The so-called “Orange windsock” is used in several international bathing safety systems to warn that there is a strong wind or wind blowing from land to sea, making the use of inflatables in the water dangerous. In Portugal, however, official beach signage is based on the green, yellow, red and blue and white checkered flags, so this sign should be understood as complementary and not as an official Portuguese flag.
What does the orange wind sleeve mean?
The International Life Saving Federation describes the orange wind sleeve as a conical device used to indicate the direction of offshore winds, i.e. winds that blow from the coast to the sea, and to show that it is not safe to use inflatable objects in the water.
In practice, this sign means that mattresses, buoys, inflatable boats and other floating objects can be quickly swept away from the beach, even if the sea appears relatively calm next to the surf. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a British maritime rescue body, summarizes the warning bluntly: when the orange wind sleeve is raised, inflatables should not be used in the water.
Does it officially exist in Portugal?
In official Portuguese documentation, the orange wind sleeve does not appear as one of the signal flags planned for the beaches. The National Maritime Authority (AMN) informs that signal flags are red, yellow, green or blue and white checkered, with defined minimum dimensions and rules for use contained in the beach notice.
This means that, on a guarded Portuguese beach, bathers must first be guided by the official flags and the lifeguards’ instructions. The green flag indicates that swimming is permitted, the yellow flag recommends caution and prohibits swimming, the red flag prohibits entry into the water and the blue and white checkerboard signals that the beach is temporarily unattended.
How does this warning adapt to the Portuguese reality?
Although it is not an official flag in Portugal, the safety principle associated with the orange wind sleeve is fully applicable to Portuguese beaches, especially in areas exposed to wind and currents. If there is wind blowing from land to sea, the use of inflatables should be avoided, even if there is no orange wind sleeve on the sand.
In Portugal, this information can be transmitted in other ways: through lifeguards, notices in the beach notice, complementary signage or instructions given by the competent authorities. An AMN letter relating to the summer season admits that the signage of a bathing unit can be complemented with signage indicating other restrictions or dangers, as determined by the competent authorities.
Where is the orange wind sleeve used?
In the UK, the RNLI includes the orange wind sleeve in the set of bathing safety signs and explains that it indicates offshore wind or strong wind, and swimmers should never use inflatables when the sign is up.
The British meteorological service, Met Office, also recommends that swimmers never use inflatables when the orange wind sleeve is raised, explaining that this sign indicates offshore winds capable of pushing inflatable objects further from the coast.
In the United States, the United States Lifesaving Association also presents the “orange windsock” as one of the approved warning signs on beaches, meaning offshore winds and unsafe use of inflatable objects in the water.
At an international level, the ILSF includes this sign in its standards of flags and bathing safety signs, which explains its presence in several countries, although concrete adoption depends on the authorities and rescue entities in each territory.
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