Long or short harness lines

manuel · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1158

Would you say it's easier to do one
-handed jumps? How about hooked in backloops?
How about driving the board forward downwind to plane while hooked in?
I still benefit from unhooking to get the earliest planing but only do that if very very light for my sail size (almost never). Obviously being around waves we unhook and hook in all the time but so are other riders using super short (18"!!!!) lines.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

mamero · Joined: 25 Aug 2013 Posts: 380 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Are tired forearms and tired hands a sign that perhaps your lines are TOO long? I find that even when I'm hooked/strapped in and blasting there is still some weight going through my extended arms (holding) rather than transferring through the harness. My stance feels dialed in so I don't think it's that. When I switched to a seat harness I sailed with adjustables until I dialed in what I thought was the ideal length, then I bought fixed lines of that length. 32". I'm beginning to think perhaps 32" is simply too long and maybe 30" would take the edge off. I prefer fixed lines over adjustables.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Harness lines are cheap, experiment.
I'm 5'10" and 165 lbs., sailed in waves for years, ans still use 24" lines with seat harness...or waist.

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

mamero · Joined: 25 Aug 2013 Posts: 380 Location: Vancouver, Canada

mamero · Joined: 25 Aug 2013 Posts: 380 Location: Vancouver, Canada

I have noticed that sometimes it "feels" that my sail "might" be leaning too far to windward and that I am sailing very low; perhaps too low even for a seat harness. Sailing in a seat harness is a lower more outboard stance though so hard to say. However, it maybe would be good to bring my sail slightly more vertical thus bringing myself slightly higher as well. I wonder that if my lines where slightly shorter I could generally "let go" of my grip a little more, allowing the sail pull more through the lines and less through my arms/hands and bringing the sail a bit more verticle. If lines are too long it forces you to pull down on the boom more through the arms and hands (down-force, mast foot pressure) rather than through the harness lines. Just thinking about cause effect... Anyway, As far as my commitment as it relates to down force, I'd say 60-70% is through the hook, and 30-40% through the arms. This of course constantly changes as you sail along and with conditions. Sometimes a rouge gust or wave forces you to push down through the arms to avoid being yanked over the front.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

When you freestyle or foil, it's important to sheet out in gusts and sheet in and shift forwards in lulls.
The first is not applicable to freeride, bump n jump, slalom, or speed sailing. Instead, you lean back harder to counter gusts, transferring more power thru your harness.

grantmac017 · Joined: 04 Aug 2016 Posts: 946

Before changing lines lower boom slightly, then remember to keep rig upright rather than pull it over yourself. If the chop is smacking your butt then you are too low.

Do you generally hook in before getting in the straps?