Tried first time today using seat harness - eventfull in scoring some good crashes!

Need some pointers on how and when to hook-in.

Basically sailing upwind, not trying to do anything special, just looking to give the arms a rest and get some practice.

I've read all the positioning info, have the straps 1/3 along the boom.
Even with strap boom ends together, the line was way to short/high to get my hook in.
(was also with the boom a normal / comfortable height above the deck).

Tried jury rigging with extra rope to get the length, more crashes trying to sail one handed whilst getting hooked in...

Going to try some other straps I have , they're longer to start with and have plastic coating so should be easier hooking in than rope extensions.

Any tips much appreciated, thanks.

I think to have them a 1/3 along the boom might be a bit to much back to start with, I just went to the garage to have a look, mine are 2 (opened) hands back, and one more hand in between.
24 or 26" long is a good start, I have an old adjustable set which is also good but then it's not the best to think too much, better get used to one setting.

A seat harness has also a very low hook, could be easier to borrow a belt (wave) one to start with.
Plastic sleeves are essential as you have lots of pressure and you keep sliding back and forth in almost the same spot.
Were you using footstraps ? It's a bit scary to be hooked to the sail without your feet to the board, it's a perfect combination and feeling to have both.

you will never look back and will feel so much faster and comfortable. Good luck.

yeah, what everyone else said, plus; set the harness lines too far forwards to start with rather than too far back.
If they are too far back it makes it difficult to spill the sail in gusts and you end up in lots of stacks, which you said you are having.
If the harness lines are too far forwards, the gusts spill automatically and the worst you get is a tired back hand, which you will be used to anyway if you haven't been in the harness before.

Sooooo, set the harness lines far enough forwards so that there is very light force on the front hand and quite a bit on the back hand.
Over a few weeks as you get better at it, just slide the harness lines back until the sail is balanced with equal light force on both hands and most on the harness.

Happy stacks.

Mr66 said...

LeStef said...

I think to have them a 1/3 along the boom might be a bit to much back to start with, I just went to the garage to have a look, mine are 2 (opened) hands back, and one more hand in between.
24 or 26" long is a good start, I have an old adjustable set which is also good but then it's not the best to think too much, better get used to one setting.

A seat harness has also a very low hook, could be easier to borrow a belt (wave) one to start with.
Plastic sleeves are essential as you have lots of pressure and you keep sliding back and forth in almost the same spot.
Were you using footstraps ? It's a bit scary to be hooked to the sail without your feet to the board, it's a perfect combination and feeling to have both.

you will never look back and will feel so much faster and comfortable. Good luck.

Thanks,
Re: the length along the boom, I was thinking the same the couple of times I did hook-in, that it seemed too far back, didnt get time to re-adjust, will do next time.

Not into using foot straps yet, they're more than 1/2 a pace rearwards from where I'm standing...my back foot barely in front of front strap. So not sure what type of skill / conditions I need to get into them, (an old bombora 292 board), when I go rearwards the tail sinks...it's not quite planning either...

Looks to me like the harness straps are short for a waist belt, maybe thats why the seat harness looks barely used.

More practice I know, a few clues will help.

Another thing I find in subplaning /marginal conditions when I still want to be hooked in is to set the harness lines further forward as you are up closer to the mast.Once the wind picks up I move them back..not much good if its gusty though.Another thing I remember re the one third back Guy Cribb advice he siad if its a pre 96 or your 5.6" or less board they have to be further forward..I think he said 2" but that would be the setup for planing conditions.

Mr66, Welcome to the club. Everyone who has learnt to windsurf has probably had the same trouble when they first started. I certainly did. I couldn't see how it was possible to get the harness line in the hook because the line was just too high to reach it. I used a longer piece of rope to help but unfortunately there is no easy solution because what you need is practice. As you sail in stronger winds you will find you automatically move back on the board to keep it balanced, this will lower the hook and it will be much easier to hook in. What is really fun is when the wind drops and you can't get the damn thing out again because you have stepped forwards and the hook is now stuck in. It's all good fun and will be worth it in the end.

Iceman said...

......What is really fun is when the wind drops and you can't get the damn thing out again because you have stepped forwards and the hook is now stuck in. It's all good fun and will be worth it in the end.

Seems like I got all the tricks right the first time....wind drops - yes, mast falls over - yes, trying to unhook, underwater, under the sail - yes.

Might be a tad uneventful when everything goes to plan!

Anyway, got another set of longer lines on, set them forward, ready to practice tomorrow.

Cheers

Well, some good fortune today, the longer lines and higher fitting harness did the trick just nicely. Could hook in and out relatively easy in the lighter 10k breeze, with the lines forward on the boom.
Then as breeze freshened I did find the balance better adjusting them rearwards - very neutral load between front and back arm, amazing.

With a few solid gusts even managed to get the old Bomb on the plane using my 4.5m beginner sail.

Thanks again for all help.