I'm pretty sure the throwable is a U.S. Coast Guard requirement. We carry one of the cushions with straps under the storage bag for long distance races just to meet the requirement. I can't imagine ever using it either...then again I heard of someone breaking his arm when his rookie crew came back to pick him up consequently ran him over.
On a catamaran, and especially away from protected waters, it's important that all onboard understand how to maneuver a sail boat. I sail frequently with new people and it always makes me nervous. I usually instruct them to either abandon ship or to go to the low side and capsize if I happen to fall off. The choice between the two depends on their their physical abilities and the area and conditions we are sailing in. What else can you do when you have a newbie on a boat?
Jake,
Yes, the throwable is a USCG requirement for boats over 16 feet. They describe its use as follows:
[color]"A TYPE IV PFD, THROWABLE DEVICE is intended for calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always present. It is designed to be thrown to a person in the water and grasped and held by the user until rescued—It is not designed to be worn. Type IV devices include buoyant cushions, ring buoys, and horseshoe buoys. There are no inflatable type IV devices."
When I got to thinking about how we carry the device simply to meet a requirement designed for other types of craft, I began to wonder if it could be made useful.