Harness Recommendation

[jeneva]

Hi all..

looking to get a brand new harness. believe that a waist harness is best for beginners to start with.. any recommendations & where can i get them? thanks... 

[Syamil]

Hi Jeneva

When I started windsurfing I thought waist harness is easier because it seems that you can hook in/out pretty easily. But actually I find that using the harness too early and in non-planing state is unusually uncomfortable, not to mention promoting a very awkward stance. This both kill your early planing & progress.

It's better if you can train your arms to be strong enough to hold the sail in light wind without the harness, and work on the skill to move further back when the wind picks up. When you have moved back enough hooking in will be more transparent/easier regardless what type of harness you use.

[m3l]

& assuming you already got passed the fighting for dear life without harness and wishes to move faster..

Waist harness is usually for free style..

Seat harness is for racing

Waist harness does not have the thigh/leg strap.. Reason being you wish for ease of movement and less restrictions when you are in the mid air doing a freestyle move..

Seat harness has the strap because it allows you to put the weight  of your body on the harness transferring the power from the sail through you to the board generating more speed..

Now it sounds exciting.. But do remember if you aint profession enough the harness will be a big problem either slowing you down or making you fall more often..

[P.J.]

We carry harness , you can contact us or come to the shop to choose.

For general sailing, Seat harness is better , for a start you can wear without the leg straps so to adjust the hook higher.

If you are using an entry board, change the front footstrap to the inward most and the back straps to the most forward position.
 
The most common mistake is before hooking in, tend to to bring the mast toward the windward rail and sailor weight is on the rail causing the board to turn into the wind. Instead try to keep the mast as upright by straightening the front arm . If you feel that you will be thrown forward , try to open up the sail and return to a more secure position.

Once you are hook in and feet in the straps, you will be hook for life.

[Bats]

my harness is giving me problems too

everytime i squat or kneel on the board, the groin straps will loosen

after 15 minutes of planing, the hook bar will start getting loose and ride up my belly so it almost gets into the position of a waist harness

is this a common occurence? is the harness design crap? it actually fits quite snugly if i'm not planning..

whats a good brand/model to get for seat harnesses?

[jeneva]

thanks for all e replies...

ok.. so seat harness will be the better option. any brands to recommend? 

[m3l]

Personally i like Neilprdye.. The fitting and the lock down feeling.. My friend like Dakine cause the bar gets to slide left and right.. Thefore he dont need to adjust so much on the harness line

[rookie]

Hello all, I know it's quite a vague question but... It's about time i learn how to use a harness. But, how?? what're the steps? any tips on what to go about doing, etc?  It's ok to self-learn (unless i tangle myself up dangerously) right? 

[PlaneSailin]

Hello all, I know it's quite a vague question but... It's about time i learn how to use a harness. But, how?? what're the steps? any tips on what to go about doing, etc?  It's ok to self-learn (unless i tangle myself up dangerously) right? 

Hi Rookie.  Stand on the beach in light wind, with a sail but no board, away from trees and people.  Practice hooking in and out, and getting a sense of balance.  You want to get to a point where you can sheet in and out to stay balanced, just like when you are sailing normally, but this time your weight in the harness should be holding most of the force from the sail.  Your arms should just be there for balance. 

You will quickly learn that leaning forward while hooked in equals disaster!  You really have to use your weight.
 
Better get a friend to help the first time, especially setting the boom height, harness line position, etc.


When you have really got this sorted out, it's time to grab a board and go into the water for some swimming practice!   

[rookie]

stand on land without a board? Wouldn't the mast be like an axist? how ensure the sail stands with my weight against it?? haha but anyway, thanks!! will give it a try.

...if you see an idiot on a harness dancing around with just a sail on land, don't laugh! 

[Syamil]

Everyone has their own version of story when it comes to getting into the harness. You hear things like; use waist harness, use longer lines, practice on land etc. I am not here to cover all these stuff. Perhaps it is best to just let your own experience to decide which is the best way to do it. Why? Because hooking into harness is relatively easy! But controlling the sail & board while hooked-in is another whole issue you should be more worried about.

So I am rather here to cover the basic fundamental problems that usually associated with when you're hooked.
continue reading...

[Meng]

thanks for all e replies...

ok.. so seat harness will be the better option. any brands to recommend? 

maybe u can check out Dakine harness, they are strong and lasting. many models to choose from.

[rookie]

Thanks! will definitely give it a try, though i'm still not too sure how it works (on land). Maybe i'll need a couple of slaps of the sail/boom onto my face before i get it right, but there's always a start!