A stanchion attached to a sail boat is provided where the stanchion supports a lifeline near the top of the stanchion and the lifeline runs generally along the outer edge of the deck of the sail boat and the connection of the lifeline to the stanchion can be characterized in part by the maximum deflection point of the lifeline and the stanchion has attached thereto a generally vertically disposed slide disposed away from the central plane of the sail boat. The outer slide surface of the slide is characterized by a profile and the limit of the edge of the profile falls between a circular arc which begins near the top of the stanchion, has the maximum deflection point of the lifeline as its center, and travels away from the central plane of the sail boat and downwardly toward the deck of the sail boat and a curve which begins near the top of the stanchion, has at least one point that is on a level below the top of the stanchion, and moves progressively farther away from the maximum deflection point of the lifeline as it travels away from the top of the stanchion.