Working in partnership with the RNLI, Helly Hansen has announced the return of its annual lifejacket clinic, providing Personal Flotation Device PFD guidance at the annual Round the Island Race.

Organised by the Island Sailing Club, Round the Island Race is an annual, international yacht race attracting over 1,400 boats and around 15,000 sailors each year, with this year’s race on 25 June. 

As a sponsor of the event, Helly Hansen, working in partnership with the RNLI, has organised a lifejacket clinic ahead of the race. This is the fourth year Helly Hansen and the RNLI volunteers have offered lifejacket advice to participants before the start of the race. This year’s lifejacket clinic will take place at the Helly Hansen Cowes store on 24 June. 

Commenting on the initiative, Cowes RNLI Coastal Safety Officer, Tony Reeve, said: “It’s always important to wear a properly fitted and maintained lifejacket or suitable personal flotation device (PFD) when you go out on the water, especially in a sailing event such as Round the Island. Last year many of the lifejackets we saw appeared inadequate for use, highlighting the value of these clinics in helping the sailing public to stay safe by being able to properly look after and maintain their lifejackets. We also had some really valuable and insightful conversations and were able to offer advice on not just how to choose and maintain the right lifejacket or PFD but also what to do in an emergency on or near the water. During Round the Island the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews remain ready to launch to those in distress. And in an emergency at the coast please remember to call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard or use VHF channel 16.”

Helly Hansen is proud to be returning as the Official Clothing Partner to the Round the Island Race 2022. As well as the kit advice, the market-leading brand will be kitting out more than 150 volunteers and organisers for the event. A merchandised capsule collection has been designed for the race, incorporating the brand’s most popular technical sailing pieces including the brand’s most popular technical sailing pieces and technologies, including LIFA INFINITY PRO™, the brand’s most innovative and sustainable waterproof/breathable technology to date.Highlights from the official merchandise collection include Helly Hansen’s HP 1/2 Zip Pullover, HP Ocean T-Shirt, and W Inshore 1/2 Zip Pullover.

As the leading global sailing brand, Helly Hansen, and its strategic partner, the RNLI, have almost 350 years of combined history protecting lives at sea. The joint initiative was designed to educate racers and the public about the dangers on the water, with a view to reducing drownings on UK waters. The volunteer run lifejacket clinics are free to attend and have been offered at several of the Helly Hansen sponsored sailing events across the country*.

To keep sailors safe while racing, Helly Hansen is also offering all participants in the Round the Island Race a 30% discount voucher to use towards a new Helly Hansen lifejacket**.  Complimenting the initiative, Helly Hansen is also offering participants an opportunity to enter a competition to win 1 of 3 £100 vouchers to redeem at the Helly Hansen Cowes store.

Emma Russell, Marketing Manager for Helly Hansen in the UK, Ireland, and Benelux, added: “We are pleased to continue offering our lifejacket clinic at this year’s Round the Island Race. The potentially lifesaving advice is one undertaken with our trusted partner, RNLI, working towards our collaborative mission to deliver drowning prevention messages by supporting fundraising and safety campaigns and supplying the very best kit to the RNLI’s lifesavers. It is crucial for lifejackets to be serviced annually, as well as checked regularly before going out on the water, and as a brand that provides gear to help people stay and feel alive, we hope these clinics will continue to help save more lives at sea, and ensure users feel safe and confident on the water.”

This clinic, which was first offered to participants in 2018 at Round the Island Race, Cork Week and Dartmouth Regatta, follows Helly Hansen’s announcement of its continued support of the charity’s Mayday campaign, in which the brand will be donating 50% of all UK online sales during the month of May to the RNLI, as it has done since 2018. This year’s lifejacket clinic will take place at the Helly Hansen Cowes store on 24 June, between 3pm and 7pm.

For more information about Helly Hansen, please visit: www.hellyhansen.com.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution: www.rnli.org.

Round the Island Race: www.roundtheisland.org.uk.

 

*The RNLI lifejacket clinics are an advisory service only and are not intended to replace an annual service as recommended by the manufacturer. It is the responsibility of the lifejacket owner or vessel owner to ensure that their safety equipment is fit for purpose and is in full working order.

**Terms and Conditions apply. No cash value for the voucher.

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