Anyone ever tried the palm harness. They feel a bit awkward at first but definitely less hand fatigue after a session because you cannot strangle the boom with them on. also an unexpected benefit is they are a great training tool for forcing you to hold the weight fully on your harness not your arms which i have always had a problem with no matter how short my harness lines are.

Have recently looked at an old version of that. More like a sailors fingerless glove. Had torn tendon in fingers. The old version had a strap on the inside rather than plastic. Could adjust the level of grasp. We jokingly tried them,but they broke on first trial due to age. I think weight lifters used them.

Don't they get in the way when gybing and tacking?

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GasHazard said..
Don't they get in the way when gybing and tacking?

Tacking they feel a bit awkward as your only really gripping the boom with your forefinger and pinky, but jibing they really help with a quick solid underhand grip down the boom after the sail flip which helps me power up much quicker after the turn

I think I read "no matter [...] short lines..." it should read no matter how LONG your lines are!
Your weight needs to be in the harness at all times or else you are doing a transition move. If you are transitioning then you don't want this type of tool.

Honestly, think about all of the times when you want to let go of the boom? With this tool, you may not be able to... then comes the fear of, finger, wrist, arm, elbow, shoulder damage,... then you have to figure out a way to head back with just one functioning arm?

I'd recommend using a bigger board with a smaller sail, use more downhaul, a larger fin, use a board with greater planing ability, etc.

I agree with Manuel, if you struggle to weight the harness they you want to go with longer lines not shorter.

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Grantmac said..
I agree with Manuel, if you struggle to weight the harness they you want to go with longer lines not shorter.

I have tried longer harness lines but it feels like the boom is to far away

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mob dog said..

Grantmac said..
I agree with Manuel, if you struggle to weight the harness they you want to go with longer lines not shorter.

I have tried longer harness lines but it feels like the boom is to far away

Long lines mean that you must bend forward at the waist to reach the boom, stick your butt out AND weight your harness. If you are truely putting weight in your harness the feet are a little lighter on the board and same on the hands. Equals better control & speed. From slalom perspective

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Grantmac said..
I agree with Manuel, if you struggle to weight the harness they you want to go with longer lines not shorter.

I dunno about the boom grippers, but i can see where mob dog is coming from with the longer lines.


The problem with longer harness lines is they create a sense of the boom being too far away. It makes the sailor grip and muscle the boom harder, even when its actually plenty close enough to load the harness completely and maintain reach to the boom. You've really got to train yourself to keep in stance if youre not a natural stance adopter.

I can see where Manuel and you are coming from too. Harness lines too short = having to deal with every little gust with your arms which means no weight in the harness.


in my opinion mob dog, forget the boom grippers. work on stance, and letting the harness take the weight, then move to longer lines. I've found its possible to find a happy medium where you can keep the harness loaded, and not feel like the boom is too far away. (I wouldn't be on anything shorter than 26s' as a rule, but even thats a bit short unless its wave gear)

Modern wave sailors are running +32".

My athritis is so bad I can't windsurf anymore, these look great.

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ThePhil said..
My athritis is so bad I can't windsurf anymore, these look great.

definitely would help with that im trying them because my finger joints get sore sometimes after a session, but that's probably from holding on to the boom for grim death or maybe onset of arthritis.

I agree they'd make sense for arthritic hand joints or similar problems, but I'm with the consensus that you need to be weighted properly in the harness and have a light grip on the boom. If you're getting fatigue and soreness in your (not arthritic) hands then something's wrong with how you are using the harness.

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Subsonic said..

Grantmac said..
I agree with Manuel, if you struggle to weight the harness they you want to go with longer lines not shorter.

I dunno about the boom grippers, but i can see where mob dog is coming from with the longer lines.


The problem with longer harness lines is they create a sense of the boom being too far away. It makes the sailor grip and muscle the boom harder, even when its actually plenty close enough to load the harness completely and maintain reach to the boom. You've really got to train yourself to keep in stance if youre not a natural stance adopter.

I can see where Manuel and you are coming from too. Harness lines too short = having to deal with every little gust with your arms which means no weight in the harness.


in my opinion mob dog, forget the boom grippers. work on stance, and letting the harness take the weight, then move to longer lines. I've found its possible to find a happy medium where you can keep the harness loaded, and not feel like the boom is too far away. (I wouldn't be on anything shorter than 26s' as a rule, but even thats a bit short unless its wave gear)

S#*t 32 inch plus you would have to have arms like a gorilla to reach with that. I feel most comfortable with 24 on free race board and 26 on wide formula etc. from my elbow to the middle of my palm on the boom is with 28 inch lines,26 is to the base of my palm. should i go any longer than that. I think my main problem is i tend to hold my arms in a wide stance, definitely wider than my shoulders, holding them next to my harness lines which I always have less than 2 palm widths apart is a bit scary for quick sheet outs when a gust hits or to prevent a catapult.

Your bum is outward pushing into the harness with your legs, your upper body may be inward.
Hands only adjust sail trim, power goes through hips and legs.

With 32" lines using that test my palm doesn't quite reach the boom, it touches at the base of my fingers. I run my lines less than a hand width apart on a skinny boom.

Definitely you don't want a wide grip. Usually my back hand is right next to the lines and front maybe a palm width forward. If I find myself carrying any significant power in the back hand I move the lines back.

I considered that when I snapped a wrist tendon, but was worrying about catapults, and not being able to let go.
It would be great for carrying shopping bags if your wrists are damaged.

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Manuel7 said..
Your bum is outward pushing into the harness with your legs, your upper body may be inward.
Hands only adjust sail trim, power goes through hips and legs.

This photo helped me immensely. Went out yesterday without the palm harness and 26 inch lines and consciously made an effort to stick my butt out. Big difference, harness lines no longer felt to long. then held my hands closer together as grantmac suggested and then the harness lines actually felt to short, not only was there less hand and arm fatigue but I felt more in control and pulled off best ever speed on my formula board 27kt with an 8.5 sail and 20+ kt wind. you'd think after 15 years of windsurfing I would have worked this out by now, anyway its always fun to learn and get better. Ordered 28 inch lines today I'll try them and then longer ones to find the best length for me.

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BSN101 said..

mob dog said..

Grantmac said..
I agree with Manuel, if you struggle to weight the harness they you want to go with longer lines not shorter.

I have tried longer harness lines but it feels like the boom is to far away

Long lines mean that you must bend forward at the waist to reach the boom, stick your butt out AND weight your harness. If you are truely putting weight in your harness the feet are a little lighter on the board and same on the hands. Equals better control & speed. From slalom perspective

I thought the 'correct' stance for modern gear was the 'perfect 7' straight legs, straight body straight arms like a No.7 I thought the bum out and down 'french toilet position was a no no on wide boards , I am open to correction though? I do find it hard not to drop the arse using a seat harness but have never liked waist harnesses because I always find they ride up. My issue is finding the sweet spot in terms of weight on feet as opposed to hanging off the lines, it always seems to vary with fin size , chop, sail size, wind angle and wind strength, I often find myself loading the back foot to keep up wind which I can feel killing speed (mainly flatwater- blasting not waves).