In Seahorse on the RORC Club Page the skipper of Holligan V mentioned that one of the key lessons learnt when their boat capsized was that all the lifejackets were auto-inflate so swimming out from the cabin meant that one could not be worn. This created a question ‘should some be manual-inflate? If so how many?’

5.01.1 Each crew member shall have a lifejacket as follows:-
a) equipped with a whistle
b) fitted with marine grade retro-reflective material (OSR 4.18)
c) compatible with the wearer’s safety harness
d) if inflatable, regularly checked for air retention
e) clearly marked with the yacht’s or wearer’s name

5.01.2 It is strongly recommended that a lifejacket has:-
a) a lifejacket light in accordance with SOLAS LSA code 2.2.3 (white, >0.75
candelas, >8 hours);
b) at least 150N buoyancy, arranged to securely suspend an unconscious man
face upwards at approximately 45 degrees to the water surface- in
accordance with prEN ISO 12402 – 3 (Class C) or equivalent (for persons
of larger than average build the ISO 275N jacket should be considered);
c) a crotch strap or thigh straps;
d) a splashguard/sprayhood. See EN394;
e) if inflatable, a compressed gas inflation system.

5.01.3 In Category Zero every lifejacket shall have the attributes listed in OSR 5.01.2.

5.01.4 For every gas inflatable lifejacket a spare cylinder and if appropriate a spare
activation head shall be carried.

5.01.5 Each yacht shall carry a spare lifejacket or lifejacket(s) as required in OSR

5.01.3 sufficient for at least 10% of the total number of persons on board
(minimum one spare lifejacket). At least one of the required spare lifejacket(s)
shall be a semi-automatic for use in man overboard recovery.