Today i was sailing along with a waist harness(is actually a kite surfing harness) in patchy wind and could get into the harness lines, however when a lull/gust came i couldn't unhook resulting in falling forwards or backwards.
i was just wondering if there's a specific method or if my harness lines are too short.
any help is appreciated, as i am sick of getting soaked/dunked/catapulted! :)
It's just hard. Optimum height for the boom when blasting is not optimum for un-hooking in big lulls. Try to pop up on you toes to unhook and practice anticipation of lulls so you gan get out when you still have some forward motion.
Or flip you harness hook the other way round. Not many people sail hook up but those that do like it that way.
What length lines are you using??
I think you will probably find that most sailors these days are using a lot longer lines than the old days. If you are using really short lines like 20-24" then you will struggle!!!!
Personally I use 30-32" lines for slalom/speed blasting and 28" for freeride or waves.
Hook up or down shouldnt really make a difference as both have their pro's and con's.
I sail hook up as thats just the way my first harness was when I bought it and I didnt know any better. definitely in the minority though
Ask the sailors around you to check your gear or for advice.
I think Jman has a point, check the hook, you may be better with a windsurfing spreader bar.
I find in that situation, having your hands close to the lines, enables you to give the lines a flick with your thumbs, as you release the hook presure. It's much easier to move the lines away from the hook, than drop the hook and move it away at the same time.
In under powered conditions I usually drop my boom a little, that also helps.
Try some longer lines, there are a lot of benefits in using longer lines so you may as well get used to them now.
I use a waist harness and I'm fairly tall and the lines hang at about the level of the hook when I'm in the standing position, so it's no effort getting in and out.
I even stay in the harness when I'm slogging to keep the pressure of the arms.
Kite spreader bars usually have a wider, more flared hook. This means that it is harder for the chicken loop to accidentally slip off (windsurfers unhook a lot more often than kitesurfers).
That said I've been using kiting harnesses for years (windsurfing), and never had a problem unhooking. I do make sure the hook isn't too flared when I buy spreader bars though.
Kite spreader bars are the "hammerhead" style bar I am sure which would make it more difficult to unhook.
How do we know that line is actually too long?
I have such suspicion as:
1) harness line disengage quite often by itself - specially on the chop and strong wind gusts
2) in really strong winds I am hitting the water with my back
I think that rising the boom a bit may help with too long lines. (?)
What you want to do is position your harnes lines so they fall naturally vertical. When you pull the boom towards you and lift up the lines should want to return to their natural fall. When hooking in, pulling your boom in causes the lines to flick out and catch the hook.
They also need to be able to swing easily from where they connect to the boom, which some do and some not so.
Can't say I have that problem. I suppose everyones sailing style is different, and would also depends on length of lines and height of hook. I learnt originally with old school harness lines (all those years ago) where you brought a piece of rope and made your own.
..haven't tipped the rig and straightened the front arm..I'm guilty of being too close to the rig 
but luckily haven't accidently hooked in too often.
Thanks guys, i just bought another kite harness on eBay for $1.25, bargain..
I was comparing the two and the first has a much deeper hook angle, where the hook is facing almost back into the harness, whereas this new harness has a shorter hook so may be easier to get in and out of.
Will try lower boom and i think my harness lines are 28-30" as they came on a wave boom.. i'm not too sure, they're red and from north sails?
i use a kite harness but the newer kite bars are closer to winsurfing bars, but if you cant unhook that might be that your harness lines are to short, i used to use 20 inch line now i use 28 inch line took me a while to get the technique right but was good for me in the end
