Glossary · Rules & safety
Life raft
Also called: Radeau de survie, radeau, survival suit, combinaison de survie
An inflatable raft, with supplies and equipment, where the crew takes refuge if the boat must be abandoned.
The life raft inflates automatically once thrown overboard. It is part of the mandatory safety equipment, like the survival suit, which protects from cold if immersed. Several rescues in offshore racing have depended on this gear.