howdy.

harness line length - i think most pros still consider elbow to wrist length to be right as it allows the sail to stand upright (catching more wind) while you hang off the boom, and makes freestyle and waveriding easier. Going too long just puts strain on the arms, and going too short doesn't allow enough movement of the sail while hooked in. Most pros now put the front and back ends of the harness lines right close together, rather than spread apart on the boom, as this helps the sail to trim itself as the wind shifts in strength and angle, and puts less wear on the lines. Once u putem on the boom, hook your elbow in where the harness hook would rest, and pull out tight, and your wrist watch will should be near the boom. This is usually right length for both seat and waist harness types.

harness line position along boom - start with them 1/3 back from the mast end, but this will vary once you get the hang of planing in the straps and using different sized sails. Two sails of the same size but by different manufacturers can require you to use a different position for each, but the difference will usually only be by an inch or so. It is easiest to work out the ideal position for the sail once you are on the plane and hooked in. If you then feel the sail pulling out on the front hand too much, move the lines towards the mast more (mayby by just a cm at a time) or in the other direction if the back hand is pulling too much. Alot of folk seem to like to have the sail pulling on the front arm a little, rather than ptting the lines in the absolute sweet spot. Too much pull on the back arm will cause you to 'spinout' (feels like your fin suddenly snapped but really hasn't)

getting in the straps - Most folk learning complain of the board rounding up into the wind as soon as they stick a foot in a strap (or both feet) and this is because their wieght on the windward edge when sticking a foot in the strap, is casuing that edge to sink and therefore the board turns in that direction. The trick is to remember that its basically a surfboard you r on, and it turns like a surfboard when close to planing speed. Therefore you gotta keep the board flat as you put your front foot in the strap first, then kind of balance on the front leg and the boom as you feel for your back strap, still keeping the board flat on the water. So instead stick the front foot in, conciously pull up on the heel of that foot and tilt the board up onto the other edge slightly to compinsate for your weight being on the windward side. If you do this you won't round up, and you will then be able to try for the back strap - and once your in with both, it's gravy. After a couple of decent sessions of this it becomes second nature and you don't even think about it.

hope it helps

n-joy

Creeze, you are about to head into a brave new world.

The front foot, once in the strap, gives you a big boost of speed. if you think you are speedy now, then hang onto your shorts.

Once the back foot is in, you are hitting the Turbo button.

then you will be wondering where all this upwind ability came from

Thank you kindly for all your advice.

These tips are just what I am after. I shall take 'em on board and head for some wind, once I get my board back.

I have a Bic Techno 283 which is currently in hospital after a very classy (not) half somersault-pike, resulting in my mast thumping off the nose and leaving it badly cracked/broken, as well as sustaining some multi coloured body bruising. I have considered taking up diving as another past time. I think i was so thrilled to momentarilly have my front foot in the f-strap that I forgot about everything else. It was worth it.

But yeh, thanks a lot, I'll get into and be back with some more questions, no doubt, have a good weekend, not much wind predicted as yet, but you never know ....;-)