Harness Line Length

Interesting.. I've found the 1/3rd measurement to be very close on all my sails. (4.2 - 7.0) The exact position does change a bit depending on how full the sail is rigged, and how hard it's blowing, but 1/3 is a very good place to start in my experience. I like my lines really close together now - it's usually a bit gusty here, and I find that the tight lines really help to trim (or survive) in the gusts where having them further apart slows the rig's response. It does mean that they need to be in the right place more than they do with a wider spacing though.

Did you find that the back line at 1/3rd was too far back or forward for you?

I agree.. harness lines are pretty redundant on the wave, but I need all the help I can get to get back up wind after going down the line. Especially when it's a bit sheltered and gusty on the inside (yeah, I know.. I should get off the wave sooner, but sometimes I get a bit carried away!)

I think Cribby's aim is to chuck a guideline out there for people who're getting started and don't have a lot of experience to call on.

Dead right, I ordered some 26" Ezzy's to replace my 24" prolimits, same size
Now have 26" Prolimit and will now stick to same brand, not a case of walking into a shop here, have to order.

WOW!!! This is really interesting... I sail 18"s and a waist harness. I had no idea so many people went so long! A mate lent me his rig last summer for a blast out of St. Kilda and it nearly killed me because the lines were SOOOOO long (seat harness as well)- I was having to use a massive amount of strength to keep me where I wanted to be (i.e. back straight, arse not in the water). The 18"s I can sail all day without effort, because I don't have to use any strength at all.

All my friends in Egypt (very, very good freestylers) use the same length lines. Strange. Actually, I might have worked it out - I sail with almost no weight on my back foot at all due to the puny chewed-up chopped-down little freestyle fin I use, so hence I'm naturally wanting to be a lot closer to the rig, where as a lot of guys (esp. the speed sailors) look like they're weight-back / closing-the-slot style sailing.

Maybe that's it...

Might be interesting to actually measure your lines - the so called 22-28 Gaastra adjustable lines at full length were actually over 31. When I shortened them to the mark I thought was about at 24 they were actually at about 27.

Problem is I think they slowly slip and lengthen the longer you sail

Can understand now why I shorten them when it was windy as.

Might go back to the old non adjust 28's