The new harness line with only one connection point?

[bthiel]

Has any one tried these out? Just seems very functional to me.

[zirtaeb]

Came out in mass production in 2001 by DaKine, specifically for kitesurfing.
Try it, but don't expect any control in gusty winds.
I mostly back and forth, and spread my lines about 10".
Look at current pics of Dunk, Brindalh, or Naish, Buzainus. Lines about 8".

[johnl]

If you are talking about the mono harness lines they have been around for a few years. I've been using them for two years and don't ever plan on changing back. I've used them on sails up to 6.2 with no problem. They are easier to find the balance point. But it is very important to find that point. As to balance in gusts, I sail the gorge and frequently sail with only one hand (and a light hand at that) or even no hands in chop. So as to not expecting control that is BS or an improperly rigged and balanced sail.

[zirtaeb]

Hi JohnL, you know me, the Asian guy you sailed with at Berkeley.
NO BS from me, look at the lines of any of the racers, who try to sail overpowered, but need to sail underpowered also. All have some spread to the line mounts.
Now look at the freestylers, YOU for instance. You rig waaay too small, are satisfied if you barely plane, and say mono lines are "dakine, bra".....
You freestylers ride huge width boards, super floaty and light, and use the SMALLEST sail possible, always sailing as slow as a person can just plane.
Am I correct?
When you never deal with overpowered, you don't need to spread the lines because YOUR SAIL IS NEVER OVERPOWERED!

[isobars]

To try the idea, just shove your harness line mounting straps together. Your rig will come alive, becoming ready (maybe too eager) and willing (maybe too willing) to react (overreact?) to the slightest input from you ... or Zirtaeb's gusts ... or a piece of chop ... or a butterfly flapping its wings in Africa.

It's not that bad, but even though I like to throw my sail around under power a lot when playing in chopswell, my first try at it was a little eye-opening. It becomes SO responsive that for a sailor not yet ready for that, it could be called downright squirrely. It's likely to cause a few crashes on the way to greater feel for sail trim, but then what quest for superior skill doesn't? I suggest you try it first while powered moderately in fairly steady winds, not when hammered in gusty winds.

Thanks for reminding me. I had planned to try it again, but I get easily distracted by just having fun.

Mike \m/

[zirtaeb]

Well, it totally depends what you want to do in the water, of course.
If you're happy throwing down tricks in 17-25 mph winds using a 4.7 sail, mono lines can work just fine, as does normal lines closed together.
However, if you like to power thru 17-25 mph winds with a 6.5 or 7.8 sail, you need some spread to control the boom when the sail overpowers, and you're trying to go FAST....not as slow as possible.
EVERY sail overpowers, the draft moves back. So do you want to still sail, or head back to the beach to rig down?

[johnl]

Hey zirtaeb yep I remember you. But honestly have you used one for 10+ sessions? It took a few sessions for me to get dialed in. But if I sailed 7+ meter sails i wouldn't use one either

But most people who think you can't be balance with them really haven't tried them. Cause with a properly rigged sail and with the lines at the balance point they are very stable. And sailing underpowered is not something I get accused of. Especially in gusty 30+ mph wnds on my 3.2 and 3.7 sails in the gorge. I don't always sail on my freestyle boards and I'm usually the one planing when everybody else is slogging

[jse]

[techno900]

If you sail in steady winds or never carry a big sail in strong winds, a single point line may be fine, but for most of us sailing in highly variable winds (yesterday 5-18 knots with a 9.2), a spread of about 10 inches on the lines is pretty normal.

Try sailing holding your hands together on the boom, thumb to thumb. Do you have much leverage as the gusts move the center of force in the sail all over the place? Moving the lines apart does improve your leverage on the boom, similar to holding the boom with your hands 18" apart. Spreading the lines doesn't give you the same leverage as spreading your arms, but it does help keep the sail balanced more than if it was a single point of attachment.

For freeriders in gusty conditions, is there any advantage to a single point harness line? I think not.

[kmf]

Ten inches!!!! Holy smokes.

I live in the Hood River area, sail in the most gusty conditions around, over powered, underpowered, what ever, and my harness lines are never more than two inches apart.

You guys need to get some stable sails, Sailworks in my case.

KMF