There 's a very interesting new design of life jacket from Team O in GB that keeps a victim who has fallen overboard with head above water and dragging backward. It also facilitates retrieval to the boat. Looks really good. The PBO test video is worth watching.

http://www.teamomarine.com/back-pull-technology

Vice Commodore, OCC 

Makes perfect sense, Daria. There 've been industrial safety harnesses, for use in grain silos etc, configured this way for a long time. It 's better to have the tether behind you if you 're winding a winch, for example.

Yet I believe I have a better way. I use a waist belt, with a one metre tether clipped to lines that are well inboard. I simply can 't go over the rail and into the water. As a single-hander, it would be of no benefit to me to be towed through the water more comfortably.

Good point, David! First rule of sailing: STAY ON THE BOAT!

But I do believe that having the tether out of the way behind you makes sense.

By the way, I finally discovered what Tystie means while visiting Rum in the Small Isles of Scotland! Thought of you!

Vice Commodore, OCC