Advanced Flotation System changes the bladder construction
Spinlock’s 2026 Deckvest VITO AFS introduces a new integrated flotation construction developed after several years of work on buoyancy performance. Rather than treating the inflation chamber as a conventional insert, the Advanced Flotation System uses a sewn three-dimensional form that sits close to the wearer’s body.
Spinlock says the layout places buoyancy where it can improve rotation, freeboard and stability once the lifejacket is inflated. The lower-profile shape is also intended to reduce bulk while the jacket is being worn, an important consideration for sailors who may remain clipped on for many hours at a time.
170N buoyancy and hydrostatic inflation
The VITO AFS uses a Hammar hydrostatic automatic inflation system and provides 170N of buoyancy. Hydrostatic activation is designed to reduce accidental inflation from spray or heavy rain while still triggering when the wearer is immersed, making the system particularly suited to exposed offshore cockpits and foredecks.
The updated construction also allows Spinlock to use high-visibility pink and yellow areas across the inflated chamber. The contrasting colours are intended to improve detection at distance and in difficult light, complementing the physical freeboard and stability provided by the flotation shape.
Harness Release System becomes standard
Spinlock has made its Harness Release System standard on every VITO AFS. The feature gives a wearer a defined way to disconnect from the safety tether under load if remaining attached to the yacht creates a greater danger, such as being dragged alongside a moving vessel.
Lume-On bladder illumination and the elevated Pylon light are also included as standard, improving visibility after dark. The combination brings flotation, harness, release and lighting functions into one offshore package rather than requiring owners to assemble those features through separate upgrades.
Comfort matters because safety equipment must be worn
Lifejacket performance in the water is only part of the design problem. Offshore crews often avoid bulky equipment if it interferes with movement, so Spinlock has also concentrated on softer internal construction and a lower-profile fit intended to make the VITO AFS easier to wear continuously.
For cruising-yacht owners, that focus is significant because the best personal safety equipment is the equipment the crew will actually keep on. The 2026 VITO AFS therefore combines higher-visibility emergency features with an attempt to reduce the everyday penalty of wearing a full offshore lifejacket and harness.
