I'm thinking of buying a new harness. There are alot of options out there, any suggestions? I split my sailing about 50/50 race vs casual and will be driving must of time. I sail mainly in San Fracisco and Santa Cruz. Thanks in advance for the advice.

The Aquata / Magic Marine "Hydro" has been the best harness I have had. I was never a fan of full harnesses, but hated half harnesses that had no support. The Hydro has a good amount of back support, comfy and tough.

Murrays

I think it;s named the Sit Racing Harness- my vote

It also has back support! AND, it's not a full harness, but real comfy on my crotch(crotchless), and my lower back.

Full harnesses are a potential drowning hazard.

Wow, Todd, I never heard anybody say that before -- that full harnesses are a potential drowning hazard. Is it just because they are hard to get out of?

There may be a saftey issue if your sholder straps are too tight. It is very hard to swim in a sinched up full harness.

I would think a PFD would save your life though.

I was on the wire once and we capsized. When I hit the water I could feel the harness pulling me underwater, even though I was wearing a PFD.

the harness, or the trap wire?

I was able to swim in freezing water for a couple minutes while I chased down my PFD in my musto "one-design" trap harness. Its full sized. I was fully clothed as well.

...I was still attached to the trap-wire.

well thats why you were dragged under.

not because you were wearing a full harness.

The increased potential for drowning a full harness would present would be the difficulty of getting out of it quickly while submerged - possibly requiring the removal of the lifevest to accomplish. This would be a problem if the hook were snagged. Also, a full harness presents the same "danger" a lifevest can - it provides something for things like tiller extensions to poke through and trap a sailor under the boat. A recent story involved an Olympic sailor having the tiller extension go through arm holes in a lifevest during a dinghy capsize, trapping the sailor until the vest could be removed. Some sailors are wary of vests and the like as dangerous. Others find ways to cover up over top of vests and harnesses to help prevent this.

Very interesting.......has anyone actually drowned this way?

mary, et. al.,

Sorry I didn't explian myself. There were earlier posts on this, and others felt this way as well.

The situation is much like Keith has described in his post.

With my sit harness, I can easily get out of it, if I can't get the trap hook undone(the reason of a whole thread about an attachment system), and I'm being pulled under from rigging, or a turtling boat, kinda like the Tornado sailors death last year, he was wearing a full harness.

And another thing, I kinda of enjoy allowing my Abs to do some of the work. People are too portly these days.-flame suit on!

When you get to be 6'6", leverage takes it toll on the ole back.

This talk about being pulled under makes me wonder. We had a lady get caught up in jib lines during a pitchpole last summer on an H16. SCARY!

I know there are a lot of more seasoned sailors than I here, so what I am going to type is not meant to be insulting, it is more out of consern.

Always attach a knife to your PFD or body in some way. I carry a lock blade that I can open with one hand in a PFD pocket with a 4' layard back to my vest. If you are getting pulled under, slice the dang rope! Don't funble around with a harness. I tell my crew the same thing. If something is draging you around, start slicing, but don't hurt yourself in the process.

people following this thread may be interested in this article by Julian Bethwaite (designer of the 49er) on the safety issues of trapeze harnesses and his solution to the problems.

http://www.bethwaite.com/bethwaite/accessories/keyholetrap.html

For those who have used the key ball described in the Bethwaite article, can you tell me how easy the ball releases from the socket?

I ask the question because one of the things that I do like about the hook and ring attachment is how easy it is to release once tension is relieved. When capsizing, I usually don't have to think about releasing. (The harness most often releases on its own while I'm jumping clear of the sails.)

I do like the Bethwaite system, however, for safety reasons and for its potential to keep a heavy metal hook from piercing the hull.

http://www.mak-design.com/

Far and away the best trap hooks I have used.

Flounder, those aren't hooks.