Harness Line length difference for Port/Starboard Tack

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

Is it common to need one harness line slightly different in length than the other depending on tack and/or wind direction?

I was out for the first session of the year yesterday. Going out on port tack the harness line felt just right. Coming in on starboard tack I felt like I was hanging a bit too low and butt skimming the water too much. I'm using 32" lines with a seat harness. Perhaps I need a 32" line for port tack and 30" for starboard or, use adjustables. However, last time I looked for adjustables that could do 32" I could not find any.

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

I'm just iver 5'10", use a seat harness, and 22 to 24" lines symetrical. For Formula, 26" lines.

westender · Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 1288 Location: Portland / Gorge

Sounds like you were only powered up on your comfortable tack.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

I think that you're fussing with lines that are too long. You have to ask more about your stance.

windward1 · Joined: 18 Jun 2000 Posts: 1400

Go with adjustables. Problem solved.

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

different length lines on different tacks makes no sense. Maybe heading into the chop more on one tack than the other so a different feel, but lines should be the same on both sides.

Different types of sailing, different harnesses, different boom heights, personal choice = different harness line lengths. What board and sail are you on? BIG stuff usually goes with higher booms and longer lines, smaller with lower booms and shorter lines. That's a gross generalization and there will be endless variations. For my mid range sails (6.0-7.6), I use 26".

One other variation - for those in gusty conditions 5-20 winds, we may choose to slog hooked in to save strength, which means either lower booms or longer lines. If there is steady wind, then shorter lines or higher booms work best (you have to pull the sail over to hook in).

U2U2U2 · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:03 am Post subject:

bred2shred · Joined: 02 May 2000 Posts: 989 Location: Jersey Shore

I disagree that having different length lines on opposite tacks makes no sense. I think in certain situations it can make total sense.

On one tack you may be trying to pinch to stay upwind while on the other tack you may be bearing off more to ride swell, etc. This is especially true in ocean sailing conditions where you are riding down swell as you approach the beach and then have to pinch back upwind on the way out to make that ground back up. Even in "flat" water conditions, the chop may be hitting you at a slightly different angle on one tack than the other which makes having slightly different harness line lengths feel more comfortable (wind and swell are not always in perfect alignment).

It's also possible that you may just be more comfortable or have a slightly different stance between port and starboard. It could also be caused by something as simple as your harness not sitting perfectly centered on your body or the hook not sliding all the way over when you change tacks.

Adjustable harness lines will certainly help to resolve the issue and get the lines to the exact length you want. If you go the adjustable route (which I recommend), be sure to get a set of lines that can be easily adjusted under way.

sm

kmf · Joined: 02 Apr 2001 Posts: 503

Not sure about the length being different, but I find that my harness lines are usually in slightly different places on the boom, comparing port to starboard tacks. Could be the same forces that you are experiencing. I use mono lines, so I am particularly sensitive to harness line placement.

Kmf

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

What Westender and KMF said.