Just starting to learn to use a waist harness and was wondering what is the best length for my harness lines to be? as the ones I have now (22') seem really short. I do lower my boom to shoulder height. I suppose everyone has then own preference but should I keep trying with the lines I got or go for say 26' lines?
I have only been windsurfing for 10 months now and love it, I can't wait to get a smaller board but now I have a JP Funster 160lt and a 6.5m NP Solo sail.
If you're average height go for 30". I'm 5'11" and they feel just right to me. I had 26" for a couple of seasons after my adjustable ones broke and they felt too short. I can't understand how anyone bigger than a child could use 22"
How tall are you? The longer the better, to a point obviously. I'm about 5'9 and used to sail with 24" lines and was adamant it was the way to go, had to use a boom with 28" lines one day and while it felt weird at first I haven't looked back, i'll probably go 30" next set. The advantage of longer lines is it keeps your rig more upright = more power and you aren't so cramped into the rig.
Obviously with everything in the end comes down to personal preference but I think at 22" they are way too short unless you yourself are super short and is probably hindering your sailing.
I am 5,9" I thought the 22" lines were to small I really have been struggling with them
I dunno how anyone can hang weight down on the boom in marginal conditions, let alone reach the boom, with longer than 24"
I really don't.
I'm 6 ft and have reasonably long arms and use 24's. My arms are fairly straight when i'm fully powered up. It depends on how far forward (or up towards the boom) your hips are when in position. I recon if had 28's i would look like i was trying to take a crap while sailing just to take the pressure on the lines if using a waist harness. Probably makes a difference how close you run your lines too i would think. I've seen people with their lines up to about 400mm apart where i run mine about 70mm apart which gives you better feel i recon.
Seriously I don't get it when all the pro's were on 20 - 22" a few years ago and now long is better and many are going up to 30"
On 24" my arms are almost fully extended and I lose a little early planing or glide thru the lulls ability.
I am a normal 178cm male with normal length arms and normal boom height.
Maybe I am missing something.... 
I'm 178 tall and use 24"
I'm thinking of going down a size to those "child's" 22" ones
It definitely depends on what sort of sailing u are doin, but 22" (@180cm) are my fav for wavesailing as it allows me to sail overpowered out in the wind and really lean and rest on the gear headin out, then headin in u are still hooked in as u are on the wave ridin upwind or searchin for bearaway! Some lines are different to others as well as a mate bought 22" in another brand and they were closer tro 24" WTF
definitely a difference between np 22's and dakine 22's
i'd imagine folk who think they're sailing 24's/26's are really 22's and visa versa
qldnacra - are you sure you're 6ft? if it was your missus telling you that you are 6ft, you have a keeper
she didn't happen to want to borrow your credit card shortly after that did she?
Different courses, I run 30" lines but this is for slalom/speed sailing with a seat harness with low hook. On my wave/freeride gaer I still use 28" lines with waist harness. It gets you away from your rig, allows freedom of movement.
im just an average punter but the absolute opposite of Mark.Australia. Just cant see how having such short lines is beneficial, like driving a car sitting on top of the steering wheel.
But just my opinion!!!
I recently bought a set of no name brand with a stainless v clear or rope jammer. So far so good the cleat hasn't let go yet and they can be adjusted easily whilst sailing to suit different conditions and points of sail
gone from 30's to 28's on formula and from 26's to 24's for slalom .. much more cumfy .doesnt feel like my arms are comeing out of thier sockets just to hold onto the boom
. Obviously you think that me saying that i'm 6 foot tall would be like you saying your getting a blow wave during the week, it's just not possible
Been messing with longer lines on both seat and waist harness the last couple of months in both flat and rough water and have found longer 28 plus ok for sailing very broad on flat water. The problem I found with the long lines is my arms tired quickly. Ended up going back to 26 for waist and 28 for seat.
Also I would think that the width of the board may have a bearing on the length of the lines, if you are on a super wide board and want to keep the rig more upright while sailing on the rail longer lines may help.
I'm 173 cm, with normal proportions and run 28's easily. Anything shorter just rakes the rig over and kills your power. Vertical sail more power than raked back.
I think the short line people run super low booms. My boom only gets below my shoulder if over powered, usually sits just under chin height.
Change your lines and experience the difference. BTW it will take time to adjust, but in the long run you are definitely better off.
i am slowly going to longer harness lines - being influenced by those around me and seeing how well they sail on that combo. I have managed to get to 28 inches - although a bit spread out on the boom - so i am in the middle of the extremes
Shorter lines do allow you to lean your weight off the rig and get a really direct feeling of power from the rig - its a feeling i like - but you do end up leaning the rig to windward quite significantly
Looking at the pic of Phillip Koster above - you can see that the rig stays super upright - i have had it explained to me that that is the most efficient geometry for the sail to do its thing.
When you are sailing in performance conditions longer lines give you far more "suspension" and the ability to adjust to sudden gusts - this is super handy when you need to control power and finesse it - see Phillips loops (single or double) to get an idea of what i mean
Phillip is the future and i reckon he is showing the way with his techniques - amazing for a young kid without the 25 years of sailing experience that i have
I am trying to emulate his fwd loop control this summer (with limited success) as his control in the air is just sublime.
Jaeger Stone runs this set up too. Frickin awesome performance level also
I'm 5'6" and I think about 24 - 26 inch seems ok to me.I was using 28 & longer but I found it hard to put my weight in the harness ( seat harness) .I don't run off the wind a lot .Seem to spend most of my time working or close reaching.
and everything gets a blowdry
Just started running long lines (over 26"), but find myself hooking back in in gybes. Don't no how to stop that. Probably go back to 26".
i had the issue of hooking back in on gybes in the past, i've got floppy lines now so I don't have an issue, as they stay out of the way when you lay the sail down in a gybe. Not sure if the lines are floppy cause my boom has a reasonably narrow grip or if it's a feature of the lines i use.
just to add to the chorus, i'm 172cm, and run 28-30". would run 32", but i think i need to get a decent harness that doesn't ride up all the time as i reckon my lines are definately a bit short on the first few runs when my harness is pushed all the way down.
Okay, for those with long lines, how far apart are they? And hands width or very close?
