Our automatic PFD's require a 5' to 7' submersion before they "pop". The old ones used inflate if heavily soaked as the little "pills" dissolved. That could more than annoying and expensive.

By the way, the experienced sailor who reportedly died after they finished the Chesapeake Schooner Race fell from the boat while trying to release a preventer in choppy, mixed seas. Aside from the general rule of not leaving the boat, my personal take- away is that auto inflate devices need to be worn to save lives. The recent death of the Ned Cabot off Newfoundland when he was lost without a PFD'S during daylight hours is an example.

While I require our crew to wear PFD's and harnesses offshore at night or in snotty weather, it's hard to get to get "buy-in" from the crew during the day. I confess to not wearing them myself during the day -- and often at night in the "Bay".

A lot of us don't wear helmets when sking, biking, etc. The reality (which I, and tithe rest of you that do that) is that's just not wise.