We first learned about wearing a helmet when climbing the mast at sea from Dame Ellen MacArthur. She always did when solo sailing. As we always have our bicycle helmets aboard, we have availed of using them even when climbing the mast at anchor if there is a swell. Here 's a story about what can happen when you don 't. The skipper of Spirit of Hungary climbed the mast without a helmet and got terribly smashed up when he lost his grip and went metronoming out and back repeatedly. He 's lucky to have survived.

http://www.yachtingworld.com/news/hungarian-skipper-injured-in-southern-ocean-whilst-competing-in-barcelona-world-race-62062

Vice Commodore, OCC