Seat for speed, waist for waves.

No real difference in comfort, for what you're doing either would be fine.

Sounds like ideal sailing conditions for a seat harness. If you want a comfortable stance, and an efficient transfer of power on flat water, especially with bigger sails, then seat would be my pick. Waist harnesses are good if you're hooking in and out a lot and don't need to optimise the power from the sail so much.

Flat water blasting, racing, and sails over 6m then a seat harness.
Waves, freestyle, jumping etc with smaller sails, and not really any sustained straight line really powered up stuff then a waist harness is the way to go.

Waist is easier to hook in and out, but seat is easier to get the power down.

The technique is quite different between the two - seat allows you to sit your weight down and lock into a powerful stance, while waist makes for a more upright stance with a less direct power transfer - perfect if you're utilising the power of a wave, and need to be more over the board to maneouvre.

The only other factor I can think of is that seat harnesses are un-cool because they emphasise certain parts of the anatomy while waist harnesses also serve as a 'girdle' and help to keep the rolls in the bakery..

Don't rule out waist for any style of sailing.

I've been running the waist for formula, slalom, speed and waves for years now and love it. I first got put on to the waist for racing through Hedgie who raced at the highest level on one. He use to say the biggest advantage for guys less than Bjorns size was the extra control and ability to react to gusts when they hit.

I try a seat each season but always go back to the waist. Just grabbed a new seat to give it a try again but time will tell if I stick with it.

If you want to try out a waist just get in touch and I can loan you one as it looks like you're in Sydney. If you decide you want to go with a waist just let us know and we can definitely figure out a change over for you.

I currently use a seat harness as its the only one I have. My favourite harness was a Da Kine chest harness. It was sweet. However along the way I lost it.

I went from chest in the '80s, waist in the '90s and am now using a seat harness and love it. Although I don't wavesail anymore - cant afford another big wipeout

If you enjoy having your balls squeezed and presented to the world go the seat harness, sseeing someone wearing a seat harness is like watching a guy surf in nut-huggers, simply not a good look, just for this reason alone I would never wear one so Im 100% waist harness kinda guy.

But, the average windsurfer is a daggy crew, so let the nuts and knob loose on the world if thats your thing!

Changed from seat to waist in last six months - very strange for a while but wouldn't go back for all the sails from china.

Gets you more upright - higher boom and leg freedom without squashed plums!

Also holds my beer gut in!

Go the waist!

oh 555 you poor old bugger, you have to go and make it personal, tsk tsk, its just my opinion champ, I did think that was the threads point, to ask our opinions?? mmm??

as dave white said in one of the peter hart dvds if you havent got a waist you havent got a choice