After a near drowing incident today in Saftey Bay. That being hooked in upside down under the sail and findind it rather dificult to get unhooked has any one retro fitted emergeny release bukle to their harrness ????? OR KNOW OF A SAIL MAKER ETC THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO

I WAS WEARING A LIFE JACKET AT THE TIME AND I SWAER IT WAS DOING ITS BEST TO PIN ME UP AGAINST THE SAIL AND NEAR ON DROWN ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am only a intermidiate/novice I guess this may be part of the learning curve (*put your feet in the straps ASAP.)

ANY HELP APPRECIATED I THINK SAILING WITH A SCUBA TANK MIGHT STOP ME FROM PLANNING!

Paddy,

its always been an issue the whole life jacket thing, personally I would never wear one sailing, I have been in too many races where I had to wear one and found it dangerous for pinning me under the rig. Personally i reckon that without the life jacket it should be very easy to unhook in all circumstances if you just reach down and push the loop off the hook I guess it is the panic that makes it tough. I can't help you with the quick release hook but I do suggest that if you really have to wear a life jacket perhaps you need to investigate ones that you can auto inflate if necessary. Personally after windsurfing for 15 years I never wore a lifejacket unless the notice of race said I had too. Thats not some tough guy comment either the fact is that they are dangerous for exactly the reason you experienced today.

Lauriew

Paddy,
I use a Kite harness because they look real cool.
Actually the kite seat harness I have is the most comfortable I found and it also has a quick release setup on the spreader bar, maybe designed for kites.
Even so the QR would not get you out from under the sail because the hook is what gets stuck in the lines when they get twisted.
Remember the more you struggle and pull away the tighter the lines grab on to the hook.
Practice getting the lines off the hook without stressing out because it will still happen from time to time no matter how good you are.
Even when you do get the hook free you will swim in the wrong direction, always the longest way out, can't figure that one out but it always happens.

check out the slingshot sure fire spreaderbars - a kite bar where the hook swivels up releasing the harness line when activated in a emergency - expensive but

Thanks for all your advice

Laurie: now I know why not many riders use life jackets I think i will not be wearing it in the future.

Deano I ride the old silver blue carve with either a Grey Ezzy sail Infintly 6.0 or a blue tush storm 5.0. white gath helemet. I ususlly park about half way up the road near the norfolk pines. Can not miss my car a pea green kombi van (good nick)PH: 0408415210 I usually go to saftewy bay on Sat or Sun as long as forecast to be in the green zone.

Just to note windsurfing sails in Oconnor will fit a quick release bucke for a small charge

i agree with corey
i have the kite prolimit waist harness which has the quick release spreader bar then all you do is pull the velcroe off and your out!
its so comfy it puts me to sleep highly recommended
costs around $200 but worth every cent