Another article ...
explaining that PFD's are not mandatory at sailing schools. The 23' boat that they use for instruction also have no life lines. Also, it is not clear that a radio was in use or not.
I think it is reasonable that it be left to the students discretion whether or not to wear PFD's under normal circumstances at that location (western LIS isn't exactly open ocean), but I would expect that the captain would make it mandatory when threatening weather develops. I suppose that during the beginning sailing classes or basic keelboat, radio use would not necessarily be covered, but you would think that instructors would have a weather radio on. It is covered when you go to basic coastal cruising ...
http://www.lohud.com/article/20107280340
I wonder how many sailors actually have their boats outfitted with harnesses? On our lake, the idea is almost laughable (even though my boat may have some hardware built in for it). Do sailors on the Hudson River outfit their boats with harnesses and use them? How about LIS sailors or Chesepeake sailors? How many who sail in semi-protected waters have harnesses and use them? I would be surprised if the boats that are used for instruction in western LIS have the hardware for harnesses.