Hi Murph,

Firstly, the boom should be around shoulder height when sailing normally.

Getting the harness line position right requires a bit of trial and error, but when you've got it sussed you should have an even pull on both hands, and should be able to let go the boom with both hands and sail along. If you find you're pulling too much on the front hand, move the harness lines forward, if back hand has too much pull then move the lines backward.

The two lines should be around a handswidth apart on the boom, this is a nice compromise.

Hooking in can be a bit tricky at first, basically you do a big pelvic thrust so the hook grabs the lines. Lean back, and take some weight off your arms. Sometimes if the lines are too low then you do a sort of sideways grab so the hook grabs the side of the harness loop, then sit back and the hook slides down to the bottom of the loop.

Good luck, give it a go, you won't look back

Edit: Forgot to add, learning the harness will involve many catapults. This is where the sail sheets in and pulls you violently over the front of the board, still hooked in. It can be painful, and can damage the nose of your board. If you can get your hands on a boom bra then this helps to limit the damage to the nose in a catapult.
To avoid catapults, keep your back foot well back on the board, without sinking the tail. Also be prepared to unhook from the lines while you're underwater and underneath the sail. The first time this happens there's a tendency to panic, but just think it through slowly and you'll be fine.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice and will take it all on board.

I've got a mast deviator at my mast base to stop nose damage - should I use a boom bra as well, and what is it?

I've got some short lines on the boom at present but have just scored some longer lines off an old boom which I'll put on instead of the existing ones.

If it's not blowing to hard I'm out this arvo so if anyone sees some fool flying over the front of his board it's probably me!

quote:

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Murf, it fits around the clew on your boom...

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Errr.. that should read "Fits around the mast clamp" I think

Murph,

I've been using a harness for 20 years, but only learnt to waterstart last season.

This season I'm gonna learn to gybe.

Loops and vulcans, 2008.

Regards,
Harrow.

and if your feeling good, sailing flat out jump round the front of the mast to the other side of the boardcarve hard upwind while flipping the rig(360 just for fun[}:)]) when youve past through the eye of the wind, sail away,

uta can be done, youve probably seen me do a couple in safety bay, but they get a little tricky above 25 knots,

Hey Harrow,

Don't let Haircut fool you, a willy skipper spock 180 with rail grab might look good in principle but in the end it's just another way of making froth.

Am I the only person who gets a woody whenever I see a perfectly executed carve gybe?

Hey Murph

I was at your point about 2 months ago, wanted the stronger winds but just couldn't bloody hold on when I got up, felt like my forearms were about to explode !

Think the lines I bought are about 22 ish inches and they seem fine, certainly wouldn't want longer.

It IS inevitable your going to get thrown, the first thing I did was to just spend a whole weekend constantly hooking in/out until it felt nautural and I could do it quickly, this will help prevent the throws when you get that split second advance warning (IF that is).

The one thing you don't mention is if your using footstraps ? I hadn't really bothered that much before harness, I hooked my rear foot in but couldn't say I really did anything once it was there. Now I'm getting used to the stronger winds and plaining I find them essential for controlling the board whilst hooked in. I've got them set at intermediate for the front so they're about 2/3 out from middle. I tried moving all the way to outside but at the moment it just puts too much pressure on edge of board.

Keep us posted on progress, your getting to the fun part !!

Thanks all,

I got out last night at Pelican Point and gave it a go. The wind was a bit light and gusty and I was the only one out but with a 115litre board and a 6m sail the light winds don't worry me to much.

I took advice from yesterday and put on some long lines. It still took me a few goes to actually hook in but I managed. The first time in I must have sheeting in and as a result took a high speed trip over the nose (like everyone said I would). A couple more trips over the nose and I worked out that unhooking was a good option.

It feels completely different to sailing without a harness and I guess it will take a while to getting used to leaning back and using my body weight rather than my arms. I managed a couple of great runs (by my standards) and now I understand the difference a harness makes.

I'm not using the footstraps much yet and tend to sail with my rear foot in the middle of the front and rear straps. I've been in the straps a few times but I don't think I've had enough speed up and tended to sink the tail.

I'm interested in finding out more about gibes vs tacks etc. I can turn at all yet so will have to learn one day!

Again, thanks for all the advice - it certainly takes a lot of the guess work out!

Cheers,
Murph

Pelican point spoils ya.

Holds you back from waterstarts and gybes.

Ya gotta resist the urge to jump off, stand up turn around by hand and beach start.

Aim for the deep hole near the boat ramp so that if you stuff up you have to waterstart. Now there's motivation!

(for the eastcoast brigade, PP is waist deep all the way out)

G'day Murph,

Once you are using the harness you will find it MUCH easier to get into the footstraps. If you are using the harness correctly your feet feel quite light and if you're not in the straps it feels very insecure.