylinder by hand and check the bottom of the bottle. If it has been punctured it will have a small hole in it, like Co2 cylinder on the right in the image above. This means that the bottle has been used and must be replaced.
If the bottom tab mark on the grey unit shows red check the bottom cap on the firing head. It may have been used and need replacing or it may mean it is not screwed firmly enough in to the grey central unit. To check, look at the bottom of the grey bottom cap. There are holes in it, as shown in the image below. Through the holes you should see a red plastic circle with a white paper ring surrounding it. If you can only see the red plastic circle then the cartridge has been used and needs replacing.
TeamO now also offers the UML Conversion Kit for the ProSensor Elite inflation system. This is a plastic cap that fits securely over the end of the ProSensor Elite head and converts the system from an automatic inflation system to a manual system. When this cap is in place the lifejacket user must manually pull the plastic toggle to inflate the lifejacket, it will no longer inflate automatically. Some sailors like to have the conversion kit onboard to allow them to switch easily between both the automatic lifejacket and manual lifejacket modes.
ProSensor Elite inflation systems expire after approximately 3 years and you should check the date which is printed on the side of the grey unit before you go sailing. We recommend that you service your lifejacket annually and replace the ProSensor Elite inflation unit at least 6 months before it's stated expiry date.
The TeamO Range: The UML ProSensor Elite is compatible with TeamO's Ocean and Offshore BackTow Lifejacket models.
The Hammar inflation system looks very different to the UML ProSensor Elite, and it works in quite a different way too. The system is based on using water pressure to release a spring and inflate the lifejacket. Unlike the Pro-Sensor Elite described above, the Hammar firing head requires immersion in water to activate - the yellow cap shown above needs to be approximately 10cm underwater to achieve enough water pressure to activate the unit.
Water enters the unit from the spout shown on the top right hand side of the yellow unit. As water fills up inside the unit the pressure increases until it is high enough to trigger a pin inside the casing. Once fired the pin punctures the CO2 cylinder which is stored inside the bladder lung, causing the lifejacket to inflate.
The Hammar system is intended for use in more extreme sailing conditions where you are likely to be experiencing waves over the deck or similar - it is therefore often favored by sailors doing deep ocean and longer offshore sailing as it is less likely to inflate accidentally. Sailors with very wet boats or anyone working on the bow may also find that the Hammar inflation system is a good fit for them.
Hammar inflation systems expire after approximately 3 years and you should check the date on the front of the yellow unit before you go sailing. We recommend that you service your lifejacket annually and replace the Hammar inflation unit at least 6 months before it's stated expiry date.
The TeamO Range: The Hammar inflation system is only available in the TeamO Offshore BackTow model.
The UML Micro Manual Inflation units have recently been relaunched so that they are even smaller and lighter than previous editions. They are much more simple than the other systems described above - there are no paper pellets or water-pressure activated systems here. Simply pull the yellow toggle as shown above to inflate the lifejacket.
Manual lifejackets are sometimes favoured by sailors who want to have more control over when they do or do not inflate their lifejacket. If you have concerns about entrapment on boats (for instance, on multihulls in a capsize situation) you may want to have a manual lifejacket so that it does not inflate before you want it to. It may also be suitable for sailors who are sailing in more extreme conditions with a lot of water on deck or over the sailors, in situations where the water may accidentally inflate an automatic system.
Generally we advise sailors to seriously consider the automatic inflation systems first because they protect the wearer in the event that they end up in the water in a compromised situation (for instance, if they were not conscious when they entered the water). An automatic inflation lifejacket will inflate in this situation and the lifejacket is designed to turn you face-up in the water without any further action by the wearer, so that the Man Overboard/Person Overboard/MOB does not drown.
The TeamO Range: The UML Micro Manual lifejacket inflation system is available on the Offshore, Coastal and Inshore lifejacket models
The UML Mark 5i Lifejacket inflation system has recently been introduced to TeamO's lifejacket range when we launched the Coastal BackTow Lifejacket. It is currently available in the Coastal lifejacket model and will also be used in the Inshore and Micro models which will be launched in the next few weeks.
The UML Mark 5i firing head works on the same premise as the ProSensor Elite system described above. Water enters the black unit at the bottom of the firing head (see diagram above) where it encounters a paper pellet holding a spring in place. The water dissolved the paper pellet (usually within 3 seconds of immersion) and once this happens it fires a pin inside the casing which punctures the CO2 cylinder and triggers the lifejacket inflation. The firing head is protected from water by the lifejacket cover so it is unlikely that rain or accidental water splashes will accidentally trigger the lifejacket inflation.
There is also a plastic pull toggle on the side of the firing head. This is a safeguard in case the sailor wants to manually override the system and inflate the lifejacket at will. With a hard tug on the toggle the firing system can be activated and the lifejacket will inflate.
The UML Mark 5i firing head has a 3 year expiry date on it and TeamO advises that all sailors check the date of the capsule before going sailing. The expiry date of the UML Mark 5i lifejacket system can be found printed on the side of the black plastic cap. For pre-sailing checks we recommend you check the indicator status on the UML Mark 5i firing head. As shown below, if the system is armed and ready for use there is a green coloured mark on the firing head unit. If the lifejacket has been inflated and/or the firing head is inactive the mark will show red instead. If you see this red mark this means you need to check the Co2 cylinder and the black cap - they may need replacing. To check this, please follow the same instructions as above for the ProSensor Elite.
To conclude, we're including a simple infographic below to show which TeamO lifejacket model carries which inflation system.
Still have questions about which inflation system is best suited for your lifejacket? Drop us an email with details about your sailing plans and we can help advise which option would be best for you: info@teamomarine.com
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Press Announcement!
The RWYC Lonely Rock Race is pleased to announce our chosen charity as the RNLI. This comes together with the announcement of TeamO Marine who have been appointed as our Safety Partner.
Lauren Mead, Sales and Marketing Director said "Now more than ever we all need something to look forward to, and The Lonely Rock Race stands for so much that we believe in at TeamO: tenacity, a drive to compete and a love of offshore racing. We are delighted to be supporting the inaugural event as Safety Partner and to provide the fleet with the best British-made lifesaving equipment. The Fastnet Rock is an iconic mark in the British racing scene, and we are looking forward to meeting the racers at the start and finish lines where we will be donating prizes and supporting as much as we can."
Chris Arscott – Commodore of the Royal Western Yacht Club said ‘again we have great news for all the competitors of the Lonely Rock Race, more prizes from more great companies. We really want to support the industry in any way we can, this is a small way to give each business some marketing publicity during these difficult times. This also brings the total prize fund to well over £35000! We are also really pleased to be supporting the RNLI. Whilst all our competitors are very experienced and sufficiently qualified to race, we never know what may be around the corner. The RNLI do a terrific job in watching over us and it’s great that we can recognise their services in this way. We hope as many people and businesses alike can dig deep and donate something by using the link below’
The Notice of Race is published online at the club website – www.RWYC.org/lrr.
The RNLI will be present after the race finish performing a sea rescue display, subject to the relevant COVID rulings at the time. COVID management measures are ongoing.
Entries close on June 5th, with the understanding that any current entry price will be honoured should the race be postponed; For further advice, information or questions please email admin@rwyc.org and one of the race management team would be delighted to respond.
Photo credit: Hiroshi Nakajima competing in the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race wearing a TeamO 170N BackTow Lifejacket Deckharness
]]>We joined Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) for their new podcast series to talk about how real life inspired the design of our patented BackTow lifejacket. Click the link below to listen in.
Thank you to hosts Mitch & Chris for inviting us to be a part of this episode.
POSITION CLOSED - 26/05/20
We are taking all government precautions seriously regarding social distancing in the work place and interviews will take place by phone or video call. Guidance on safe social distancing inside the building during work hours will be provided.
If you would like to find out more about the role please email your CV with a cover letter to info@teamomarine.com
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How to use:
(Note: this works best when used in combination with a green screen background, but a plain white wall will also work)
- Save your favourite boat image from the selection below (these images are all designated Free To Share and Use under Google Image Licence)
- To enable the Virtual Background feature for your own use:
Zoom Rooms
To enable virtual backgrounds for your Zoom Rooms:
Beautiful main cabin on a liveboard yacht:
The interior of a carbon racing boat, this is the Volvo65 from the all-female SCA team that took part in the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race:
OIn the cockpit of a cruising boat, ready to sail!
AAt the chart table on a reliable work boat:
Love the light and airy boat interior on this yacht:
And finally, where we all want to be: out on the water. As soon as possible. This one make a great backdrop for Zoom calls when you have high contrast clothing on (for example a black tshirt)
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TeamO is taking the view that Coronavirus is very serious, but panic is optional.
We had been having on-going conversations with the production team at TO HQ as the coronavirus numbers in the UK started to go up. Many were feeling understandably nervous about continuing to come in each day, and some have vulnerable family who absolutely must be their priority. Everyone here is passionate about this little business and no one wanted to close the factory, but there are more important things in life than lifejackets.
Having listened hard, we made a plan. It’s not possible to make a lifejacket at home. But it is possible to do a lot of the preproduction work from your kitchen table. Last weekend we moved a couple of rolls of fabric and tools around to the right places and this week we have been trialing our first ever Production From Home processes. Only our directors will now make the journey in to work and even then only when necessary to support the production team.
This means that production is slower, but still going. Everyone is keeping their jobs and we’re moving forward together. We have put in place extra quality control checks as production-ready pieces are sent back to TeamO, and by doing this we can keep the wheels turning.
We have some stock already packed which means we can carry on dispatching orders taken via our website and some of our retailers are still open too. We would suggest allowing a few days extra for delivery when you order as some couriers are running reduced services.
We’re missing the chat and laughter in the TeamO building but we know that when it’s safe to do so we’ll all be back, ready to crack on. There is a saying ‘in the depths of winter, plan for summer.’ We’re hoping that by summer we will all be venturing out on the water again, and we’re planning to have lifejackets and safety equipment ready for you when the time is right.
Best wishes from everyone at TeamO.
]]>Some people have told us that they are planning to head out on their boat for a couple of weeks for their social distancing period. We wish that we could do the same! Like lots of other businesses at the moment we're nervously watching how the Covid19 situation develops.
We're taking extra steps to protect the staff at TeamO day to day, and we plan to follow Government advice and closely monitor the situation. For the time being we're are still shipping orders daily however, so if you are heading offshore we are here to fulfill your safety kit requirements.
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TeamO is still looking for a US based distribution partner to help us expand in other states, so please email us if you are interested to discuss this further.
Late last year Lauren sat down with Fiona from She can. She did. to talk about what it’s like to run a start-up in the marine industry. @Shecanshedid is a podcast that puts the spotlight on female business founders launching in the UK.
The podcast is now live on Spotify and Apple, or you can listen online here, so tune in to hear about TeamO's experience with crowdfunding, how it feels to see the Royals wearing your design and what it is like to work with your little brother everyday.
]]>TeamO reopens on Monday 6th January and we will be prioritizing packing & shipping all orders received over the break.
In the meantime we’re taking a final day to fine tune our goals and plans for 2020. This post from Seth Godin today hit the mark:
We are looking forward to supporting you with all of your safety product needs for sailing adventures in 2020.
Best wishes from everyone at TeamO Marine
'te amo' means 'I love you' in Spanish. I'd known that for a while but just recently other people have been noticing that too. Sailing Uma came to tour our factory when they were visiting Southampton recently, and we spotted comments underneath their video interview that people were starting to call our BackTow design the 'I love you lifejacket'. The idea of that is just perfect to me.
Although a lifejacket is not the most conventional present, as we head towards Christmas the organised early birds are getting their orders in. The thought that a TeamO lifejacket is a present you might buy for your most precious person to wear, and for them to trust our design to keep them safe should the moment of need come along, is incredibly humbling and moving.
This week we have heard from customers who are buying it for their sister, who has recently set off to cruise around the world with her boyfriend and their dog. For a younger brother who has decided that 2021 is his Fastnet year. For a cousin who is sailing across the Pacific garbage patch, applying her marine biology skills to conduct research experiments as she goes.
It drives me further to imagine that our effort at TeamO, working with my brother and our small but dedicated crew to create better safety products for sailors, becomes the ultimate 'I love you' statement when it's given as a gift to the adventurers heading out to sea by those staying on dry land.