I have noticed that a lot of people are using waist harnesses now compared to the 90's when seat's were the go.
Is there any reason for it. The only thing I could think of is the higher hook height allows for a marginally more horizontal pull on the line instead of more downwards which would unweight the board more. Or is it just a personal thing.

AUS1111 said...


I'd say a seat harness may give you more control over the rig, whereas a waist gives you a little more control over the board.

i've never thought of it like that, but what you say makes sense to me. i don't know if any of the true speed sailors use a waist, i think getting weight off the board is paramount for pace, which a seat is kind of designed for.

as a flat-water slalom sailor from the nineties, I've almost always used a seat. i think the tech is a lot better these days, so that the waists don't ride up etc etc. i am thinking about crossing the floor, but haven't made that leap just yet. decades of conditioning die hard!

Trousers said...

AUS1111 said...


I'd say a seat harness may give you more control over the rig, whereas a waist gives you a little more control over the board.

i've never thought of it like that, but what you say makes sense to me. i don't know if any of the true speed sailors use a waist, i think getting weight off the board is paramount for pace, which a seat is kind of designed for.

as a flat-water slalom sailor from the nineties, I've almost always used a seat. i think the tech is a lot better these days, so that the waists don't ride up etc etc. i am thinking about crossing the floor, but haven't made that leap just yet. decades of conditioning die hard!

I can think of at least one true speed sailor who uses a waist harness..... AUS1111.
I know Ado is excellent at other disciplines but he can certainly be called a speed sailor

I use a seat.I tried a waist but it rode up + didn't support my back as well.With an upper back problem I can use my weight easier in the seat harness rather than pulling back (?) which I imagine you have to do with a waist..??
Im not into the surf though although I had a seat harness when I was.

I used to wear a waist harness for a long time and then I got another one with a speed seat attachment (clip-on fitting) in the mid to late '80s. I used the waist for ocean riding eg. breaking waves and outside chop but preferred the seat attachment for flatwater or flatter outside conditions. Since I've returned to the sport I've used the same harness and found the same things bothered me, waist harnesses are easier to get in and out of, with seat attachment not as quick. However, due to me being 2 sizes bigger than I was the harness no longer fits properly (ran out of adjustments) so I just recently bought a combination waist with seat in one unit with a middle hook position. So far it is doing everything I've hoped for, good spread of load around my mid to lower back and hips and the biggest benefit is it is just as easy to hook in and out of. With the mid height hook it seems to give me the best of both worlds. Time will tell when I get back out in breaking waves though.

The waist vs seat argument is a mechanical thing. Waist harnesses put the hook above the centre of mass, and seat harnesses have it closer to, or below it. The waist harness ensures that you have weight on the board at all times.

Getting the hook lower allows you to take your weight off the board which reduces drag considerably. But in rough conditions where you need to apply weight to the board, you have to sheet out to do so, and this can be dangerous and uncomfortable.

A higher hook allows you to sheet in and lean back without taking all the weight off the board.

The fastest guys (including AA) use quite a low hook on flat water. When its rough, different story.

slowboat,

Where exactly does the weight go if it's not on the board?

Unless the harness is somehow miraculously reducing the mass of the sailor the weight is all still there distributed onto the board via the mast foot and sailors feet.

The sail lifts part of your body weight if it is canted to windward (vertical aerodynamic lift). The rest of the weight then goes through your legs and the mast base. The higher the hook, the more weight is through your legs.

With a lower hook, if you need to put more weight through your feet to control the board, you have to stand more upright. This means that you will be more sheeted out because being more upright you have less leverage to obtain the same sheeting angle as before.

Until 2 years ago I have always sailed with a seat. Read a lot of forums and was reasonably convinced seat harnesses are better for lightweights (67kg) - maximises mast foot pressure. 2 years ago I finally got a waveboard and decided to try waist harness. Board is a 2006 Freewave and it all felt strange with the seat harness. But with the waist and learning a different sailing stance it is so much better. In comparison my old Fanatic Bee now feels equally strange sailing with the waist harness as it just doesn't suit the old stance.
I think the straps, mastfoot and hook height might work together better on the new boards with a waist - but maybe also to do with style of board.
Only trouble I've had with new board is getting upwind. Just sussed it out last outing - not enough mast foot pressure - pulled down with the front hand and off it zips to windward