I ,situationally, disagree with this. The "keeper" is absolutely necessary on some trap set-ups and beneficial on some others. The ring won't fall out while your trapping or getting dragged underwater(What's up with that, Trey?Get your crew in line)it'll come off when sitting on deck,preparing to go out or transitioning. My marks harness doesn't have one, my distance harness does. I've been dropped off the side with my marks harness because of that.Not as big a deal on a w/l ,but certainly a big deal offshore.
To each his own.

BTW I sailed a 49er as a crew recently, and the #1 annoyance was the trapeze system where the ring is pulled down by the shock cord. Not only it is pulled down but when you stand up the ring height at standstill is lower than the hook on your harness. And you spend your time running around standing up on those boats! So you end up having one of your hand just to keep the damn ring from falling of. Considering you need at least 3 hands and quick feet to manage the crazy amount of unstable sail area this didn't go well really.

I mentioned to the boat owner that IMHO those were rigged incorrectly, but it seems the norm in the skiff world: .

Miss the hook on a cat you have half a chance to recover as long as you grab onto something. Miss the hook on a 49er you take a bath and the boat capsizes instantly.

Come to Racine - you won't regret it. Great venue, but beyond that you'll be among a friendly fleet that will get you a season's worth of sailing in a week. There will be lots of advice available for free. There just isn't a substitute for making your class nationals each year. Pack up the boat and get there.

Thanks for making my point on the keeper AFTER disagreeing with me.

Hu? I think you are misreading what I said. On the 49er they don't want keepers, ever. But most of them rig they hooks in a way that auto detach you unless you keep your hand on it.

I think keeper == bad and pull down rings == bad.

No keeper and a pull up ring is the best combination. So yup, I disagree with you