Hmm, so the North American Championships are international right? Considering more Canadians (better bring the bacon!) are currently registered than U.S sailors (I know, I'll get on that in a month or 2).

Here's my thing, if you get knocked unconscious, you're pretty hosed until someone gets to you, or you happen to not be under the boat (fat chance, read the latest accident reports). In these cases, a buoyancy aide should provide enough floatation to keep your head near the waters surface. No Type III PFD is designed to keep your mouth clear of the water, like a Type I that you might be wearing 20+ miles offshore on a 30+' vessel in the same rough conditions you'd get trapped under your beach cat in...