Can someone run me through how different line lengths affect sailing ability/technique.

Thanks

I tried the guy crib thing and persisted for a few months but I thought it was cr4p didn't suit my style of sailing.

Boards March Issue

djl070 said...

Daneli said...

Can someone run me through how different line lengths affect sailing ability/technique.

Thanks

One of the latest "Boards" of "Windsurf" magazines had an article about harness line lengths ,they said shorter for seat and longer for waist.
I always thought it was the other way around.

djl070 said...

Daneli said...

Can someone run me through how different line lengths affect sailing ability/technique.

Thanks

One of the latest "Boards" of "Windsurf" magazines had an article about harness line lengths ,they said shorter for seat and longer for waist.
I always thought it was the other way around.

I always thought it was the other way around too
I use to use 20/22" now Im using 26" and its made a world of difference
Better that is

i have looked at harness lines as simply, shorter lines for strait runs/river runs, alowing to you to just sit back into the harness, and long lines for freestyle/wavesailing keeping your stance more upright, the boom higher, and your wieght more centerd over the board.

but what i have really been getting into is playing with the width between them. i used to have them around 15 to 20cm's apart, now i look back and think i was crazy. now i am using them not even the width of 20c piece apart and it makes it so you have much more controll over the sails power, plus long harness lines are the key, no less than 26" if there was a 27" on the market it would be perfect, but 28" is also great.



KeepSailing
Jordan

nebbian said...

If you go too long then you will encounter the dreaded "Bum slap followed by salt water enema".

How do I know?

I'm back on 26 inch now, 28 was just too long...

Gone from 28, to 24........same reason! Also found that by using shorter lines, but bringing them in closer (not as close as Jord though) about a fist width, they're easy to hook in & out, also have lowered my boom slightly.

Just need wind now!

Go too short and you get problems with your elbows. Working with load on a very bent elbow for too long will give you grief with the ligaments, and more particularly with the sleeves they slide through. (been there, done that...)

On the short side, you are closer to the sail, and have less time to react, but also less momentum when you hit the sail.

Too long, and you'll be dragging your butt, and won't be able to get the power down through your legs (they'll be too bent).

Getting really long lines because you're finding it hard to hook in is the wrong reason.. a mate of mine adopted that approach, and had crazily long lines so he could hook in while standing by the mast. He's still un-learning all the bad stuff he learned from that little phase!

It is all relative though (not Poor Reli..) to your build, boom height, harness type, sail size, board style, distance between the lines on the boom, and the type of sailing that you're trying to do.

If you're looking at buying some new lines, consider getting adjustables - that gives you the option of playing around with them to find the length that suits you best.

I got some adjustable straps.

I'm finding around 25"-26" is good when just powered up and smooth conditions.

27-28" is good when consistently powered up, or overpowered but you simply have too much leverage when it is marginal or you find holes in the breeze.

30" my arms are simply not long enough.

My boom is about 3 finger widths past the tail and lines are about a fist apart (ala Cribb).

Of course these lengths will vary depending on how tall you are, high your boom is, mast track position and as discussed conditions - variable length lines are handy.

saw some tuning tips on the NP site from Micah Buzianis.
He states that on 7.8 and above he uses 26" lines and 7.2 down he uses 28" lines.
Obviously this is for racing and slalom.
I find 26" lines totally against each other are fine on wave and slalom gear. For what I call big sails, 7.8 I use 28" lines.
The important part is finding the perfect balance part. Some have their lines way too far forward and are constantly fighting the rig. We tried that Guy Cribb thing and mine were spot on.
He states that if you can sail comfortably with your FRONT hand OFF the boom your lines are not back enough. If you can sail fine with your BACK hand OFF the boom for long distances then your lines are pretty much sweet.
Ive had mates jump on my gear who only use 22" lines and immediately love the way it feels.
Try it, it worked for me.

Yep 555 and Fbob are onto it
My elbows got screwed because of short lines.
After a strong blow and a long session my elbows were rooted

I'm rollin' on.... adjustable ones?!??

24" is easy.......if your waist harness turns into a chest harness as mine does regularly!

wa881 said...

I used to be a short line guy - i used to use 18" only !!!!

then Ant Baker lent me his rig one day with really long lines - completely stuffed my shoulder. what i didn't realise is that Ant has really long arms !!.

Then after years of procrastination and "plateauing" with my skill level, i finally tried the Cribb formula and it really works. I use 26" for 7.5 and 8.5m (closer to boom, more upright in lighter winds).

I use 28" for 6.5 and 5.5m. i'm 6 feet tall and with a waist harness, this works incredibly well (the waist harness was a big step forward as well). i have also found that on honking days at say safety Bay on a 6.5/5.5 in really choppy seas, i could even go to 30" - further away from the boom, more flex and control.

at the end of the day, make the effort and experiment - it will be worth it. don't gin around like i did for years without trying what i keep reading about wondering if it might be better.

the Cribb sheet worked really well for harness line positioning as well.

OK I'm going to go from 26 to 28's and give it a try, can't hurt.
I'm just worried about involuntary ring cleaning in my local conditions.

firiebob said...
I'm just worried about involuntary ring cleaning in my local conditions.

People pay good money for a saline flush.. you have the opportunity to mix business with pleasure and DIY for free. As long as more comes out than what goes in, you should be fine

Oh, and watch out for jellyfish!

Wet Willy said...

Rider5 said...

I tried the guy crib thing and persisted for a few months but I thought it was cr4p didn't suit my style of sailing.

Me too, totally bollocks, you have to kind of twist yourself in the harness to stay balanced...

Which part was bollocks?

I'm using 28" the last 6 months and get the occasional touch up

I just don't know why we can't use metric measurements.