We used to use a similar quick release to release our Hang gliders from the tow trailor and also from the towline during tow. They were an excellent choice for that application as the towlines were always under a positive and one directional strain. Actually as time progressed the rings evolved into strings/small webbing. My experience with this concept goes back to the early 90's so I am not sure what is used now. We also had a quick (weak link) release which was a piece of string that was designed to break at a certain strain, to prevent the tow rpe from breaking the glider from pulling too hard. It is a system which has to be seen to construct..

I am not sure that this system would be appropriate to a sailboat situation as the tether is never under strain till you need it, and the strain could come from any direction whilst sailing as you are always running around diving under the boom to the other side hooking trapwires, grabbing stuff. When you fall off there is nothing to say that you would be lined up properly as you might end up with your feet pointing at the boat or away or sideways. Also the rings would be wide open to getting tangled in things and the quick release pad system that I recall was simply a piece of Velcro. Since positive strain had to be on it to verify that it was hooked up properly and it was a finicky thing to set up each time I suspect that with cold fingers it would be a bear to install while sailing. Also if the release was close to your body it could prevent the rings from flipping to release, so you would have to have it away from the body ad then what happens if you are being hauled feet towards the boat? You would not be able to reach the release unless you had a long string which would then create problems with it catching on stuff whilst sailing an accidentally releasing whe you least expect it. Since the release is a string it could get hooked in something whilst sailing and release and you would never know till you needed it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

It seems to me that no matter what idea you run with there is going to be logistic problems.

I am being the devil's advocate here and really I am not familiar with the latest versions of this release.

I thought of using a horse catch as a release but the manufacturing tolerances on them is not very high. We used them initially on the gliders but got rid of them quickly as they were un reliable.

Most sail shops have quick release shackles with a pin on them attached to a string. They seemed like a good possibility. They were discussed in another thread by Captaindave in the 14/16 forum.

Maybe a remote might be an idea <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. When you fall off you hit the remote and it releases a sea anchor.