hey guys how would i prevent myself from unharnessing during trim in choppy conditions. it that my harness lines are to low. i have trouble clipping in if there to high beacuse im a shorty.

one more quick noob question....

i dont understand the procedure do i harness in first before i get my feet in the straps or is it done before.

any help would be greatly appreciated

i have been harnessing in then tryin to gain foot positions

When i was learning, i sailed without a harness for a fairly long time, and as a consequence when i started using the harness i wasn't used to committed my weight into it and was always getting bounced out. What fixed it for me was someone helped me set up my harness position correctly, and I just had to commit my weight into the harness, haven't really been bounced out since.

As for harness or footstraps, I would suggest footstraps first would be easier as a beginner, you have a bit more freedom over sail movement, so you don't get whipped into a catapult as often. If your not getting catapulted and your comfortable sailing in the harness then getting hooked in first is fine. Once you get used to it, it honestly doesn't matter if you go harness or footstraps first, but footstraps first is probably best once the conditions get messy for the control that kiwi mentioned.

You will find that clipping in after you are in footstraps and planing is easier cause the rig is raked back a bit, and the height of your harness lines is reduced.

Also, a pretty neat trick for getting your feet into the footstraps without looking at them, is to position your feet just in front of the footstraps, so that the side of your foot is touching the footstraps. Makes it really easy for you to feel your way into the footstraps without looking down. Saves a few bruised toes from poorly aimed and overenthusiastic efforts.

So I'd say make sure your harness lines are in the correct position, and commit your weight to your harness.

If its really hary I like to hook in as Im coming up from a waterstart with both feet in the straps .That way i dont have to use the strength in my arms ( they're like sphagetti most times) & Im safe & dont get catapulted.

Fear I think.. I dont know..I just line the board up to waterstart get both feet in the straps & as soon as I am coming up out of the water hook straight in..obviously you wouldnt want the rig in the wrong spot or you could catapult & that would be iffy..I couldnt do it any other way in strong winds as my arms arent up to holding that sort of power for more than a few seconds..Oh to be a big burly muscley bloke..
Ive decided Ill have to do more canoe rehab around the dam..even 6 laps a day should help with the occasional kayak trip although it still doesnt build up the muscles you use sailboarding..good for overall strength though.

sweet guys thanks for the help and support
Im only 1 and a hlf years into my windsurfing apprentiship

I sometimes harness before I get into the footstraps, and sometimes the other way around. Learning how to get into the footstraps before you are in the harness really is a skill you need though. The key with that is to put your weight into the boom with your arms (instead of with the harness as you usually would) and be as light on your feet as you can.

Try sitting down in the harness more, instead of just leaning out. Visualize your weight going straight downwards into the mast foot. Guy Cribb says that somewhere on his website. I also find that hanging down instead of leaning out helps when I'm super overpowered and hanging on for dear life.